Maye Musk - Becoming A Cover Girl At 72 Years Old & Developing An Exceptional Work Ethic

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What's going on everyone? Casey Adams here.

Welcome back to the Rise of the Young podcast. Today we have Mae Musk on the show. Mae Musk is a Canadian South African model and dietitian on also the mother of Elon Musk, Kimbal Musk and Tosca Musk. May has run her own nutrition business for over 45 years in eight cities and three countries through speaking, consulting, counseling, writing and media work. She was the first dietician to be featured on a cereal box with her book Feel Fantastic. She has been modeling since the age of 15 and has had four billboards in Times Square. In her 60s, May gives presentations as an entrepreneur, fashion icon and nutrition expert to numerous corporations, associations, hospitals and universities. Her new book, A Woman Makes a Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty and Success just came out and inside of this podcast we talked not only about her book, but what it was like growing up in South Africa, raising three kids as a single mother and much, much more. I am very excited about this episode and there's thing that I ask of you and that is to screenshot this podcast and tag Mae Musk and myself on your Instagram story and share it with a friend. This is not only a fantastic podcast, but something that I've been looking forward to for quite some time now. So that being said, enjoy the show.

What's going on everyone? Casey Adams here. Welcome back to the Rise of the Young podcast podcast. On today's episode, I am honored to have the one and only Mae Musk here with us. Thanks so much for coming on the show. Mei.

Thank you Casey.

Absolutely.

So first off, I just want to say your story is so inspiring and your book A Woman Makes a Plan. Advice for a Lifetime adventure of beauty and success. It's something that not only I've bought for my mom because I want her to read the book but but I want to ask you what inspired you to write this book?

Well, especially as you are talking to the young people it's when I do modeling jobs with very young models. And then afterwards they say, oh, I love what you told me, please write a book. And then I'll go to events and people say, oh, I love what you said, please write a book. And I'm thinking, what did I say? You know, so then I started from childhood, you know, had very adventurous parents, very adventurous childhood, came to the Kalahari Desert, and people think that's extraordinary. And it is, yes. And then through to my studies, my marriage, which was not good, and then to the moving to new countries. I started my own business in eight cities, in three countries, rewriting the exams as a dietitian, starting my modeling career as well. And to show you that it's not easy. You can make a plan, but you have to change it as it goes along because definitely don't plan to live in eight cities and start your own business because it's hard. So just so you know, that's where a woman makes a plan. But many men who have read the book, they. It's also helped them with their business. They like the adventure part, the family part, and the health part. Yes, love it.

So I, I'm one of three children. I know that you have three children as well. And I want to ask you, where does your, your personal drive for entrepreneurship come from? Because your story, if you have such a work ethic that has been passed on to, you know, Elon Kimball and Tosca, that I think shows to the world. So where does your work ethic come from and how did you develop that at an early age?

Well, my parents always work from home and next door to our home, and I worked for them from when I was 8 years old. So pretty much, you know, you help people. And so when I graduated, of course I didn't really want to work for someone, but then I got married and had three kids in three years. That's not the best time to go looking for a job. So I just started a practice at home because people asked me nutrition advice and I did that. And then once Tosca was born, then after that they wanted me back in the modeling business because I started at 15, then took the break to have three kids and then went back into modeling. And then I found out, oh, you know, you can survive as a dietitian and a model. And I was in an unhappy situation, which I didn't want to bring into my book, and I asked the publisher to take it out. And it seems there's many women in bad marriages, abusive marriages, who do find it hard to leave and it's scary. You are scared and when you leave, you are financially strapped. But to live in fear every day is just not worth it. So that's why they wanted to be in there. And funny enough, many women have related to that and then men have more related to my business, all the business ideas I give. And then. Yeah, it's just you go through stages in your life and you know, I'm going to be 72 this week and.

Yeah.

So I'm hoping this will help for people of all ages.

Absolutely. So I know you talk about in your book, you talk about ageism. Right. And you are number one, I want to say, absolutely beautiful. And being 71 years old, how have you been able to overcome these challenges? And what advice do you give to people that may be dealing with whether that's ageism or just a challenge in their life that is holding them down, especially during a time like this, during coronavirus.

