One question is
quickly answered. How does Stewart do it? McFadden
reported the head of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, , only gets three to four hours of sleep a night. What else did McFadden discover in a Nightline interview for the ages? Watch
McFadden's entire insightful interview on the November 19 Nightline at 11:35 pm.
Inside Martha Stewart's world
SheKnows: What did you take away personally and professionally from your time with Martha Stewart?
Cynthia McFadden: Martha Stewart was extraordinarily generous with her time. I've profiled plenty of celebrities in folks in her high-profile types of positions. They doll out the time like diamonds.
SheKnows: Yes they do…
Cynthia McFadden: Well, Martha Stewart, when she decided to do this, was generous. She gave us two full days of access to her life, her world, her business and no holds barred. Nothing was off limits. I have to say after spending a good amount of time with her, I woke up on morning three and said, "Where's Martha?"
We both laugh.
Cynthia McFadden: I was surprised how compelling she is, she is both engaged and engaging about the things that interest her. She's a teacher at heart. She wants to explain. She's never happier than when she's explaining to someone how she thinks things should be done. There's only one way to do things – the Martha Stewart way -- but, if you can participate in that world, it's quite an interesting an fun ride.
SheKnows: It sure is especially considering where she started and where she currently sits. It's an inspiring story to both women and men.
'If you want the girl next door. Go next door.'
Cynthia
McFadden: Listen, I have to say. She's not woman fuzzy. If that's what you want, if you want the girl next door. Go next door. She's not woman fuzzy. She can be
assertive. She is demanding. She can be a perfectionist -- all of those things. But, she's also such an American original. She's so refreshing candid about her likes and dislikes. I was
taken aback about her comments on Rachel Ray. But, she calls it as she sees it. She doesn't live in hiding. We had a good go around about how she picks up the pink gravel in her driveway at
her house in Maine. It's a mile long driveway. They rake it up, clean it, and store it every winter so it doesn't get muddy.
SheKnows: Oh, of course.
Cynthia McFadden: I'm like, "Martha, who can do this? You do understand that you are not normal?" She looked at me and said, "Well, you're not normal either."
SheKnows: Yes, indeed.
Cynthia McFadden: I copped to that, but most of us aren't going to be picking up pink gravel on our driveways. She doesn't really care about what other people think about that. It's part of a tradition of this beautiful house. I want to preserve. Nobody else has to do this, but this is part of my contribution to making the world more beautiful. She's eccentric, but I have to say I walked away having really enjoyed the time with her.
Up next...McFadden shares a hint of Stewart's views on Bernie Madoff and the SEC
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'Too bad the SEC wasn't looking at Bernie Madoff instead of me'
SheKnows: Also,
Martha Stewart has been through the ringer on many levels. Financially, legally, what did you take away from that aspect of her life. You
mentioned she was very honest with you. Did it make her stronger?
Cynthia McFadden: Its' very interesting. Martha Stewart is not a whiner. She's not a complainer. She didn't want to dwell on whether it's somebody else's fault. She also doesn't think it's her fault, I don't think. She said to me, "It's too bad the SEC wasn't looking at Bernie Madoff instead of me during this period?" There are many people who would agree with her about that.
SheKnows: Yes.
Cynthia McFadden: But, you know, I honestly believe that to the extent that someone can move one from an experience like that, she has. I think…she says, what rankles her is the damage it did to the company. She sees it as unnecessarily damage and to the people she employs and to the customers that she serves. And she points that readers and viewers stuck with her through all of that. It was the advertisers that walked away. That created a tremendous financial debacle at the company. She resents that. But, she's not going to dwell on it. She's going to move forward and she believes that, though the company has been hit hard by the recession, she believes her company will come back stronger than ever. After spending all that time with her , I wouldn't bet against her.
SheKnows: Not with that name and that will.
Cynthia McFadden: No…she's a force of nature. Imagine…she gets up before the roosters.
SheKnows: Laughs.
Cynthia McFadden: That's all you need to say.
McFadden: quotes from Martha Stewart interview:
"Crafts are a $32 billion industry," said Stewart. "There is no one standout brand in crafting, and we are aiming to be that brand with this amazing assortment of fantastic crafts. And I plan to be number one."
Did she ever think there was a danger that her company would go under? "Not really," she said, "'cause I'm an optimist. I knew we had a really good thing going. And I really knew that I was not guilty of anything that could possibly harm my company."
But wasn't she scared, after all the hard work she had put in to create her business empire? "Well, I was pissed. OK," Stewart said. "Pissed that something could actually affect that. The company had nothing to do with anything. But yet, because I am the face and the brand, my person -- it certainly had a -- harmful effect. When you are prosecuted in such a way, and a great portion of wealth is dissipated, all I can think, so much, is what I could've done with all of that for the good of mankind. And -- and I hope I can continue."
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