When I was diagnosed with lung cancer, I decided that rumors about my condition would be harder on my company than the truth. So I came clean with our staff (about 325 people at the time, I think) and promised to keep everyone informed.
I’d been told that within five years, I’d either be dead (84% chance) or cancer-free (16%.) Five years came and went. Turns out I fell into a small rounding error: I wasn’t a doornail—but I also wasn’t cured. Eighteen years with cancer, and I was still keeping everyone informed—and the staff had grown to about 575 people.
I got self-conscious about all the emails about me and my health. I decided a blog would let people check in for information whenever they wanted, but it wouldn’t be intrusive. To my amazement, I’ve now had thousands of visitors to my site.
I never thought I’d make a spectacle of this thing. Friends know that I’ve never wanted in-person visitors when I’m sick or hospitalized. Ginny, my son’s family, my sister, a very small number of very close friends—fine. Otherwise, I’d rather see you when I’m dressed in regular clothes and feeling OK.
I also never thought I’d enjoy being part of this kind of spectacle. But I’m finding I like it a lot. I’m trying to figure out why.
To begin with, I’m not a social media kind of guy. The only thing I ever do on Facebook or Linked In is confirm friends, most of whom are complete strangers. Every couple of years I try to quit those sites altogether, but I’m obviously doing something wrong. I do what I think I have to do to quit, but a couple of weeks later I’m confirming more unknown friends. Zuckerberg can’t quit me.
One thing I do like about the public nature of the discussion is that I don’t have to describe my current status every time out. My business partner John Adams is always nervous when I start talking because nobody knows what tangents I’ll be running down. (“What will he say???” “Will he leave any time for the analytics presentation???” “What is he even talking about???”)
I’ve also appreciated the feedback. People have been over-the-top kind and generous in expressing their feelings for my family and me. I feel like I’m having a very interesting discussion with a lot of the best people on the planet. Who wouldn’t enjoy that?
And I like being able to post when I want. Someone said they worried about me when I skipped a day or two. Please don’t do that. Anyone who knows me knows I never, ever make a deadline. I’m not posting daily, I’m posting when I feel like it.
If I’m lucky, I will once again be guilty of not dying as advertised. It sounds silly, but that really is a little embarrassing. (Don’t worry about it: I’ll get over it.)
I’m feeling about the same as I felt when I first got back to Richmond from NYC. Maybe a little better. It’s good to be me.
Thank you Mike for sharing your thoughts with all of us. I’m lucky to say “I know Mike Hughes,” and I know that you are one of the best people I’ve met in this crazy advertising business. And one of the most successful in the advertising business, too.
Too bad that doesn’t happen more often.
I wonder how many careers you and John and your partners have launched?
How many new cars and first homes were bought and how many families started off because of your agency? How lucky is Richmond to be the home of your agency?
I know your work has made millions of cash registers ring and businesses and brands to flourish, but my guess is that your legacy will be all of the lives that were made better for meeting you, working with you, and working at your agency.
Sending you and your family a heap of prayers and good wishes from San Francisco.
All my very best,
Tom Bedecarre
Love you Mike., Susie
It is good to be you. It’s also good to be one of the people fortunate enough to know you. xox
Mike,
I’ll take your posts every day, every other day whenever you feel like it. Grateful that I’m still learning from you!
Caley
Mike, the beauty of being you is your gift of expression. That gift has touched my family in all kinds of ways, across multiple generations. It’s a legacy that will always remain in our hearts.
By the way, according to my notes it’s my turn to pick up breakfast next time I’m in town.
Tripp
Of course, starting out in the company of Mike and The Martin Agency has its downsides too. Once you leave, nowhere else ever lives up to it… and you become a cranky middle-aged man. Just sayin’ Thanks, Mike
Dear Mike: Sorry to catch up with you only to find you are “under the weather.” I have such great memories of you with your dad whom I knew well. And then through the years I was following your spectacular career in advertising in Richmond. Now I’m going to find a good seat in your cheering section and cheer my heart out for you. You know you see such rats in advertising as shown on TV and in the movies. You are a giant compared to them. God bless. Stuart Sanders
I STILL love you.
Mike, it’s great to hear that you’re still feeling fairly good. I am one of those who’s worried when a couple of days have past without a post from you. Thought of you during the Super Bowl and since you don’t do a lot of social media stuff, I want to be sure that you know just how many VCU Adcenter/Brandcenter grads had spots running in yesterday’s game – good ads, too. Here’s a post that I made on Facebook before the game yesterday along with the numbers of the top winners in USA Today’s Ad Meter list . All are on the list of the top 25 ads with the exception of the Old Spice ads since they only ran on the West Coast.
