05: From Living on the Streets to Champion Rally Racer // The Story of Penny Mallory
Background:
Motorsport and TV fans know her as the first (and remains the only) woman to compete in a World Rally Car. Penny Mallory knows how to compete and beat the odds, but she also knows top performance requires even more than sacrifice and maximum commitment. It also takes heart, insight and the courage to keep going and the refusal to quit.
As a child she saw alcoholism and mental illness destroy her family. Fleeing home at 14, homeless and fending for herself on the London streets, her life couldn’t have been more dangerous or bleak, yet an inner strength and self-belief enabled her to take control of her future. She made impossible possible and has since dedicated her life to helping others do the same. It is these experiences that have made her keynotes acclaimed international favourites for many of the world’s most powerful and storied brands.
Her life is a continuing series of doing what conventional thinking says she simply can’t. From competing in three marathons on three consecutive days to hell runners and triathlons, finding the courage to enter the boxing ring, and the physical resolve to conquer two of the world’s highest mountains. Penny is the author of ‘World Class Thinking, World Class Behaviour’.
Time-Stamped Show Notes:
- 1:11 Penny Mallory is the first and only woman in the world to compete in a world rally car. She is also a motivational speaker.
- 3:15 At 6 years old, Penny already wanted to be a rally car driver.
- 3:52 She was a very unhappy child, which affected her schooling at such an early age.
- 5:38 According to Penny, being world-class is a choice that people need to make.
- 7:01 Eric and Penny talk about being a risk-taker and taking chances.
- 10:38 Just sitting in a rally car was a life-changing experience for Penny.
- 11:39 Part of the reason that she wanted to succeed in rally cars is to have her dad notice her.
- 13:37 She was so focused on driving that she did not care for anything else.
- 15:00 No one understood why she was driving rally cars and no one was there for her but it didn’t bother her at all.
- 17:06 Having an impact on someone and being a part of a person’s transformation is a total privilege for Penny.
- 18:45 Penny offers a piece of very meaningful advice regarding mental toughness.
- 19:56 Penny talks about being challenged and taking the next step towards success.
- 21:14 She shares her rock-bottom moment, which she describes as the best thing that anyone can ever have.
This Episode Sponsored By:
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- 6:11 Nellie’s has been at the forefront of providing shelter and support for marginalized women and their children in the Greater Toronto Area. We operate programs and services for women and children who had or are experiencing violence, poverty, and homelessness. Nellie’s works to lessen homelessness for women and their children whether the cause is family violence, mental health, or any other reason that results in dealing with the impact from trauma. If you have the financial means to help, please make a donation at nellies.org.
Key Point from the Interview:
- “World class is a choice that most people aren’t prepared to make. It’s too big a price to pay.”
