-Saturday banking gets more competitive along Martha Berry.
-Today's Focus: Natalie Simms examines how to balance career, family, life; talks with Citizens First's Angie Lewis, Logical Systems' Chris Carey.
-West Side Story: Even as businesses close on Cartersville's West Side, another is there ready to jump right in. And more are on the way.
-Political signs of the times: Politics and pork always on the menu at Colonel Poole's barbecue in East Ellijay. This year's special: Deal, Graves.
Frigid start to the new year--and snow due Thursday, Friday
-Steady wind, gusts just make it feel even colder> Wind chill
-This morning's low: 18 degrees. Wind chill at 7:30 a.m.: 7 degrees.
-Monday: Sunny, high near 34. North wind 10-15 mph, gusts to 20 mph.
-Monday night: Mostly clear, low around 16. North wind around 5 mph.
-Tuesday: Sunny, high near 37. North wind 5-15 mph, gusts to 20 mph.
-Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14.
-Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 42.
-Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.
-Thursday: 30% chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.
-Thursday night: 40% chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low of 21.
-Friday: 20% chance of snow. High of 31. Low of 17.
-Extended forecast> Click / Regional radar
Smartspants completes move to 405 Broad St.: The consignment shop is now in larger quarters just across from the old location
-Zartic looking for a little green in produce, too? Zartic has posted a $200,000 surety bond with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to obtain a license to operate in the produce industry, according to The Packer. Click Details
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey
-Final bowl no-nos: Too many stars fell on Alabama as Tide rolls by Longhorn for all the marbles.
Dining Guide> Click
-Latest restaurant public health inspection scores for Northwest Georgia
Wine News Vine> Click
-Several North Georgia wineries closing for January.
Sports/Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports
-Atlanta Braves' ace Tommy Hanson to appear at Rome Braves' Hot Stove Gathering at The Forum Jan. 25> Sports
-Rome Braves offer new 12-pack flex ticket plans.
-Registration, training begin for 3rd Berry Half Marathon March 6.
The Buzz of Northwest Georgia:
-Things already a little ... bare ... at 'Cheek-Os'
-Saturday banking gets more competitive along Martha Berry.
-Today's Focus: Natalie Simms examines how to balance career, family, life; talks with Citizens First's Angie Lewis, Logical Systems' Chris Carey.
-West Side Story: Even as businesses close on Cartersville's West Side, another is there ready to jump right in. And more are on the way.
-Political signs of the times: Politics and pork always on the menu at Colonel Poole's barbecue in East Ellijay. This year's special: Deal, Graves.
Things already a bit bare at 'Cheek-Os'
-A longtime reader sent us this image from the closing Chico's store in Riverbend Center Saturday afternoon. And an on-site inspection by a shopper confirmed not only things are a little bare in the display windows but also on the shelves. The retailer is closing later this month and, already, the pickings are slim. As to why the models were left nude with their cheeks to the windows? Perhaps an editorial comment of some sort?
Rumors of another major retailer's exit are false: There are no current plans to close the Talbot's store at Riverbend, a corporate spokeswoman says. Photo by RM
Banking gets a bit more competitive on Martha Berry on Saturdays
-There seems to be more interest in Saturday morning banking these days on Martha Berry Highway. For years, the main office of Greater Rome Bank has been open Saturday for full-service and drive-through customers. In October, Heritage First Bank opened its newest Rome office for full-service banking as well. Now comes the newly refitted Wachovia office at Redmond and Martha Berry (Berry Crossing). The branch opened Jan. 2 for the first time on Saturdays, also offering full-service banking.
More on the 'West Side' story
-There's something about Cartersville's booming west side. Fox's Pizza Den closes at West End Commons and, within days, here comes Bill's New York Style Pizza to fill the same spot. Next: Out goes Beef O' Brady's just down the street and, within 48 hours, Gametime Westside is in operation. Never mind that Mark Mathison just opened the "original" Gametime behind his Slope's franchise off Tennessee Street in October. Also on the way: a new CVS store as well as Arby's, both at the corner of Ga. 113 (West Avenue) and Douthit Ferry Road.
-Overtime at Gametime: Try two things next time you're there--the breakfast burger (it includes an egg) and the "house-made" potato chips, about as good as those from the late Backyard BBQ. Plus: Kids eat free on Sundays (one meal per adult).
Signs of the times at Col. Poole's
-National, state and local Republicans know 
two key things about the community of East Ellijay: some of the best barbecue in the region is at Col. Poole's Barbecue, home of the Pig Hill of Fame --and it doesn't hurt to have your signs displayed there, either. Over the New Year's break, we dined at the colonel's and found two campaign signs for the new year:
-one for U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal's bid to be the GOP gubernatorial nominee.
-the other for state Rep. Tom Graves, the Ranger Republican seeking to replace Deal as the congressman from the Nine District.
-Yet another sign was for the Friday special-- a marinated rib plate for $6.95; we went traditional with the dry rub ribs.
New year's priority: Take steps to juggle career,
family, happiness in today's business climate
-Expert Alan Weiss' tips on how to find that balance.
-Citizens First's Lewis, Logical System's Carey: How they do it.
By Natalie Simms
It's a new year, a time when many people make those resolutions to lose weight, get in shape or give up bad habits. The thing many fail to do each year is apply the same resolution principles to their careers. Many in the corporate world are so consumed that they neglect to find a good balance with work, family and life.
