Georgia Magazine - June 2012 - (Page 5)

BY PAUL WOOD President/CEO, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation www.georgiamagazine.org (800) 544-4362, in Georgia; (770) 270-6500 GEORGIA Magazine, the largest-circulation monthly magazine in the state, is published by Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (GEMC), the trade association for Georgia’s 42 consumer-owned electric utilities. On average, more than 500,000 members welcome the magazine into their homes each month. Georgia’s notfor-proﬁt electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to more than 73 percent of the state’s land area serving 4.5 million residents. For more information, visit www.georgiaemc.com. EDITOR Ann Orowski, CCC MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Hewett, CCC ASSOCIATE EDITOR Victoria Scharf DeCastro PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Steve Jacobs ASSISTANT EDITOR Kevin Braun ASSISTANT EDITOR Jim Jess EDITORIAL INTERN Amanda Robinson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lynn Coulter, Ren Davis, Jane F. Garvey, Stephanie Green, Ann McCleary, Merritt Melancon, Alan Shedd, Billy Touchberry CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Greg Brooks, King Davis, Ren Davis, Jane F. Garvey, Stephanie Green, Laurel Heacock, Ken Krakow, Debbie Lord, Merritt Melancon, Mikey Sims ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Are you ﬁnished yet? W Laurel George, (404) 541-0628; Laine Kirby Wood, (770) 289-5700 Country Market, (800) 626-1181 National NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE DESIGNERS Trudie Thibodeaux, Kerstin Weis Mary Wellman, (770) 270-6981 SUBSCRIPTIONS 2012 ADVISORY BOARD Matthew Akins, Gale Cutler, Ren Davis, Nicole Dover, Hinson Mosley, Steve Mullice, Amy Orr, Jane Perfect, Rodney Reese, Angela Shipp, Brad Thomas, Louis Tonsmeire, Neal Trice GEORGIA EMC OFFICERS CHAIRMAN Alice Mallory, Coweta-Fayette EMC VICE CHAIRMAN G. Anthony Norton, Snapping SEC.-TREASURER Randy Crenshaw, Irwin PRESIDENT/CEO, GEMC A. Paul Wood Shoals EMC EMC GEORGIA Magazine (USPS-473120, ISSN 10615822) is published monthly by Georgia Electric Membership Corp., P.O. Box 1707, 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30085. Periodicals postage paid at Thomaston, GA, and additional mailing ofﬁces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GEORGIA Magazine, P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085. Printed in Georgia by Quad/ Graphics. Acceptance of advertising by GEORGIA Magazine does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Georgia’s electric membership corporations of the product or services advertised. GEORGIA Magazine’s LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN, OR OMISSIONS OF, ADVERTISEMENTS, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES TO THE ADVERTISER’S BUSINESS, SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF CHARGES FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS OMITTED OR IN WHICH THE ERROR OCCURRED. hy is it that some people cannot ﬁnish a single thing they start? We all know them—people who take on a project with the best of intentions but somehow cannot ﬁnd the time to ﬁnish. It might be a ﬁnal exam that is required to become certiﬁed in some area of expertise, or something as simple as a do-it-yourself project around the house. A writer friend of mine does extraordinary work, but hardly anyone is aware of her talent because she just can’t seem to ﬁnish anything she starts. I know she has started at least ﬁve novels but cannot get to the end of just one. Another writer friend describes himself as just an average journeyman, but he is in constant demand because he is quick to ﬁnish, and his content is more than adequate—not perfect, but satisfactory. I once asked him his secret for meeting deadlines, and he responded, “I work by the Nike rule—just do it!” In other words, you can be a genius in your ﬁeld, but if you cannot get the job done on time—or at all— your success likely will be limited. I don’t know anyone who would intentionally take steps to limit his ability to succeed. So, why would anyone accept a reputation as someone who cannot ﬁnish what he has started? Perhaps it is because they believe completion can only lead to unpleasant things. Perhaps they are afraid they will not meet the expectations of others. Or, they may be afraid they will be held accountable in some negative way. But worst of all, they may fear their work will be rejected outright, and they want no part of rejection in any form. (Contined from front flap) Of course, we’ve all heard about the “perfectionists” among us, who hold fast to the notion that if the result can’t be perfect, “why complete it?” They become their own worst enemy. When I was in school, teachers had just one name for it— “procrastination.” For too many adults today, procrastination has become second nature, a habit they say they would like to break but somehow never do. I’m not a psychologist by any stretch of the imagination and don’t pretend to understand why completing a task is hard for some and easy for others, but I can offer a tip that has worked for many people I know, including me. It’s very simple: Don’t start something new. Instead, pick a project that you never ﬁnished— just one—and ﬁnish it. I don’t know if you’ll feel euphoric when you’re done, but you will feel a huge relief and, I hope, a sense of personal satisfaction that will encourage you to ﬁnish another. