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TUESDAY,
JULY 5, 2005
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Chris Kinnas
Investment Advice
Are you heading
toward financial
independence?
It’s Independence Day -
time for fireworks, parades
and picnics. Of course, it’s
enjoyable to celebrate this
national holiday. But why
not also use this occasion to
think about achieving more
kinds of freedom in your
own life? Specifically, why
not begin taking the steps
necessary to attain your
own financial independ
ence?
What are these steps?
Consider the following:
• Reduce your debt load -
Do whatever you can to pay
down your debts - especial
ly the high-rate, non
deductible credit card debt.
The more you have to pay
on your credit cards or
other consumer loans, the
less you have to invest.
• Build an emergency
fund - Try to create an
emergency fund consisting
of six to 12 months’ worth
of living expenses. Because
you may need quick access
to these funds, you’ll want
to put them in a liquid vehi
cle, such as a money market
account. If you don’t have
an emergency fund, you
might end up dipping into
your investments to pay for
big-ticket items, such as a
new appliance or a major
car repair. And the more
you cash out your invest
ments for short-term needs,
the slower your progress
toward your important
long-term goals.
• “Max out” on retire
ment plans - Ultimately,
your financial independence
should culminate in a
retirement in which you can
do pretty much what you
choose. But to reach that
point, you will need to accu
mulate sufficient financial
resources. Consequently,
you will want to contribute
the maximum amount each
year to a traditional IRA,
which provides tax-deferred
growth of earnings, or a
Roth IRA, which offers tax
free earnings provided you
meet certain conditions.
Also, try to contribute as
much as possible to your
401(k) or other employer
sponsored, tax-advantaged
retirement plan.
• Pay yourself first - After
paying all your bills, you
may find it hard to come up
with extra money to invest
for the future. So pay your
self first. Consider setting
up a bank authorization to
automatically route a cer
tain amount of money each
month into an investment.
As your salary goes up, try
to increase the amount of
money you put away.
• Build a diversified
investment portfolio - Many
people think they can get
rich quick by buying “hot”
stocks. In reality, that hard
ly ever happens. By the time
you buy a hot stock, it may
already be cooling off.
Furthermore, if you’re con
stantly selling some types of
stocks in pursuit of those
big gainers, you’ll rack up
commissions and other fees.
You are almost certainly
better off by building a
diversified portfolio of high
quality stocks, bonds, gov
ernment securities and
other vehicles - and then
holding them for the long
See KINNAS, page 9A
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submitted
Present at the recent presentation of a plaque recognizing Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q
restaurant in Perry for being “smoke-free” are (from left) representatives from Houston
Healthcare; Brad Fink, owner of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q Restaurant; Lora Davis,
Perry Hospital Administrator, and Perry Mayor Jim Worrall.
Sonny's honored for
smoke-free policy
Special to the HHJ
PERRY - Georgia’s
Smoke Free Air Act went
into effect Friday.
To celebrate the new law,
Houston Healthcare part
nered with the American
Cancer Society, the
American Lung Association,
the American Heart
Association, and the Georgia
Alliance for Tobacco
Prevention in announcing
“Houston County Smoke-
Free Restaurant
Appreciation Day.”
On behalf of the citizens
of Houston County, Houston
Healthcare presented a
plaque to Sonny’s Real Pit
Bar-B-Q Restaurants on
Friday in appreciation of
their commitment to provid
ing smoke-free air to their
patrons. The presentations
took place at 10:45 a.m. at
the Warner Robins restau
rant and 11:30 a.m. at the
Perry restaurant.’
“This is a great day for
Houston County and a great
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HH#J Timothy Graham
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q Restaurants in Houston County were honored Friday on
Smoke-Free Restaurant Appreciation Day, as Georgia’s smoking ban went into effect.
Sonny’s was chosen for the honor due to their going “ smoke-free” more than three
years ago. Houston Healthcare’s Tara Poole presented local Sonny’s owner Brad Fink
with a plaque honoring the restaurant’s commitment, while Warner Robins Mayor
Donald Walker proclaimed Friday as Smoke-Free Restaurant Appreciation Day.
(To send in your event for the
Business Calendar, fax the details to
988-1181, e-mail to hhj@evansnews
papers.com or mail to Houston Home
Journal, PO. Box 1910, Perry, GA
31069. The deadline for inclusion is 5
p.m. Fridays.)
Tuesday, July 12: Starting Your
Own Business
WARNER ROBINS - This seminar,
sponsored by the University of
Georgia Small Business
Development Center, will cover mar
ket research, legal structures for your
business, estimating start-up costs
and cash flow projection, financing
alternatives, failure factors and busi
ness planning. Prepaid registration is
S4O per person, which includes a
detailed business start-up workbook
Business
day for Georgia,” said Mary
Jane Kinnas, director of
marketing for Houston
Healthcare. “Smoke-free air
is good for everyone.
Houston Healthcare is
delighted to support smoke
free restaurants in Houston
County and encourages
everyone to dine out at a
smoke-free restaurant and
enjoy clean, healthy, smoke
free air.”
Brad Fink, owner of
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q
Restaurants agreed.
“Sonny’s has been smoke
free for more than three
years now,” he says. “Our
patrons and our employees
have overwhelmingly sup
ported our smoke-free policy
from the very beginning. We
are proud to see the state of
Georgia supporting this ini
tiative. Now everyone in
Georgia will be able to eat at
every restaurant and enjoy
smoke-free air.”
