In public relations, credibility is everything. When I started at MMC, they asked me to divulge some fun facts about myself. Amongst those was a question about “who were you inspired by?” I answered, “My grandmother. She was one of Europe’s first female motorcycle stunt drivers.” There were a few skeptical looks.
So, I wanted make sure my credibility remains pristine. Here’s a photo of Betty Plant (aka The Blond Bombshell) with her partner, Cyclone Danny Carter, in 1933 outside of London. The youngest of a large family, she was also the rebel. She became a stunt driver in her teenage years. Her fame came from flying her Triumph bike through burning houses and riding down a tiny ramp from the roof of Wembley stadium to do spectacular jumps. I think it is safe to assume there weren’t nearly the safety precautions in place then that they have now to protect the Robbie Knievels of the world (someone we engaged for our award-winning Dawn program at MMC).
My grandmother was featured in all the major magazines of the day, as well as on the newsreels that used to run at the movie theaters before pictures (the predecessor to today’s CNN Headline News). Lest anyone, think she was just some ruffian, I should also tell you that my grandmother was beautiful and had a very successful career as a model and movie actress.
I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with my grandmother well into my 30’s. And, I’m proud to say she had a profound influence on my approach to this business. She made me believe that you should think big and never fear the risk to do something great. You may make a lasting impression.