Well, during coronavirus, we all pretty much are staying at home. And really it's. If you have underlying conditions like heart disease, diabetes or lung disease, then you are at higher risk. I'm fortunately healthy because I eat very well as a dietitian. I eat very well. Although I do sometimes give myself treats, which I usually don't that so much, but I am now. But you can have treats every now and again. It's not like I'm that rigid. And the thing is, you need to keep yourself in good health and then you need to be active. So I do stretches on the ground, yoga stretches. And then I sometimes I'll watch some kind of pop star dancing and I'll try to copy that dancing just to get my energy going, you know, because you really force yourself. You could much rather lie on the couch and feel sorry about yourself, but instead do podcasts. How's that?

Love it. Absolutely. Very cool. So I want to ask you, just myself, I'm 19 years old and there's a lot of young, not only entrepreneurs, but people who listen to this that are starting businesses. What advice do you give to individuals who want to start their first business?

First of all, I always think it needs to be good. It needs to be good for others. So I started my business, I was a dietitian and I gave nutrition counseling to patients of doctors to keep them in better health. So it makes you feel good. It makes them feel good. And then Tosca, my daughter, she does passion flicks, which is romance movies where the women are strong, they're not diseased, they're not brutalized. You know they're from bestselling romance books. So they are happy in the end, they're happy. Of course there's always drama, but it's not. The woman is strong and good. And then Kimbal, he does good work too. He does his farm to table restaurants which are unfortunately. And then the vegetable gardens in schools again, those are closed as well. Yeah, he really has to work through that. Then Elon has Tesla saving the world. Fresh air. And it's such fresh air now. I actually tweeted out something about how different like in India and in Asia, how the pollution makes everything brownish and grayish. And then now the air is clear, you know, which is great. And then of course then SpaceX which is feeding the astronauts. So it's all good thing. As long as you're doing something good, then you need to work towards it, let people know. Fortunately there's social media, there's something like your channel, there's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. I still have to figure out, have my YouTube channel and have my own TikTok and all that.

Oh wow, I love it.

I've got time now, figure out things. And so that's the whole thing about finding what you want to do that will help people and then you have a better chance of being successful. Like your mess, you give good messages to people, you have good guests and they share their experiences and so then people will want to tune into you and so, you know, you find what you would like to do that will be good, good to other people. And like artists, I mean, I have no art in me. I don't know about you. Okay, if you're good at drawing, draw. If you're good at photographs, take good photographs and post them and let people know and then start your business that way. So everyone has their own passion that they would like to do and let's just work at it all the time. I work day and night even now. Yeah.

So I would love for you to take us back. You know, growing up in South Africa and moving all over to different countries. Where were you at 18, 19 years old. And what was your plan then?

Okay, 18, 19 years old. I started university at 17 and I was getting. I wanted to do sciences. So then my father said, well, yeah, I want to do bio. Yeah. Biochemistry or microbiology. And he said to me that you won't have a profession at the end, do something with a profession at the end. So then the only one I could think of was dietetics. However, I had to go to an Afrikaans university, so I had to learn to speak Afrikaans as well as do physics, math, you know, biochemistry, microbiology. And it was hard, so that was a huge challenge. I don't recommend that. Don't, just don't go and study in another language. And I did get my degree and then when I was divorced and going through a hard time too, I decided to do then my hospital dietetics diploma and move to a small university town because I was really going through a hard time. And that's in my book too. Sad. I was just so sad. And then we stayed in the doctor's quarters so my children were in the bedroom and I was in the living room kitchen. And that was to say they never complained and it wasn't that bad, but that was all I could afford, you know, when I studied. And then yeah, so then I moved quite a bit. It's. I always have to plan everything so that I don't move unnecessary things because it costs you money and you don't know where you're going to and all that. When I moved from Johannesburg to, to Toronto then I was 41 and they blocked my funds. So you can imagine starting from scratch there with three kids and a rent controlled apartment which we had to clean up. So As I say, 17, 18, 19, I was struggling through university studying medical with medical subjects in Afrikaans. Never knew what my plan was then. My plan was just to survive.

