Martha Stewart Credits Her Successful Career To Being Fearless: ‘I’m Not Afraid Of Anything!’

At age 77, Martha Stewart is nothing if not a survivor. In 2004, she was convicted of making false statements to federal investigators and served five months in prison. Still, she bounced back and rebuilt her lifestyle brand.

How did she do it? “I took my own advice,” she recently said on the podcast Skimm’d from The Couch. “I said, ‘Don’t let it get you down. And you’re better than this. And the people who are responsible are not good people. And forget about it.’” From the start of her career, she’s never been swayed in pursuit of her goals.

“I’m not afraid of anything,” she said. “Fearlessness really, really helps.” She’s also been determined to leave behind a legacy for her family. When she wrote her first cookbook, “I thought if I don’t write a book, my grandchildren, if I ever have any, will never know what Grandma did in her life because catering is so ephemeral,” she said on the podcast. “You do it… and the minute they eat the dinner, it’s gone. I wanted to make sure that I recorded my ideas, the beautiful recipes.” And that’s a good thing.

Martha doesn’t have to work hard to leave behind a great legacy either. “She’s really owning her power,” an insider previously told Closer Weekly about the celebrity chef. “She does only what she wants to do, and she feels that this past year has made her the most relevant she’s ever been.”

Martha’s new show with Snoop Dog, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, has given her an even younger fanbase than she expected. “She’s genuinely thrilled a whole new generation is discovering her — and appreciating her,” the insider shared. “Martha’s a workhorse. She hustles every day!”

For more on Martha Stewart, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more exclusive news!