Case in point is the recent on-again, off-again stunt pulled by Urban Meyer, head football coach at the University of Florida. Over the Christmas break, Meyer resigned as Gator coach, citing health concerns. But a day later, he took back his resignation and opted for an indefinite leave of absence. It appears the stress factor of his career is affecting his health but he just can't seem to give up the stress.
As we begin a new year, business people need to take a look at their priorities. Are you putting the job ahead of your spouses, your kids or your own happiness? In turn, bosses and supervisors need to ask: Are those who work too long, too hard, too often helping or hurting the company or the business?
"Absenteeism is an employer's number one expense," says Alan Weiss, Ph.D., president of Summit Consulting Group (www.summitconsulting.com) and writer of the monthly newsletter, The Balancing Act. "When you look at the underlying cause of the illness, its stress … it's extremely common and expensive."
Weiss, left, has been working with leading organizations including Merck, Hewlett-Packard, GE and Mercedes-Benz for years to accomplish one simple goal: "Improve the client's condition."
"One of the fundamentals of our success is to utilize the existing talents and resources of the organization to enhance customer satisfaction and business goals, by directing talents and resources outward, not inward," he says.
In Meyer's case, Weiss says the coach is "like a top corporate executive who is so dedicated to his job, he has sacrificed his health, balance and relationships.
"He decided to take an indefinite leave of absence because he pulled the trigger and then regretted it … it really is hard to leave something so important to you," Weiss says. Unfortunately in this economy, Weiss says more and more people are becoming unbalanced and driven by work.
"Many feel that their job is at stake or their company may be cutting back, so they are working more," he says. "For example, take a lawyer who has no problem working 16 to 18 hours a day if that is their passion but if they have a family, they are cheating their relationships."
The key to a balanced life is to learn to work smart.
"In the executive ranks, they don't care about how many meetings you attend or how many hours you work. What they care about is that the business strategy or goal has been met," Weiss says. "You really have to look at results … look at your output."
Weiss says the start of the New Year is the perfect time to go ahead and put your priorities in order, and schedule time for your "life."
"Go ahead and mark out vacations, key family events so that you can work around your personal and family needs," he says. "You can't view work as rewarding … work is support for your life. The real wealth is discretionary time where you are free to do what you want to do when you want…to see your kids and your family."
Weiss gives three keys to keeping a balanced life and reducing stress at work:
-keep yourself physically fit with an exercise regime.
-have a good diet with right foods.
-and have a good support system of family and colleagues that can help you emotionally.
Those three keys are exactly what keep Angie Lewis, president and CEO of Citizens First Bank and busy mother of two, balanced along with her talent of multitasking.
"You have to be a multitasker and you have to use your management strengths at home," says Lewis, right. "There are only 24 hours in a day. Take away seven of those spent sleeping and 10 or so at work, you're only left with about seven hours a day during the week and then your weekends to manage your home life. So, you have to make efficient use of that time."
She plans in advance for family outings and regularly has things on the calendar for them to do together, including concerts, plays, movies, weekend trips and vacations.
"One of my non-working friends commented one day that I do more quality things with my kids than many non-working moms. While I doubted the validity of the comment, it did make me stop and give myself credit for the many things that my husband and I do with our children as a family," Lewis says.
Exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are very important to Lewis' success.
"I am very health conscious, which I think is extremely important to all around well-being," she says. "I work out in a personal training group at Pro Performance three days a week which includes weight lifting and cardiovascular exercise. I also try to eat a well-balanced diet the majority of the time. But I enjoy my time with the kids and rarely turn down ice cream and birthday cake when offered."
Aside from her career and family, Lewis serves as treasurer and executive committee member of Leadership Georgia; board of directors and vice chair of governmental relations for the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce; co-chair of High School Leadership Rome; member of Seven Hills Rotary Club; and active member of First United Methodist Church.
To maintain this busy life, Lewis' most important asset is her support system.
"One of the real reasons that I can make it work is that I have a husband who is completely engaged and who truly shares with the load at home," she says. "And, my mom lives in town and is very participatory in our lives. Without the two of them, I truly do not think that I could be a good banker and a good mom."
Chris Carey, president of Logical Systems Inc., and father of two, agrees that the only way to maintain a balanced life is to make family and health a priority.
"It is not easy, but by putting it on a calendar and scheduling, you can make it work," he says. "My health is important to my family and my business, so I've made it a priority to schedule time to exercise…plus it's a great stress-reliever."
Aside from his work, Carey serves on the Board of Directors of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter; Community in Schools; is a member of Seven Hills Rotary Club; Rome Velo Cycling group; Knights of Columbus; and an active member at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
"I really enjoy community service and volunteering my time," he says. "My activities are also a stress-release for me, so I make it a priority and schedule the time."
Carey makes the time to go cycling at least two to three days a week. In addition, he has gotten his family involved in his favorite sport.
"Cycling is the biggest thing for me because it does consume about three hours of time for a ride," he says. "My kids do ride and we make exercise a family thing. And my wife has started getting into cycling, so it's something we can all do together."
Carey says his wife is the key part of his support system.
"She will let me know if I'm spending too much time on something away from the family," he says. "And if I do get out of balance, I just work through it. There are certain times of the year that are busier than others but just get through it."
So, as you begin 2010, now is the time to get your priorities in order. Remember a balanced life is the key.
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