FROM THE PUBLISHER
• “ And immediately everything else fell by the wayside . The 14-hour days of deadline , the millions of decisions that needed to be made , the frantic flurry of phone calls to clients , writers and photographers for lastminute questions , just evaporated .”
FAMILY FIRST
“ When I look into my children ’ s eyes , I realize what all that struggle was for . This , all of this , is why we do what we do . For our family .”
IF YOU EVER WANT TO HEAR A MAGAZINE PUBLISHER LAUGH , TELL THEM HOW NICE IT MUST BE TO OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND MAKE YOUR OWN HOURS . I KNOW IT ALWAYS MAKES ME CHUCKLE .
The thing is , you do get to make up your own hours . You can choose from any of the 80 hours you ’ ll typically work in any given week . And if you really want to be successful , get ready to put in even longer hours .
It ’ s as true today as it was with the first issue of South we put out . With my son Dodge being born the same month as that first issue , the first decade was a true balancing act , trying to raise a family while helping a magazine grow and succeed . And to me , it was vital that I get both sides of the scale perfect – to raise smart , responsible kids while helping a small team produce a magazine that could go up against any national periodical you can think of .
The thing about fatherhood is , it has about as much respect for your mental bandwidth as running a magazine does . Just when I thought I had a handle on things , my daughter Sophia had to be rushed to the hospital at a young age with an accelerated heartbeat . We found out she had a condition called SVT , and the next four years were a gauntlet of trips to the emergency room and the doctor ’ s office . I ’ m happy to say we found the right hospital and the right surgeon , and my baby girl is 100 % healthy . See Sophia ’ s story on page 86 .
But the experience gave me a newfound appreciation for a few things . We celebrate the first of those things this issue with our look at the area ’ s finest doctors and medical providers . I can say from experience that we are fortunate to have such an unbelievable wealth of talent here in the South , and it ’ s my privilege to give them the spotlight they deserve . Especially this year , with medical professionals becoming front line heroes . See South ’ s Greatest Doctors page 96 .
But the second thing the experience gave me an appreciation for was my family . Like a lot of us , I ’ ve struggled with balancing my family and my career . When I look into my children ’ s eyes , I realize what all that struggle was for . This , all of this , is why we do what we do . For our family .
As South magazine was going to press , I received another reminder about the importance of family . Deadline week is always hectic , but when I saw my brother ’ s name on the caller ID I knew I had to answer . He was direct , and to the point . Our father had suffered a heart attack . And immediately everything else fell by the wayside . The 14-hour days of deadline , the millions of decisions that needed to be made , the frantic flurry of phone calls to clients , writers and photographers for last-minute questions , just evaporated . All that was left was getting home to Albany , Georgia , trusting in my team to keep the wheels rolling on deadline .
As I speak this , dictating it into my phone in the car for my editor to type up later , dad is on the mend . Like my daughter , he benefited from the medical expertise that has become the South ’ s hallmark . As always , I ’ m thankful to the medical professionals who have kept my loved ones healthy . And I ’ m thankful for my team , for stepping up and showing what rock stars they are .
Ultimately , history will pass whatever judgment it might on the magazine I ’ ve spent so many years building . But my true legacy will pass on forever in the sacrifices I made for my family . With so much going on this past year , maybe we can all agree to approach 2021 with a new outlook . When you have a chance to spend time with family , take it . The phone calls and emails will be there when you get back . •
MANY THANKS & KEEP READING MICHAEL BROOKS PUBLISHER / CREATOR
14 SOUTH Winter Issue 2020-21 PHOTO BY COLIN GRAY