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Try, Try Again
Hard knock story an inspirational one
Jason Barrell has gone through a lot: dyslexia, a broken neck, the loss of a promising rugby career, a tumour that took him close to death, facial paralysis, brain surgery, the loss of a second career, fatigue, depression, stage fright...and has survived it all.
Some would say Jason is "unlucky" but he thinks otherwise. "It never fails to amaze me how much strength can be found in adversity." Although Jason, an ordinary Kiwi bloke, has had more than his share of challenges, it is these adversities that have made him one of New Zealand’s most successful inspirational speakers and has motivated him to share his experiences in this new book, Try, Try Again.
Published by Craig Potton Publishing, Try, Try Again is the story of Jason’s life to date, including his struggle with undiagnosed dyslexia1 at school and his professional rugby career with NPC and Super 12 selections. That career ended when he suffered a devastating injury. After struggling through rehabilitation and going on to fulfil his dream of graduating as a Police Officer, he was then struck down with an illness that nearly cost him his life.
At only 32 years, Jason suffered a series of strokes that were first ignored. "A man will look after his vehicle – get his oil changed, his tyres rotated regularly – but will resist seeing a doctor when he is ill," says Jason. Eventually he went under the surgeon's knife and into a long rehabilitation programme that meant starting all over again, relearning how to walk, feed and dress himself.
Jason's hope is that his book "will help people facing something big in their own lives, giving them the courage and belief to push on, to know that they can get through it and to always try, try again."
About the authors
Jason Barrell is a former professional rugby player and policeman. Today he is one of New Zealand’s most successful motivational speakers. Try, Try Again is his first book. His story first appeared as a Television New Zealand 20/20 programme feature in 2005.
Besides writing, Elaine Weber McGough also works as a free-lance event and project manager. Elaine currently divides her time between Auckland and the Whangarei Heads, where she runs a tourism venture with her husband, and is working on her second book.
Purchase now
180 pp, paperback, with photographic section
ISBN: 978 1 877517 14 3
1 Dyslexia affects as many as 10% of the New Zealand population according to Speld Chief Executive Toni Griffiths.