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll tell you that I started this column weeks ago and ﬁnally decided today to wrap it up. Yep, I know something about putting things off. I have to keep telling myself, “Just do it.” Wrap .375 Spine .8125 What readers asked ' PAUL WOOD is the president and CEO of Georgia Electric Membership Corp., headquartere d in Tucker. Georgia EMC represents Georgia’s 42 electric membership corporations (EMCs), Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp., providing electricity to more than 4.5 million residents and businesses in Georgia. Prior to his move to Georgia, Wood was executive director of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives . Today, he has become one of Georgia’s most fervent promoters through his service to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, 4-H Foundation, FDR Warm Springs Memorial Advisory Committee and KidsPeace. In 2004, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue tapped Wood to serve as co-chairman of the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, and, in 2007, Wood to chair the Commission Perdue also asked for a New Georgia Service Delivery Taskforce. Not long after Gov. Nathan Deal was inaugurated in 2011, he appointed Wood to serve on his newly formed Georgia Competitiven ess Initiative. During his nearly half-century of service to electric membership cooperatives, Wood has held many leadership positions, including president of the Rural Electric Statewide Managers’ Association. It’s If you enjoy reading My Paul Wood’s “ViewView point” columns, see page 34 to order “It’s My View,” a hardbound book By Paul Wood featuring 100 of the magazine readers’ favorite columns from past years. GEORGIA Magazine readers have loved Paul Wood’s monthly most 15 years; response columns for alto the magazine points of every issue. After numerous readers suggestedto this being the most-read page columns in a book, that Wood put his “Viewpoint he did. This book is ” the result. “Viewpoint,” the monthly column of Paul Wood: “A new decade begins” was just chock-full of wisdom that many on both sides of the of our leaders aisle seem to lack. I’d like to shake your hand tell you how much I think of you.” one day and —Dave K., Townsend, inspirational in his common-sense What readers say about “Mr. Wood … is so Ga. “Paul, keep up the good work. I always approach to everything! ” —Jamie W., Richmond Hill, Ga. enjoy your articles.” —Larry W., Perry, Ga. “I am thrilled about this book. Paul Wood’s ‘Viewpoint’ is the first the magazine.” thing I read in —Jeanette G., Cleveland, Ga. “My GEORGIA Magazine arrived yesterday. … Wood’s. His words My first article is always ring true to me. Please Paul pass along my applause.” —Angela S., Blairsville, Ga. “Paul Wood always gives us something to think about.” —Vickie H., Thomson, Ga. IT’S MY VIEW 2011 It’s My View for … It’s My View ' —Anita J., West Point, Ga. “Thank you very much for the ‘Viewpoint’ article, ‘Growing older? This is a splendid article Who, me?’ on aging. We always enjoy Paul’s articles …” JACKET DESIGN BY TRUDIE THIBODEAU JACKET PHOTOGRAP X HY BY LOUIS TONSMEIRE PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. © 2011 GEMC GEORGIA MAGAZINE A collection of reader s’ favorite ‘Viewpoint’ columns from GEOR GIA Magazine President/CEO, Georgia Electric Membership Corp. hen Paul Wood write in his monthly “View GEORGIA Magazin reflections are often laced lessons he learned while gr town of Natchitoches , La. One has only to read a gain an appreciation for a l faith and education. Small towns in the 195 The character of the town’s shaped by adults who accep in life, putting every child o and successful citizenship. It “Remember who you are” w small-town mother, a cautio on your best behavior when door to meet the world. A te that anyone in the communit report.” In Wood’s column, “Goo remember growing up when r born, perhaps with parents w understand it. In “My mother raise,” you’ll discover Paul’s p humor. In “The parade of our it all about,” he waxes philoso meaning of life. In “Good frien times,” you’ll think of someone when the going was rough. He advice for graduates looking fo celebrating the Fourth of July a a more meaningful Christmas f There is also considerable comm officials could make governmen levels. Hardly any subject escap opinion of Paul Wood. This collection of readers’ f is more than a nostalgic look at reminder that many of those learned are just as applicable ear tod in mid-20th-century America. Wo every person possesses a unique g discovered and cultivated, has the change the world. At the very leas is apt to find Wood’s insights a he for understanding the problems th complicated world in early 21st-ce W ' By Paul Wood ( June 2012 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org 5 http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiaemc.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - June 2012

Georgia Magazine - June 2012
Table of Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
Currents
Georgia’s Energy Outlook
Wholesome Fun and Shaping Winners
Where to Stay and Eat When Visiting the Rock Ranch in the Rock, and Winshape Retreat in Rome
Take to the Road
Travel Guide
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Second Helping: Fish
Snapshot
Bonus Snapshot Submissions
Plant of the Month; Liberty Notes
Energy-efficiency Tips
June’s Online Trivia Contest

Georgia Magazine - June 2012