You need to pat yourself on the back. Not only did Martin have the Pizza Hut spot Hut, Hut, Hut, running – you had 10 other Super Bowl ads you can claim to have had a hand in helping, too. What other Creative Director on the planet can say this? Thanks again for all your good work on behalf of VCU’s ad schools. Pull an “Uncle Charlie” and you might just own the full Ad Meter next year.
Love and best wishes,
Diane
I don’t know about the 49ers or Ravens but the VCU Adcenter/Brandcenter alumni Super Bowl line-up is looking strong right now.
#2 Luke Behrends, Miracle Stain – Tide
#6 Steven Yee, Space Babies – Kia
#10 Kendall Beveridge and Raunak Munot, Prom – Audi
Devin Kennedy, Asking Amy Poehler – Best Buy
Mark Peters, Get Happy Office Guy – VW
Patrick Maravilla, Paul Rudd & Seth Rogan – Samsung
Richie Perusi, My New Blackberry – Blackberry
Patrick Simkins – RAV4 Wish Granted – Toyota (He’s and a VCU undergrad student alum taught by Adcenter alumni running the program now.)
Britton Taylor, Old Spice Hawkridge and Old Spice Wolfthorn (Britton’s ads ran but not nationally. If they had, I think they’d be on the USA Today Admeter’s list, too.)
There’s a student and another spot I missed created by two alumni, Laura Fallon and James Wood – Dream House – Harris Bank (ran in the Midwest). Check the VCU Brandcenter’s link for more details. They don’t have the undergrad alumni winner though and that makes sense.
http://www.brandcenter.vcu.edu/911.htm#alumnisuperbowl2013
Working on a cancer PSA project, and just wrote a line I think you might appreciate:
Sometimes, victory, is nothing more than the failure to quit.
Best luck Mike. – AB /andrewbaker77.com
Mike– as a fellow deadline misser, I’m ecstatic that you continue to defy all odds! Sounds so corny, but the world is better knowing that you are here and writing. We need your kindness and energy and vision and humor. I can’t be over- the- top enough about what a wonderful human bean (well, very large bean) you are, and all the well I wish you.
Hugs,
Barbara
Hi Mike. Thanks for sharing more thoughts and it has been my pleasure to cheer you on for all successes since your first announcement at work. And during that time your humor and heart have healed many others as well as myself.
You go ahead and continue to check in with us whenever you feel like it. In the meantime, enjoy the good vibes, the prayers and most if all, enjoy the love, dear cousin!
Yep I still call you “cousin” as we did in fun at work…it was amazing how nice newbies were when they heard that until I finally laughed and confessed we were not related. But I still claim you because I love you as though you truly are my family. You continue to bless my life. You hold a special place in my heart forever.
I am still here for your nurses and dr too. Email or text me at any time…day or night.
Feel the love surrounding you, Mike. Feel the love. XXOO
Dear Mr. Hughes,
Please feel free to make as many withdrawals as you need from the Bank of Good Karma.
You are surely one of its largest depositors, so there is no chance of over-drafting your account at this time.
Thank you.
Bless you.
Love you.
Kevin
Hey Mike – thanks to Facebook and Diane Cook-Tench, I have been blessed to be privy to your blog…I worked at Martin over 20 years ago, Kay Ensing, and I foolishly left suddenly to pursue a movie career (not really foolish – my life has been a blast) – but have never forgotten my family at Martin….you still continue to inspire, and have left your thumbprint on more folks heart than just mine…bless you – and thank you for being real. Praying for you and Ginny – just thanks for being you….
Hi Mike,
I have been thinking of you, and wanted to let you know I hosted a Super Bowl party yesterday in your honor.
I’ll never forget my first Super Bowl party working in Richmond. I was 22, fresh out of college, working as an AAE at The Martin Agency and somehow got invited to your Agency Super Bowl party. We played Squares, ate some delicious food, semi-watched the game and all got very, very quiet during the commercials. It was a great party, and one of many memorable, warm moments from my time there.
So yesterday in Austin, with my friends and family, we played some Squares, semi-watched the game and made sure there was No Talking During the Commercials.
