Barnaby Howarth. A lot of people will tell you that if you don’t achieve what you’re aiming for, you’ve failed. But Barnaby Howarth thinks that as long as you couldn’t have tried any harder, you can be as proud as anyone else.

Barnaby has achieved a lot in life since being diagnosed with diabetes at 14, then suffering a stroke after being bashed in an alcohol-fuelled gang attack at 25. He played in the AFL for the Sydney Swans, has written his autobiography, filmed three documentaries, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, played his 100th game for his local footy club, was inducted into the Sydney AFL Hall of Fame, and had another book published.

He has built up a lot of resilience through his trials, and he needed every bit of it when his first wife was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. They went on 19 legs of their honeymoon, and now, as a sole trader and keynote speaker, Barnaby is passing on the lessons he’s learnt about how to be a more resilient person and how to be proud of being an everyday battler.

As well as giving speeches all around the world for groups such as Google, Nestlé, Linfox, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, and the Sydney Swans, last year the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC, invited herself onto Barnaby’s podcast, Everyday Greatness.