Marita Jordaan has a goal to make a contribution to her community and society, no matter how small. To be the best version of herself and to enjoy life! To grow daily, to serve, to live in gratitude, and to inspire women to believe in themselves.
My story
I was born in Kimberley and am the youngest of three children. I have a sister who is 7 years older than I am and a brother who is 10 years older. I started primary school in Bethlehem, Free State, but we have relocated several times during my school years, as a result of my dad’s work. I matriculated in Secunda, Mpumalanga in 1998.
My best friend and I went to the United States of America as au pairs for a year in 1999. I returned to South Africa and started my studies at the University of Pretoria in early 2000. My undergraduate studies and Honours degree were a combination of Tourism Management and Accounting. After completing my Honours degree, I had the opportunity to go to England to work in a hotel.
In December 2003, I was on a plane on my way to England to become an employee of a prestigious hotel in Windsor, next to the well-known Long Walk of the Windsor Castle.
After working in England for a year, I decided to start my career in South Africa in finance, where I worked for 10 years in corporate companies in the manufacturing, mining, and petroleum industries respectively. During this time, I got my master’s degree in South African and International Taxation and registered with the South African Institute of Tax Practitioners as a Master’s Tax Practitioner.
As an Accountant and Tax Specialist in a corporate company, I was faced with corporate responsibilities, traveling, managing different roles as a woman, and lack of time and stress. I experienced the challenges of a busy working lifestyle which left me feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, burned out, and stuck.
Mikhe was 3 years old and our son, Ruben, was only 11 months when I decided that I didn’t want to work in the corporate environment anymore. The expectations of my senior position, my role as a wife, a mom of two small children, and my aspirations for the future were in conflict. I felt there was “more to life” than that.
In 2015 I decided to exit the corporate environment and in 2016 I started working as a tax consultant and we started a guest house.
Then Covid-19 made its appearance in 2020.
We were severely affected. In 2021 my largest contributing client discontinued the work of all their consultants, due to the impact of Covid-19. We closed the guest house due to the impact of Covid-19 and my husband’s start-up business was suffering. This severely impacted us, resulting in increased uncertainty in a rapidly changing world.
I didn’t know what I was going to do. However, I did know that I didn’t want to go back to work as an employee in a corporate company. This is where the awareness started. I have always made decisions from a place of desperation, fear, or whether it is the “safe” thing to do.
In the midst of all the uncertainty and inner conflict, I had an “inner spark” that convinced me there is indeed “more” to me, more to life and my purpose, and I desperately wanted to trust this spark and inner awareness. I had a bulldog tenacity to make these difficult circumstances count, to turn it around, and not to make any decisions from a place of fear or desperation.
9 March 2021. The day I chose to say no. No to perfection. I was addicted to perfection, approval from others, and seeking permission to become an extraordinary woman. My ability to reach my full potential was rooted in the approval of other people. I became aware that when an idea of something I wanted to do came up, I would immediately think of who will not approve it and all the reasons why I shouldn’t pursue it. I was stoppable and I desperately wanted to become unstoppable. The delusion of perfection caused so much suffering and robbed me of being who I truly was.
On this day, I said no more perfection. I exchanged this ideal for perfection with an ideal for authenticity and to become the best version of myself, unapologetically.
I approached a transformational life coach, Rolene Strauss (yes former Miss SA and Miss World), and started an intense journey of self-awareness, self-discovery, and learning the skill of self-confidence. This process ignited a series of significant decisions and events in my life.
I started my own business, started with my MPhil in Management Coaching at USB Business School, entered Mrs. South Africa, and was chosen as a semi-finalist. All these, “against all odds”. All of these are without any external validation, resources, or step-by-step guide and answers.
I am on a quest to experiment with the awareness of my “inner sparks” and started pursuing these sparks to see where it takes me – without reasoning, understanding, or clarifying the possible outcomes from it. Simply trusting. I want to become the best version of myself, become extraordinary and unstoppable, and be living proof of the transformation that is possible from living your life potential.
My entry into Mrs. South Africa was such an “inner spark”, which I became aware of and decided to trust and follow. Being chosen as a Mrs. SA Semi-Finalist was beyond my expectations and soon the journey became one of exponential transformation! A journey of being brave, bold, and courageous to discover who you really are. If my story and my journey can inspire one woman to be brave, bold, and courageous to take the first step towards her dream, it was all worth it.
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. Vulnerability is not winning or losing. It’s having the courage to show up when you can’t control the outcome.” – Brené Brown –
Olka Bolka Magazine had an interview with Marita to find out more about her.
What profession do you practice?
I have my own accounting and tax practice, Tax Fanatix, and am a tax consultant for two tertiary academic institutions.
I am also currently working on my Mphil degree in Management Coaching at the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
Which Charity would you like to support?
I would like to support SAACA. We have 4 dogs ourselves – 2 Labradors, Leyla and Rufus, and 2 dachshunds, I love dogs very much and would love to support SAACA.
What inspires you?
People inspire me. People who make joy a daily habit. People who have a positive attitude. People who pursue the impossible and make it possible. People who are brave to give up the “known” to pursue a bigger dream even though there are no guarantees. People who live in gratitude.
What’s on your bucket list?
Wow, the list is long, but among other things I want to do a 21km half marathon, I would like to go to Greece with my family and take my children to Disneyworld in Florida America. (I’ve been there and it is incredible!)
When is your birthday?
August 19
What would you say is your “WHY” or goal in life?
My goal is to make a contribution to my community and society, no matter how small. To be the best version of myself and to enjoy life! To grow daily, to serve, to live in gratitude, and to inspire women to believe in themselves.
What is your favorite:
Movie: Pretty Woman
Actors: Julia Roberts
Series: Forensic Files
Food & beverage: Sushi and red wine
Relaxation: Walking, reading a book, braai with family
Book: Entrepreneurship books
Holiday destination: Umhlanga
Color: Pink
Where can people find and follow you?
On Instagram: @maritajordaan
On Facebook: @Marita Jordaan / Marita Jordaan Mrs SA Semi Finalist 2022
