A Woman Makes a Plan

Title: ​A woman makes a plan
Author: May Musk
Publisher: Jonathan Ball
Reviewer: Beryl Eichenberger
Maye Musk is a bold woman. And, if the surname sounds familiar, Maye is mother of the more famous Elon Musk. But Maye in her own right has carved a niche for herself as the woman who made silver hair glamorous at 59, (thank you Maye) becoming a CoverGirl at 69 and now in her seventies is an international supermodel and sought after speaker as well as writing her eminently readable memoir ‘A woman makes a plan’. 

Add to that a thriving dietician practice and her energy is infectious.  She has made it glamorous to be mature.
If the title has a familiar ring then you’re right as it stems from the South African phrase ‘N’Boer maak ‘n plan’ which she learnt when growing up in South Africa. Her life has been full of adventure and she writes in a frank, no-nonsense style imparting sound advice that can be used by any woman of any age. When i first picked up the book i was a little sceptical – privilege and all that. But I was pleasantly surprised.  Privileged as a child -  yes, but as an adult, no.
Her story is compelling, with resilience  at its heart . Lying down and letting life stomp all over you is not in her plan. She, her twin sister Kaye and three other siblings learned at an early age to be independent and their young lives were, in anyone’s books, pretty magical. Moving from Canada to South Africa her parents were adventurers. Her chiropractic father had a plane and flying somewhere for a conference or holiday was common practice, and this was not the sort of plane we are used to! Her mother Wyn was a journalist and taught ballroom dancing and ballet who continued to be active until her death at 96. Their ideas and interests were a creative masterplan in how to survive. And for every trip, as dangerous as it appeared to be…there was a plan. 
And for Maye, this was the key: whatever the situation you have to have a plan. A science nerd she went to modelling school at 15 - happily modelling at a department store for extra money but not taking it too seriously. Learning Afrikaans she studied at Pretoria University and then went on to do her Masters degree at Bloemfontein. With a PhD and various degrees in nutrition she has restarted her practices in several different countries over the years, no easy task. She took on these challenges in life and as she says’ you just have to overcome them.’ She freely admits that her weight was a continual problem, one that with a strict regime she has conquered (including a peanut butter sandwich) bringing her the ultimate successes of modelling work.  
Her early marriage was a mistake and, escaping to Durban after nine years with three young children, Elon, Kimbal and Tosca, she struggled financially, juggling her dietician practice and other jobs to keep the family afloat. There was no financial back up – her abusive husband saw to that with 11 tough years fighting lawsuits. Advice here: ‘Get yourself out – as quickly as you can’. To this day she freely admits she doesn’t have great taste in men!
Maye’s attitude is practical:  ‘make your own choices and be responsible for them, they can lead to surprising events whatever your age. Be kind to others, without expecting anything in return. The harder you work – the luckier you get.’  With her kids, who have all been hugely successful –‘ let them go their own way but always support them.’ Health – ‘there is no magic pill.’ Kindness and consideration play a big role in success but it is the plan that is the key. While she is a great role model for older women her advice is relevant whatever age you are.
What I enjoyed was her positive spirit, despite many emotional and physical upheavals.  There is a distinctly frank and no nonsense approach that is endearing and never sanctimonious. Written in conversational style the book has lots to offer in an accessible way. She learnt her lessons the hard way and is honest in her revelations and how she coped. But what she has achieved is a life of adventure, beauty and success and who wouldn’t want that – at any age… as long as you have a plan.