I recently watched a Netflix documentary on Martha Stewart’s life path, and several powerful themes resonated with me. While it’s rare to find role models who inspire across all aspects of life, I always try to note down productive ideas when I come across them. Martha Stewart may not be my role model, but as a visionary and a world-changer, she embodies some inspiring qualities that resonated with me. What I admire most about her is her capacity to look beyond herself and see opportunities to create systems that improve the world around her. I admire people with a certain caliber of personality who can see a void in the world and are compelled to fill it, who think beyond their personal sphere.
In one interview, when asked about her thoughts on feelings, she mentioned that she doesn’t dwell on them or discuss them much. Instead, she focuses on what she or others are doing and what she can do in certain situations. This really resonated with me; I believe there’s power in redirecting our focus from introspection to outward action. Staying centered on ways to improve circumstances and making meaningful contributions with our actions is crucial. Though challenging to maintain, it’s a mindset I actively cultivate through my weekly self-strategy sessions. Each week, I review a list of dissatisfactions and focus on finding actionable solutions, breaking these down into projects, work items, and tasks that contribute to the overall vision I have for myself. Shifting focus to action in the external world can be far more productive than dwelling on internal emotions, which are often hard to change without tangible steps.
Another aspect of the documentary that deeply impressed me was Martha’s impact even while in prison. During her five-month stay, she observed that some inmates were interested in gardening but lacked guidance. She started a club for like-minded individuals, teaching them about gardening, cooking, and other skills. Her ability to create a community, initiate organizational change, and find purpose even in challenging circumstances was truly inspiring.
I highly recommend watching this documentary to increase your agency (aka personal motivation) especially if you have goals and plans of initiating org changes but struggle or are afraid, I think Martha could be a good example on how to not be afraid of bringing positive change in any environment.
