My Lessons Learned from "Martha" the Documentary #FeelingFriday

As I wrote about yesterday, Martha Stewart is a marketing force that I have followed as a fellow marketer for my entire career. As I watched her documentary, I felt like I was watching my own chronology unfold as I remember most if not all of those events through the timeline of my own career. There were details I had forgotten or didn’t know, but it was indeed like a walk down a brand’s memory lane.

Of course I knew of the reputational ups and downs as well, and also of her personal work ethic and leadership style. Although I will say that I had not heard it played out in retrospect quite the way the documentary spelled it out. That part was eye opening for me, and a learning moment as well. I’ve been reflecting on it ever since.

An Educator:

Martha thought of herself as an educator, and positioned herself in that way … educating people on how to cook, craft, decorate, entertain … and create an aesthetic (long before “aesthetic” was a thing). I like that. I think as marketers we should think of ourselves in that way as well. Not trying to sell products or services, but more as educators on how our brands can add values to our consumers’ lives. How we can help alleviate pain points, as I say in my book and in my own teachings at NYU. And as we advance in our own careers, we too become educators for our teams, coaching them to hone their craft as well. Hearing how Martha describes herself as an educator made me think differently about the work I do too.

A Fighter

Martha never gave up on anything, ever. She never let people drag her down, even when she was wrong or when they were wrong. I admire that. In many ways I am a fighter too. You need to be if you want tenure in your career and if you want to stay relevant over time. Staying relevant over decades isn’t easy and it doesn’t come without constant effort. Every single day in multiple ways. I know this and seeing Martha in her zone inspired me to keep fighting TBH. That’s why I will keep writing and teaching and leading at work. Or at least will try!

A Perfectionist

The one topic that was constantly covered in the documentary was Martha as a perfectionist. Self-proclaimed perfectionist, labeled perfectionist, condemded perfectionist. Perhaps even convicted perfectionist. I’ve reflected on this a lot because perfection is something I have often strived for myself through the years, and if I am honest have struggled with too.

I think Martha thinks that perfection is a requirement, a must, a way of being. And maybe I once thought that too. And maybe she thinks that for everyone, while I once only put that on myself. I now realize, with a little help from “Martha” that perfection is an inspiration not a destination.

Perfection is an inspiration, not a destination.

When you think of perfection as an inspiration, it pushes you to do better but it doesn’t pressure you beyond what’s possible. It makes you the best you can be, for you. YOUR best self, not others. That way perfection doesn’t exist except in the mind of aspiring to be better.

But if you make perfection a goal, I dare say you’ll never get there and that’s not only frustrating it’s also demoralizing, game-ending, and perhaps won’t allow you to move forward.

I’ve cemented that in my mind after watching “Martha” and I’m now taking “being perfect” as a way to inspire me to write the best blog post ever, create the best marketing plan ever, give the best team feedback ever, etc.

AND to get going on writing the next best marketing book ever (because my manuscript is due to the publisher soon!) and while it won’t be perfect it’ll me ME!

Thank you Martha and “Martha” for these lessons learned.

What’s your experience? JIM