Rugby is a team game, with individuals playing different roles bringing different skill sets and having different responsibilities. It’s not by chance New Zealand has the world’s greatest players and teams consistently being the best.
It would also come as no surprise that the leading agents at Barfoot & Thompson Bream Bay and Whangarei have both had successful rugby careers.
The lessons learnt on and off the field, and the skills required to be successful in rugby equally apply to being successful in the real estate industry…
• Leadership • Teamwork • Communication • Planning • Strategy • Tenacity • Integrity
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Successful agents like Andy and Jason are the first to say their success is not their own doing, but that of a big team of experts behind them, and you have to agree.
Barfoot & Thompson now have over 80 branches and 1,800+ salespeople across Auckland and Northland, and are industry leaders in New Zealand’s largest market, Auckland.
Steve Sharp, Branch Manager of Barfoot & Thompson Bream Bay & Whangarei says Andy and Jason personify why top sportspeople make great salespeople. Their competitive nature, goal-oriented mindset, resilience, determination, discipline, and ability to perform under pressure, creates great outcomes for their clients. That experience in highly competitive environments, setting and pursuing goals, coping with setbacks, and working diligently translates well into sales. Their performance under pressure, self-motivation, and growth mindset enable them to adapt, learn new strategies, and excel in high-stakes situations.
These results attest to this and I am delighted they are on my team.
Andy Dalton played 35 tests for New Zealand and was one of the most successful All Blacks captains in history, victorious in 15 of his 17 tests as captain.
His path to the top was slow but gained traction when he shifted to Counties and came under the coaching gaze of Barry Bracewell and Hiwi Tauora, men who needed grafting solid forwards so their teams could support attractive rugby.
Dalton, with Gary Knight and John Ashworth all made their national debut on the 1977 tour to Italy and at almost 26, Dalton then made his test start against France.
He was compact in the frontrow, deadly with his lineout throws as the first All Black hooker to perform that art and busy around the field.
Those frisky days seemed a distant memory when Dalton captained the All Blacks against the Boks in their tempestuous visit in ‘81, as the Geriatrics (Dalton, Knight and Ashworth) took the brunt of the visitors’ set piece onslaught.
Coming in to the ‘87 World Cup Andy strained his hamstring on the soft training grounds before the competition, signalling an end to his international rugby career. With Andy’s dry line of comedy, he talks about how his sacrifice kickstarted Sean Fitzpatrick’s career.
Not long after his retirement from rugby Andy coached Counties, then going on to be one of the youngest Presidents of the New Zealand Rugby Union. He later became the CEO of the Blues and Auckland Rugby Union. Currently Andy is the President of the NZ Rugby Foundation.
In June 2018, Andy joined Barfoot & Thompson as a Coastal & Lifestyle specialist in the Bream Bay area.
Andy knows that a winning team doesn’t just happen – it takes leadership, strong values and a common commitment to perform at the highest level.
He is focused on consistently exceeding customer expectations through his quiet determination and attention to detail. You can be assured of his commitment and professionalism in securing the best deal for you whatever your requirements.
If you are thinking of selling or buying Andy would love to be part of your winning team.
Andy Dalton - Licensed REA 2008
Jason Barrell is your everyday, ordinary New Zealander. Albeit, a New Zealander who has experienced more than his fair share of life’s challenges.
As a young adult, Jason was selected to play professional rugby. Making both NPC and Super 12 teams, his career took off in leaps and bounds, playing rugby for the Chiefs and the Blues. It was during a scrum in his first Blues game that Jason felt a crunch in his neck. Whilst he played on – not realising this was a broken neck – it tragically proved to be a career-ending injury.
With rugby no longer an option, Jason was excited at the thought of becoming a police officer.
Throughout his training in police college Jason began experiencing “weird sensations”. Unbeknownst to him he had a brain stem haemangioma which was bleeding and causing strokes.
Jason persevered with the symptoms during his first year as a policeman until eventually he became too unwell to continue. Initially the prognosis was grim with Jason being told he had a death sentence. Ironically, Jason found a surgeon willing to undertake the risky surgery which saved his life.
Recovering from brain surgery was no walk in the park – the rehabilitation was long and arduous. Not only did Jason have to come to terms with his facial disfigurement but also the awful side effects of having brain surgery such as having to learn to walk again, and perform the basics of daily living.
Jason has developed many skills over his varied working life: competitiveness from professional rugby; attention to detail as a police officer; the ability to make the sale as an insurance agent; and lastly his ability to overcome challenges that led him to become one of New Zealand’s top inspirational speakers and author (Jason wrote a book in 2009 titled “Try, Try Again” – it’s a very good read). He likes a challenge and most importantly he loves to win.
If you are looking to buy or sell, Jason can put these talents to use and tackle the opportunity and challenge of selling your property head on.
Jason Barrell - Licensed REA 2008