Yeah, okay, got it. I want to ask you just because me and my mom are super close and I have two older brothers myself and she always talks to me about how, you know, you raise kids in one unique way, but they all tend to do different things. What's your advice to parents and what would you say was some of your parenting tips that you'd give to people that are maybe young parents that are.

Raising children well, you know, you need to teach them independence so that they can actually be responsible for themselves. Like for example, even if they're very young, they can, they can still clear their table from the. Clear their plate from the table. Be polite, consider other people. That is not all about themselves. Now I would say let them walk to school or take the bus. But nowadays, you know, with all the news and that you're concerned about their safety and that was not something I was concerned. I just got found the closest to public school because of course afford a private school and I went to public schools and then the kids had to get there on their own. You know, not as safe as that as it is nowadays. It's a little unsafe or the news makes it seem. So maybe it was unsafe in our days and we just didn't know it.

Okay, got it. How on a daily basis, especially during a time like this, how has your daily routine maybe changed due to everything happening with coronavirus and the lockdown? Or just what do you, what does your day to day look like? Because I know, like you say in multiple interviews, you have a crazy schedule. So I'd love for you to walk us through some of the daily routines and rituals of Maye Musk.

Okay, first of all, before this shutdown, I had a flight booked every week to fly somewhere either for a speaking engagement or chat charity or a modeling job. All right, so all that's cancelled.

Wow.

And then so now I'm going through, and I'm sure everybody has the same boxes of photographs. Now usually I have everything on Dropbox, all the important things, but now I'm like, I found 100 photographs from modeling job from the 80s, then scanning them, labeling them, putting them in folders. And then I did the 90s. Now I still have the 2000s, the 2000s. Can you imagine? I have a very busy two weeks ahead. And so that's what I'm doing. Then I'm walking my dog. That's when I cover up with the mask and gloves, walk him three times a day. Other than that, I'm in my apartment.

Okay, very cool.

And I'm watching tv. Oh, I've been watching some great series watch in French, German and Dutch because those are the three languages I speak. And. But you don't get, you don't get the chance to speak in America. And I'm, you know, with my book going worldwide, I'm going to be going to different countries and I'd like to be able to be interviewed in different languages.

Very cool. That's very cool. With book having just so much success and like you just said, becoming a worldwide sensation. Just how does that make you feel? Because I know your story is so not only important to you, but it's such a wild journey. So with, with everything happening with your book now getting so much worldwide exposure, what does it mean that to you that how your book is impacting so many lives around the world?

Well, I get very excited because when, you know, because I'm social media, people post my book and then they, they go through different chapters and they say this, this resonated with me. Or this sounded like my life. Oh, you're giving me hope and you're inspiring me. And that makes, makes me feel good, you know, and I'm happy that other Countries also find the book inspirational and that people can improve their lives and make a change if you're in a happy situation.

Love that. I have a question, just throughout your journey, you know, with the success of all three of your children, how did your life change as your children got older and how has the relationship changed as they got more busy, just more productive?

Well, you see, I've always been very busy and they've always been very busy, so that doesn't change. But we do get together often, you know, when we can. And fortunately, just before this lockdown, we got together and so now we just, you know, waiting. We can text, video, I see them on Instagram or whatever and Twitter and we can FaceTime, but we all still very busy. It's not like I'm clingy that I need to hear from my children every day. None of that. I have a very busy life and I like it.

Love that. Where do you see the future of just modeling and fashion going during a time with social media? You're very in tune with social media. You've built an amazing brand and you're, you're talking about things like TikTok and you're doing podcasts, like you're very in culture and I love it. Like, where does that come from and how have you been able to stay so current and just on top of, you know, what's working in terms of marketing and everything happening on social media, it's hard.

You have to learn every new platform you have to learn and you know, and it's, and I'm not like a teenager who goes, oh, I'm just going to get into this and do it. I, I read every instruction. I'm not willing to try something in case it goes wrong. Luckily, my assistant is Anna, who is very up to date and she's willing to try anything. So that helps a lot. And otherwise, every time there's an update or an upgrade or something, you got to learn stuff so much more. And it's, and it's hard. You have to do it or you stay behind. And then when it comes to fashion, I do have a team. I used to have a team who keep me fashionable, like with my hair and my makeup and my clothing and keeping me look very trendy for a woman in her 70s. And I would like to say I always look comfortable. No, I'm not always comfortable. They can put me in skin tight stuff sometimes and, and big head pieces and all that kind of thing. But I don't complain because I'm privileged. I just feel so happy about that. On the modeling side, I love that.

