Meet Mallory Brown

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mallory Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mallory below.

Hi Mallory, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found, and continue to find, my purpose by leading with curiosity.

My journey started in Southeast Asia on a post college graduation backpacking trip. My friend and I planned a 21-day adventure to Indonesia and Thailand, but on the second day of the trip, I got into a bicycle crash. I flipped over my handlebars, face-planted into cement, and ended up in a remote health clinic with five stitches in my chin. We were traveling on a group tour, and since I couldn’t get my stitches wet, I couldn’t do many of the planned excursions. So, while my group went snorkeling or swimming in waterfalls, I spent the time wandering through villages and meeting local people. I approached them with curiosity and became fascinated by the everyday lives of people living in extreme poverty. This lead to my first career as a social entrepreneur and humanitarian.

During my first few years of international humanitarian work, I filmed my trips to share with supporters back home. I learned about camera angles and music selection which led to a new passion and purpose for documentary filmmaking and storytelling. A couple years later, I spoke at a Tedx conference. I was curious about sharing my experiences with an audience, and that first speech blossomed into a career as a motivational speaker.

I believe our purpose evolves as we do, expanding and shifting as we grow into different stages of life. Each of my purposes came from taking a risk and seizing a new opportunity. If you are struggling to find your purpose, evaluate where you are stagnant in life. Then, challenge yourself to try something new, and you will eventually reveal a new purpose inside yourself.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a filmmaker, humanitarian, and keynote speaker. I travel the world to tell real life stories of human connection. My work has taken me to 60+ countries and developed from my love of travel and culture. I’ve published 40+ films which have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities fighting extreme poverty. Currently, I’m walking a marathon around the world for women’s empowerment showcased in a 26-part documentary series called “Walk A Mile.” In each episode, I step into the shoes of an impoverished woman. 26 miles. 26 women. 26 stories of strength. Each episode benefits a local women’s charity.

Through my travels, I have a developed a deep understanding of human relationships. I speak to corporate audiences about empathy, leadership, and workplace culture. I teach a process for approaching others with empathy and bringing humanity back to our work. I believe we, as individuals, have the power to drastically impact each other’s lives, and it starts with a simple act of empathy.

Through my films, charity work, and keynote speeches, my goal is to encourage a more compassionate and connected world.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three of the most important mindsets that have guided my journey are:

1. A willingness to share my story. As a young entrepreneur, I had to learn to “talk to strangers” and share my heart with anyone who would listen. As a shy young woman, this pushed me outside of my comfort zone. But the more I shared, the greater success I found. Your vulnerability will open many doors. Just keep sharing your passion.

2. Chasing freedom, not things. So often, we are motivated to achieve a material level of success. We are rewarded with bonuses, salary increases, or gifts. However, I consider my greatest success to be the level of internal peace in my daily life. Freedom means something different to each of us, but if we make freedom our goal, we will work toward a truly fulfilling life.

3. Just keep moving. I have always been a big dreamer, but sometimes setting huge goals is overwhelming. I’m currently trying to walk a marathon around the world – a GIANT goal. But I remind myself daily that progress is made in small steps. Try to accomplish just one small task everyday toward your goal. The little moments add up. Just one phone call, one email, one workout, one practice. You write a novel one page at a time. You lose a hundred pounds one at a time. Little by little, one travels far.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I am overwhelmed, I take a “be here now” moment. I work from home and have ten month old twin babies, so most of my overwhelm comes from balancing my career and parenting. My “be here now” moment starts by physically changing locations. I walk away, ideally going outside for fresh air (even in a Michigan winter!) but if that isn’t possible, I go into a different room. No phone. No computer. No distractions. I sit down, close my eyes, and breathe. I try to feel my ribs expanding with each breath and listen to the natural sounds occurring around me. I whisper to myself, “Be here now.” The tension usually melts away. This is similar to meditation but calling it a “be here now” moment seems fast and easy.

We all feel pressure and overwhelm. Unfortunately, we often measure the success of our day by how many items we crossed off our to-do list. The best days are when we get the most done. The worst days are when we get nothing done. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There is contentment in simply existing, joy in being alive, and appreciation in things just the way they are. A “be here now” moment reminds me of this.

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Image Credits

Photo credit: Ryan Doyle

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