❓ How can a 71-year-old woman be a famous model, a nutrition expert, and the mother of three outstanding children—one of whom is the world-renowned billionaire Elon Musk?
📖 The book “A Woman Makes A Plan” by Maye Musk will give us the answer.
📌 Initially, I picked up this book out of curiosity, wanting to understand how a single mother could raise three successful children. But as I read, I became captivated by her honesty, optimism, and resilience—a woman who dares to live differently, takes responsibility, and creates a remarkable life.
This article is part of the Lunar New Year Book Gifting Campaign by Cấy Nền, aiming to spread the reading habit and encourage giving books as meaningful New Year gifts.
📚 Here are three major lessons I learned from this book.
1️⃣ The power of planning and taking risks… carefully
📖 The Vietnamese edition of this book is titled "Sống mạo hiểm một cách cẩn thận", which translates to "Live dangerously… carefully." This phrase is also the life philosophy passed down to Maye Musk by her parents. Throughout the book, we see the importance of daring to dream, take action, and embrace adventure, but with careful planning and preparation.
✨ "Plan for the expected, and be ready for the unexpected."✨ "Having a plan does not mean that things will go right. It means that if things go wrong, you will make another plan.""Plan for what you can foresee, and be ready for surprises.""Having a plan doesn’t mean everything will go smoothly. It means that if things go wrong, you’ll come up with another plan."
📌 Maye Musk not only teaches us how to plan but also emphasizes that flexibility is crucial when things don’t go as expected.
2️⃣ It’s never too late
👩👧👦 At 31, she divorced and raised three children on her own.
🎓 At 42, she earned her Ph.D.
👠 At 60, she was still a thriving model with a growing career.
✨ And at 71, she shared that it was the time she felt most confident in her life.
💬 "Women don’t have to slow down as they age."💬 "If you are restless or unhappy and want to make a change, start researching what you can do.""Women don’t have to slow down as they age.""If you feel uneasy or unhappy and want a change, start exploring your options."
💡 What impressed me most about Maye Musk was her constant action. Whenever she felt unhappy, she chose to change instead of accept. Taking action, no matter how small, is the key to overcoming difficulties and creating a more fulfilling life.
3️⃣ Raising children with both freedom and responsibility
👩👦👦 Maye Musk’s parenting style is a highlight of the book. If one child is successful, people might say it’s luck. But when all three children succeed, it proves her methods are worth learning from.
💬 "Children don’t need to be protected from responsibility."💬 "If children show interest, encourage them.""Children don’t need to be shielded from responsibility.""If children show interest, support and encourage them."
✨ Maye Musk gave her children autonomy from a young age, allowing them to take responsibility for their own choices. As a result, each of them pursued different paths yet achieved great success.
💡 For me, this was the most meaningful lesson: Loving your children doesn’t mean sheltering them; it means empowering them to grow independently and follow their passions.
📚 Celebrate the New Year by giving someone a book you love, because sometimes, a single book can change a person’s life.
📖 And if you’re unsure where to start, try reading “A Woman Makes A Plan – Live Dangerously... Carefully”. You might just find yourself in its pages and discover the inspiration to live a brighter, bolder life. 🌈
