Welcome to The Strategy Files—a newsletter about history's most ambitious people in fashion, beauty, and culture. I study the icons, you apply their strategies; you win.

Link to Martha’s book, Martha Rules

Martha Stewart is proof that you can start a business doing something you love and make it a huge success.

When Martha left the cut-throat world of Wall Street in 1976, she had no idea that her love for homemaking, cooking, and entertaining would turn into a global empire. In 1992, she released her first book, Entertaining. In 1991, she launched the magazine Martha Stewart Living, and a year later, she launched a TV show version of the magazine. By 1999, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public, making her $1.2 BILLION in a single day. By 2001, Martha Stewart Living magazine was pulling in $296 million in revenue annually. 

In 2004/2005, Martha spent 5 months in federal prison—but she bounced back.  Since then, Martha has released her 100th book, a podcast, multiple TV shows, and a line of CBD fruit gummies.

I don’t think she’ll stop anytime soon; Martha just keeps building.  And everything she makes, people seem to love. 

@thestrategyfiles

Replying to @JA #greenscreen A lesson from Martha Stewart’s 2001 Annual Report for shareholders #marthastewart #marthastewartliving #busi... See more

Today’s Post

1. Don’t waste time working on the wrong idea

2. Study other founders and their businesses

3. Figure out how to turn your losses, like going to prison, into big wins