Leading through Cancer
March 27, 2024
In June of 2023 (last year), the entire team flew from around the world to Cleveland, Ohio, for our annual retreat. The great City of Cleveland is the hometown of John B. Johnson, Principal and Identity Architect of a small studio. John has been trying to get all of us to move to Cleveland or even visit, and it finally happened in June.
Exploring the historical city was a beautiful experience for us all, but little did we know that this trip was also the beginning of John's journey of a lifetime. He had just run the Cleveland Marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon two (2) weeks before our visit; at 35, he was in the best shape of his life.
While in an incredible and tastefully furnished Cabin in the woods, John got a phone call that practically transformed his reality as a husband, father, and leader. Everyone on the team had no idea what conversation John was having on the phone; Cleveland's hospitality enamored most of us, so we didn't notice.
The fact that that phone call came in while we were all in Cleveland was nothing short of a miracle because he called us all together as we were having a moment of deep reflection, and he said;
"My Doctor just called and confirmed that I've got Stage 2 Colorectal Cancer."
We all froze in disbelief, this couldn't be happening to John. Is this some prank? We knew deeply it was true because we didn't know John to play pranks of such magnitude. Most leaders would have kept this from their team, but John operated with Radical Transparency, a core value of a small studio. So, keeping his team members in the dark differed from how he worked or saw the role of leadership in the world.
Despite his diagnosis and the restlessness that must be welling up within his soul at this time, John insisted on ensuring we all had a swell time in Cleveland. He didn't let any form of pity creep into the atmosphere to influence his team. He operated with integrity and intentionality; honestly, that must have been a lot to carry.
Throughout the remainder of the year, John had to undergo Chemotherapy, which left him often tired and without a taste in his mouth, but he still showed up for meetings and wanted to empower anyone on the team in the best way he could. His wife (Sarah) was pregnant with their second Child, and John still found a way to be present while carrying a cross that very few people could endure.
Today, in 2024 as you read these words, John has been given a clean bill of health after a year of significant Chemotherapy and several treatments by the best doctors at the Cleveland Clinic. He is finally Cancer-free (what a relief)! He also welcomed his second child a few weeks ago (an adorable boy). Just know this, his journey of transformation has influenced how we at the studio see leadership. John was an exceptional human being throughout everything, and now he stops at nothing, telling anyone and everyone to get checked, because early detection will save a whole lot more lives.
We share this today because March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. So please get checked as early as you can. Colorectal Cancer is the number two cause of Cancer deaths in the United States.
If you are still reading this, you love us at a small studio, go show John some love.
He’s a true inspiration!
