Kellie Maloney: What lesson has mattered most in your life? — FLAPSS

The question

What lesson has mattered most in your life?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two fully readable publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

KM

Kellie Maloney

Retired boxing manager, promoter and politician

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Choose your friends wisely.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

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Simon Boas Aid worker; executive director of Jersey Overseas Aid

All our tombs will be unvisited in a few years - all our actions will mostly be unremembered - but the smile you gave the checkout lady or the kind words you gave to a stranger in the street could still be rippling forward. We all have that opportunity and it's a huge power.

Recorded Emma Barnett, BBC Radio 4, Today, as published by BBC News, 4 July 2024 source ↗

Your lowest moment is temporary.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 April 2026 source ↗

Marcus Brigstocke

To be here in this one moment.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 January 2025 source ↗

Shinya Yamanaka Stem cell biologist; Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, 2012

So I think failure is important in my career.

Recorded Academy of Achievement interviewer, Academy of Achievement interview, 2008 source ↗

More from Kellie Maloney

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Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

In my early days of transitioning, I used to come to London and meet for a drink with a group going through the same thing. I used to wear a full wig, and one night I’d drunk too much and fell asleep on the train, and my wig slipped off.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

Not being truthful to everyone from an earlier age.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

Being two-faced.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Losing my family.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

The pope. I was brought up in the Catholic religion, and I think he is trying to make the church more accepting of all. He’s got a very hard job because the church is very stuck in its rightwing conservative ways.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

To my daughters and my partner, Tracey, for what I put them through with my transition.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

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