When it comes to just your legacy, what would you say you want your legacy to be here on this earth?

I haven't thought about having a legacy. I think. I don't think I need to have a legacy. I just think maybe just aim for a happier life.

Okay. Beautiful.

Yeah.

Throughout the. What's been some of the most rewarding moments of your life when it comes to whether that's being on magazine covers and what those mean to you. But can you give us an example of something that comes to mind when you think of a rewarding moment that just shows to yourself what's possible with everything you're doing?

I would say being a cover girl at 69. Yes. I mean, who would think I've done beauty campaigns, but nobody, you know, I was like the third person in the beauty campaign. And every model wants what they call a makeup campaign. I mean, that's the highlight of your. Of your career. And I got it at 69. So there you go. You keep going in your field, and you never know. And it's done so well and makes me feel very special. And, yeah, I love that.

And I found it so fascinating because, you know, at 69 years old, you are thriving. And I want to ask you, what advice do you give to maybe someone out there that has the feels like, you know, it's, hey, it's time to put my shoes away. It's, I gotta get this normal job and society and the world is coming on to me in a way that I didn't think was gonna happen. What advice do you give to someone out there that feels stuck, that doesn't have that plan right now? What would you tell them?

First of all, why do you feel stuck and who's making you feel stuck? And if they making you feel like you're not worth much, Goodbye. They must go. They must just go. You can't mix with people who make you feel less than you feel about yourself. And you need to explore more options. And if you really would love to just lie back and watch tv, do that. But if you really feel like you're not being treated right or that people aren't promoting you, I always say at 50, women are let go from a company and men become CEOs, so that's got to stop. So women have to start supporting women in that, and men have to start supporting women, and women should get a position if she's better qualified than the man. Nowadays, there's still a man's club. Now, hopefully your Generation will change that even more. Yes.

I love that. What would you say keeps you motivated on a daily basis? Because I see you, you know, you're doing all these podcasts on a daily basis and you're doing these book tours. Like, what keeps you motivated?

I don't know. Wake up positive. I'm very excited about the day. I mean, I must say, with the lockdown, I became very sad because of all the people losing their jobs, and I don't know where they're going to get food and how they're going to support themselves. But you can only do so much sadness, and then you have to then start posting about, you know, doing good things in the world and get out a positive message. We will get over this, and then we'll just take off, you know? We really will.

Yeah, I love that. How do you define success in your life?

I don't know. I'll wait until I see it.

Okay, very cool.

I'm only joking. I mean, I'm feeling really top of the world now in the world as a speaker, especially because of my age. And they loving it that A woman, you know, 70s, is working so hard and successful and confident and stylish and so that I've been speaking in different countries in China, Hungary and Lebanon. I mean, wonderful. It's been wonderful. That. And I think that's. That could be my goal then is to go to all these countries where especially the ones that have my. Are going to publish my book. I will just be giving talks on feeling good at any age.

Yeah. When it comes to public speaking, I do a lot of public speaking myself. And I think a lot of people listening, they want to maybe try that along their journey because there's a lot of entrepreneurs that listen to the show. What would you say inspires you to speak on stage? And how do you define your speaking presence?

Well, what happens is that from when I was a teenager, I would be asked to go on radio or to give talks. And then in my 20s, with my degree, I was asked to give talks and I just did it. I didn't give much thought. And then in my 30s, I started getting paid for my talks, which was great because first of all, when people say, you have to give a talk, I said, I can't leave my practice. I can't stop modeling. You have to pay me for what I'm losing in my income for that day. And then they started paying me, which was great. And the thing is, so I'm very comfortable giving talks because if you have a message to share and that could help other people. Then it's nice to give talks.

Yeah.

And so the platform has increased and it's really worldwide now.

Love that.

Do you have a morning ritual?

