I wanted to talk about this month’s Oprah interview because Martha Stewart is another person who wants to help you–not so much self-help, as much as helping with practical things like entertaining and cooking. It’s also pre-jail Martha, which is kind of interesting as well. She does mention a couple of times how she’s responsible for 500 employees and her shareholders, which is interesting, given that her legal problems did hurt the company for a little while. She also felt during this interview that she got picked on less than she used to. Just wait until people start harping on your Birkin bag, Martha!
People sometimes ask me if I like Martha too. I’m not a huge Martha person. Oh, I think she does amazing things, is smart, and has built up a great business, but I don’t click with Martha. Also, my mother is like Martha Stewart–she does an amazing amount of creative and clever things (without the staff to help), and I just don’t think I can keep up the standard….nor am I sure I want to.
Anyway, Martha says she was trained to be productive. This may be why people ask me if I like Martha. I do do a lot of stuff (sometimes too much), but I like being productive too.
What I don’t like about Martha comes out in this interview. She says she’s a “maniacal perfectionist.” I remember when Martha first became really popular, and women were beating them up to be just like her (sans staff, which is always something I keep in mind). I just don’t want to put that pressure on my life. I want things to be great. I want to produce good writing. But I don’t want to kill myself on getting something perfect. Of course, mastering something is a great accomplishment, but being perfect isn’t achievable 100% of the time. I’m human, you know.
Martha, of course, thinks being a perfectionist is good because you can then equate perfection with profits. She also says that perfectionism is acceptable today (or in 2000) I’m not sure that’s the right way to think. Demanding excellence can lead to profits too, and that doesn’t put on the added pressure of being perfect.
Martha also answers the question, “Martha, can a woman have it all?” by saying, “I think so. Definitely.” This answer also bothers me because the simplicity of it implies that if you’re not having it all, you should be. It doesn’t say anything about give and take, or having it all but at different times. Maybe I’m wrong though–maybe in 20 years I will have it all.
I do like that Martha’s a bit more human in this interview. She cries, she cares about problems in the world (is upset that she can’t fix them too). I love the fact that she made a deal with K-mart to sell her line of housewares because she rightly realized that not everyone can afford expensive things, but everyone deserved good quality. It’s also smart thinking because there are a heck of a lot more people with lower incomes than there are super-rich people. Heck, I’ve bought her stuff–I still have a Martha Stewart comforter on my bed.
Martha’s use of the word “perfect” really bothers me, but I like the fact that she demands great things of herself, her employees, and her viewers. She does try to give us tools and knowledge to live better, and that’s pretty admirable. Although I don’t really tune into any of her media products, it’s nice to know that they’re there, so if I do want to be better in this aspect of living, I can. [but maybe I won't blog about me fixing that part of my life]