Little did I know that when I left the Agency four and a half years later it would be very hard (and still is) to find a place as warm and congenial and enjoyable as The Martin Agency. You have certainly made a mark on many and I’m very fortunate to have started my career at such a special place.
My best,
Kelly Harris Hemmeline
I’m feeling greedy. I want to read a lot more of these, Mr. Hughes. Life wisdom slathered in good humor is tough to beat. PS Uncle Charlie.
Mike, love reading your blog. It reminds me how much I appreciate your wisdom and what you mean to a lot of people. Thank you for all that you have done.
Mike, You gave me my first real job as a copywriter. Maybe I should hate you? You brought me into the fold of one of the best agencies in the country – one you so painstakingly built – and handed me a proper compass, inspiration, education, and an environment filled with positive energy, friendly, talented people and lots of laughter in which to flourish. I learned from the very best, and you will always be remembered. Go in peace.
Jeff Ross
Mike –
You have given so much to me and to others. I continue to learn from you every day. Throughout the years you’ve taught me that if you treat people well, good things will follow. You’ve taught me that you can work in a place that you love and that it does not have to be a job that you have to go to, but a wonderful place that you want to get up and go to each morning.
And most important, you’ve taught me that no matter the circumstance, don’t give up or give in. Enjoy every day that is given to us. To not take life too seriously and keep your sense of humor.
I look forward to each and every post, whenever they come. Love and prayers for you, Ginny and your family.
Thank you Mike.
Love Karen
Mike:
You are a good man in a business full of ones who aren’t. You have much wisdom left to impart. We’re not through with you yet. Hang tough. Be strong.
-Steve Pacheco
Mike – you are an inspiration. Always have been. Always will be. I spent about 5 years at TMA in the mid 2000′s and always felt honored to be working with you. Keep on defying the odds. My prayers are with you and your family.
Laurie (Chlala) O’Brien
Mike
Absolutely love reading your blog! You have touched so many peoples lives and you are truely an inspiration to everyone. Your whole family has been such a awesome part of my youth and opening your house up to all of the Roach clan every time we were in Richmond! I still remember Uncle Mickey doing a head count every time we were leaving to make sure all 10 of us were in the car and nobody was left behind! Love you cousin and my prayers are with you and your family.
Christs Peace
Fran Roach Hurley
Mike,
Your updates are so crisp, genuine, human and simply Mike. I’m addicted. Thank you for welcoming me into Martin’s world over two decades ago. After all these years, I’m still inspired by you and those incredibly moving words that you string together so artistically. Your imprint remains with me. Thanks for offering to keep the light on.
My prayers to you and Ginny. I remain forever indebted to your kindness and look forward to reading your next post, whenever you feel like it.
A million thank you’s!
Kevin
Mike,
I have never met you but really appreciate this blog. I have lost almost a generation to cancer in my family. My mother died of breast cancer when I was in my early twenties. My aunt died of stomach/ovarian cancer a decade later. My cousin is now fighting breast/brain cancer and I hope to god she can survive. By having this hopefully open ended blog, you are giving a voice to many who weren’t able to express their hopes,fears and dreams while they were/are fighting cancer. You are being a voice for those who have lost their battle or just starting their battle. Thanks for writing this and I hope that in two years from now, you are still writing it. Thanks again. Nora
Mike,
You have inspired me for decades and you continue to do so day-by-day, hour-by-hour. What you bring to light is the bigness of life, in all its goodness, kindness, gentleness–life filled with awareness and compassion. Yours is a very wonderful life, Mr. Hughes, and I thank you for allowing me to witness it through your work, your heartfelt commitment to others, and most of all, through your final days on this plain, anyway. I’ll look forward to connecting and learning from you again on the next.
o’hare
Mike,
I look forward to your posts every day. I especially like this one. Thank you so much for sharing – it is one of the things you do best. I am one of the lucky ones to know you personally and to have learned so much from you. You taught me to win graciously and lose gracefully, but with resolve. You showed me that great work can be inspired without screams, but with a simple glance that says, “I think we can do better.” Thank you for your continued inspiration, wit and wisdom. I look forward to your next post.
Much love, Ron
PS – This weekend reminded me of the Martin Super Bowl parties at your home – very fun.
Hey Mike! Loved the letter to Ella. She’s gonna love it! Hang in there! Glad to hear you’re doing better than expected. Lots of love to you, BB
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this post and the rest of the website is really good
Excellent article! We are linking to this particularly great post on our website. Keep up the good writing.
I like Mikie. keep up the good fight