Georgia’s smoke free air
BUSINESS CALBIDAR
and other handouts. Class will be
from 6-8 p.m. at the Advanced
Technology Development Center,
Osigian Blvd. 751-6592.
Monday, July 18: Writing a
Successful Business Plan
MACON - This seminar, spon
sored by the University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center,
will explain the sections of the busi
ness plan, what information is
required for each section, and the
general format needed. Participants
will receive a detailed planning out
line and other information to help
develop an effective business plan.
Prepaid registration is S4O per per
son. Class will be from 6-8 p.m. at the
Georgia Music Hall of Fame. 751-
6592.
law prohibits smoking in
public places and places of
employment with some
exceptions. Restaurants and
bars may not allow smoking
if they allow access to those
under 18 or if they employ
those under age 18.
Restaurants and bars allow
ing smoking inside must
post a sign warning the pub
lic about exposure to sec
ondhand smoke. The legisla
tion, sponsored by state Sen.
Don Thomas, R-Dalton, was
supported by more than 400
organizations, businesses
and health interests.
“Georgians are going to
thoroughly enjoy dining out
in smoke-free restaurants,”
said Thomas. “This law will
save healthcare dollars and
save lives.”
For more information
about Georgia’s new smoke
free air law, go to
www.gasmokefreeair.org or
call your local health depart
ment at (478) 542-2050.
Tuesday, July 19: Anger
Management for Relationships and
Friends
MACON - This seminar, spon
sored by the University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center,
will cover emotional intelligence,
anger and better communications
with people close to you. State and
court approved. Prepaid registration
is S4O per person. Class will be from
6-8 p.m. at 401 Cherry St., Suite 216.
751-6592.
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A servant leader's
'products' - part 2
Several weeks ago, I
quoted a daily devotional
that stimulated multiple
columns on servant lead
ership. I asked readers to
identify what products or
services they and their
colleagues need ff om their
leaders.
About 30 of you
responded - thank you! I
was more of an editor this
week than an author, as I
worked to include as
many of these submis
sions as I could. Yes, these
are real people in real
jobs, giving genuine
thought to the good and
bad bosses they’ve experi
enced and to their own
performance.
“I want a clear under
standing of my purpose
and tasks, enough train
ing to be successful, and
routine feedback about
how I am doing (good and
bad).” - Curt T
“A servant leader knows
the employees personally,
having at least a basic
understanding of their top
personal priorities and
family needs. The leader
acknowledges good effort,
even when the outcome is
less than desired.” - Carol
K
“Good leaders have
integrity as well as humor.
They provide support and
remove obstacles that hin
der me from growing and
contributing my best.” -
Tom S
“The servant leader
helps people define their
problems through
thoughtful listening,
insight, and questions.
They don’t fix everything,
believing in the capacity
of the people, knowing the
solution is inside each
person. This is very free
ing and empowering.” -
Kathy S
“I want my leader to
acknowledge that my
opinions and ideas are
valid, even if they differ
from his. I expect a deci
sion-making process that
is consistent and involves
those affected by the deci
sion.” -John W
“The leader I admire is
open about what is hap
pening in the company.
He advocates our team to
the executives. He is very
interested in our personal
experience over and above
the numbers, though he
also asks for an account
ing with those.” - Sara H
“I desire opportunity
for personal development,
for assessments from
sources I trust, and for
additional responsibility. I
expect commitment to
agreements we have made
to each other.” - Dick M
“The people being
Assessing Your
Leadership Skills
-SBS/person
Subscribe today • Call 987-1823
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770-454-6776 or 800-454-0224
dT
Dennis Hooper
.. . even greater things .. .
dhooper2@juno.com
served need to be thought
of as individuals, not just
a conglomerate group. Yet
the leader has to be strong
enough to hold each team
member accountable to
the high standards of the
organization.” - Linda G
“My leader really wants
my insight, feedback, and
ideas. He asks what tools
it will take to get the job
done and is willing to get
them for me. He makes
me stretch beyond what I
believe is possible,
towards what he sees is
my potential.” - Loren T
“Good leaders are barri
er busters, removing
obstacles that impede peo
ple’s ability to get the job
done. They search for
opportunities for their
people to grow and
advance.” - Gary G
“Servant leaders
encourage their people
when they are down, help
ing them physically, emo
tionally, mentally, and
spiritually.” - Bob B
“Servant leaders wel
come truth-telling and
differing points of view
when considering options.
They provide access to
themselves and other
leaders for coaching, men
toring, instruction, feed
back, and expertise. They
build relationships that
model a healthy tone for
the organization’s cul
ture.” - Wendi C
“The leader should
never stop growing,
always improving with
education and new skills.”
- Mary C
“Servant leaders make
their employees feel sig
nificant. Each person gen
uinely feels like he or she
makes a difference” -
Alison H
Many others provided
thoughts, and many of
these provided more ideas
than there is room to
share. Can you imagine
how enlightening it is to
be able to dialogue with
each of these individuals?
Suggestion - go talk to
the people you lead. You
serve them best when you
give them what they need!
F. Dennis Hooper
Certified
Leadership Development Coach
Building leaders and
organizations of excellence
(478) 988-0237
7A
19657
dhooper2@juno.com