Sharing just a few random thoughts

as we begin the new year

Sometimes you

have to just stop writing mental notes to yourself and sit down and let

folks know what is on your mind. Well, I have made it to that point today.

Please allow me to provide you some random thoughts and tidbits that one

or more of you also may have spent a little time thinking about this year

(or even last). Here goes ...

There is a

changing of the guard in marquee players that help to fill National Basketball

Association arenas. Yao Ming, the rookie center for the Houston Rockets,

was in Atlanta recently to play the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks missed this

opportunity to market and hype this night, but still managed to draw the

largest crowd of the year (thanks in part to a promotion to provide coats

and donate some money to the homeless). Yao Ming will and has made the

Rockets one of the NBA's best teams this year and will be back in February

to participate in the All-Star Game. Do not miss the opportunity to see

the future international direction of the NBA's marketing efforts for

many years to come ... Yao Ming.

When we go

to the automatic teller machine ("money machines"), it is bad

enough that we can not withdraw $5 or $10 each time ... but the categories

begin in multiples of $20. It would be nice to be able to get multiples

of $5.

When we pay

for gasoline at the pump ... we ought not to have to play twenty questions

with the machine. Want a receipt? Want a car wash? Credit or debit? Look,

machine ... you ought to be able to figure this out ... I just want some

gasoline.

Kroger and

CVS should track how many folks do not shop at Kroger or CVS because of

the need for a card to earn a discount.

Traffic has

been terrible to and from downtown in both the mornings and the evenings

since Jan. 13, not because of the General Assembly being in session, but

because of the new Cobb County and North Fulton Republican state employees

heading to and from work without the use of mass transit options.

Each state

(and therefore the nation) could solve alot of economic woes and jump-start

an economic recovery if they immediately (by March 1)presented each taxpayer

a check for $2,000. The reciprocal impact on spending and subsequent recovery

of some of this money by state sales taxes on items purchased would create

a "feel good" attitude that would linger on through the end

of the summer ... and lead any state out of a recession in late 2003.

Downtown Atlanta

parking lots should offer plenty of $1 an hour lots that would encourage

folks to come downtown more during the day, run errands, and spur the

economy of the central city.

Everyone should

visit a public library once a week; ride MARTA once a month; and read

a newspaper once a day.

I do not think

that personal praise is what many folks seek when trying to do their jobs

well. However, I believe that having one's efforts bear fruit is simply

the primary goal and satisfaction one seeks. "Let not my efforts

be in vain" is a personal favorite of mine.

Everyone should

hug their children, spouse, parents, and other loved ones as much as they

can today ... because you need to let them know you appreciate them and

love them. Do it today ... tomorrow is not promised to anyone!

God Bless and

Happy New Year!

[Patrick Stafford

is executive director of the Fulton Industrial Business Association. He

can be reached at [email protected].]