Yes, I have to have one because my dog controls my life. So what happens is that he wakes me up. He's usually my alarm clock around 7:00am but sometimes 6:30, you know, sometimes I'm even up before him and then he looks at me as if to say, I'm not ready to get up yet. And then I make coffee and give him his treat. He knows when that coffee door goes open, he's going to get a treat. And then we go for our walk.

I love that. Did you have any mentors along your journey that helped you stay on track through your journey? And if so, who were they?

I didn't because in the nutrition field it was unusual for dietitians to run their own business. So I ended up giving talks on how to run your own business as a wellness professional. I didn't really have anybody else who was doing that then as a model, I just wait to be booked and they kept on booking me, you know, who knew? So I didn't have any mentors there either.

Okay, very cool. As a model, what advice do you give to maybe young, you know, models out there who are building a career that haven't got their first gig or they're looking to get booked? What advice do you give them?

You just got to keep on going to those auditions. You just keep on going. You keep on going. And if you get one out of two 20 jobs, well done.

Yeah, it's a numbers game.

A lot of rejection in modeling and you're just not right for the job and you can't explain it. And what do you mean I could have done that? That doesn't help to even go back on that.

Yeah, very cool. And I find it very unique. And I think as you, as a very powerful woman, just what advice would you give yourself if you were to talk to the 18 year old Mae Musk with everything you know now?

Oh, at 18, yeah. Then I was. You think you know everything. You also think the world is quite great because my parents were fabulous and I was living with them while I was studying. So I knew everything. I was happy with my life, I was happy in my home. And then of course, reality comes into your life and you find that some people are not nice. And I hope that from this you will know that your viewers will say, if I'm in a bad situation, just get out of it quicker. Than I did because I suffered. Alright, you don't hope you suffer less. You think you can change people, but when they evil, they're pretty evil.

Very cool. I have two more quick questions, just one being like I said earlier, you're absolutely beautiful. What is the key or what do you give? What advice do you give people for from a dietary perspective if they're looking to live a long, healthy life?

Well, I follow the flexitarian diet, that's vegetarian at home and then some meat, fish and chicken when I go out. There is also the Mediterranean diet, the Dash diet and the Weight Watchers diet. Those are the four main diets to keep you in good health. And it's also good for your skin, it's good for your hair, it's good for your nails if you are eating well. And that is the way to go.

Very cool. So lastly, I just want to bring it back to the book A Woman Makes a Plan. And ask you when it comes to the adventure of your life and of your journey, with everything that's happened, looking back, is there a moment that you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and you're like, wow, this happened not only for the magazines, but is there a moment or a story that you could share with us that inspired you to keep going? Because I think especially during a time like this, maybe people are getting laid off, they're losing their jobs and they feel like things are, you know, uncertain. So when you were dealt with times of uncertainty, how did you respond to that?

You have to go on a budget. I mean, I did my own manicures, pedicures, I colored my own hair, cut it. I cut my children's hair. I always said, thank goodness my sons couldn't see the back of their head because I wasn't good at it. You don't have to go to movies, you don't have to go out for dinner. Well, now you can't anyway. You have to worry about luxuries. You can eat on a budget. And I've often talked about bean stew and of course I talk about eating well in my book. And you really need to don't worry about any luxuries. You have to make do with what you have. Because we're going through a hard time now.

I love that.

And if you do that, then you have less fear.

Love that. So last but not least, may I want to say we've spoken about your book A Woman Makes a Plan throughout this entire interview. And I want to ask you, where is the best place for people to not only buy the book, but to follow your journey, to stay tuned with everything you have going on.

Well, maymusk.com that's where you can order the book. And that will take you to all the different stores that have online stores. Of course, all the stores are closed now. They can go online. And then there's also Maye Muske's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And stay tuned. If I go into other areas.

Absolutely, absolutely. And everyone listening, make sure you go check out A Woman Makes a Plan by Mae Musk. And that being said, May, thank you so much for coming on the show.

Thank you so much for inviting me. Foreign.

Legacy of Monsters An Apple original series. The world is on fire. I decided to do something about it on November 17th. This place, it's not ours. Believe me, the most massive event of the year arrives. If you come with me, you'll know everything. I promise. Monarch Legacy of monsters streaming November 17th only on Apple TV.

Plus.