In this episode of The Business of Thinking podcast, host Richard Reid speaks with Penny Mallory, who shares her journey from a challenging childhood and homelessness to becoming a rally driver, boxer, and keynote speaker, highlighting the power of purpose in overcoming adversity and achieving high performance.

Penny reflects on how hitting rock bottom became the catalyst for change, leading her to a rally school that “changed the course of my life,” and shares how stubbornness, proving others wrong, and a relentless pursuit of excellence now drive her resilience and her latest challenge—rowing the Atlantic.

Key Takeaways

• Purpose as a driver: A clear mission or purpose changes everything, forming the foundation of mental toughness and something to lean on in difficult times.
• The foundation of excellence: True elite performance comes from the “drudgery” of repeating mundane tasks until they become natural—the hard yards often overlooked in an age of instant gratification.
• The Power of Reflection: Taking time to reflect on what truly matters—why you’re here and what you’ll hold onto when things get tough—helps define your purpose, often rooted in family and health.
• Reframing Failure: Reframe setbacks as opportunities to learn, not failure. Embrace a growth mindset, as Penny believes failure is a concept she’s "never really embraced."
• Resilience vs. Mental Toughness: Resilience is bouncing back because you have to, while mental toughness is bouncing back because you want to, viewing challenges as growth opportunities.

Episode Highlights

• Penny's formative years, including her family life with an alcoholic mother, and the impact of those experiences on her character.
• The surprising, deeply personal purpose that drove her to become a rally champion: the desire to make her father proud.
• Her terrifying, yet exhilarating, experience boxing and how she manages fear by coaching herself to use nerves for performance.
• Her current focus on conscious health and active living, including two hours of gym every day, driven by the purpose of seeing her new grandchild grow up.
• Details on her next huge challenge: training to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean with a team.

Timestamps

01:04 - Penny's formative years and challenging childhood.

04:47 - The power of purpose in overcoming adversity.

06:05 - Advice on how to find your own purpose.

08:07 - Life after rallying: boxing, climbing, and the adrenaline chase.

09:38 - Not being afraid to fail and having a growth mindset.

16:14 - The terrifying experience of stepping into the boxing ring.

18:01 - How to manage fear and use nerves for high performance.

21:03 - Defining resilience versus mental toughness.

24:00 - Training to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean at age 60.

🔗 Connect With Penny Mallory

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pennymallory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mallory.penny/

Facebook: facebook.com/PennyMalloryTalks

YouTube: youtube.com/@pennymallory

⭐️ Connect And Subscribe

Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com.

Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/