My dear friend Andrew Wilder—founder and CEO of NerdPress—reminds us that success is rarely a straight line.

Following a path that has been anything but traditional, Andrew takes us through his surprising journey from lighting designer to food blogger to tech CEO. His story has been about staying curious, trying new things, building resilience, finding joy in the work itself, and most important, leaping even when the goal isn’t clear.

Andrew shares his dad’s advice, to walk different paths and see what you like. He says just showing up and talking with people can lead to unexpected opportunities. Doing this got him to what he is passionate about—empowering people to use complex tech solutions.

One key for Andrew was letting go of the need to define his identity through professional labels. This freed him to measure success by his own standards and metrics. His advice: Target excellence rather than perfection, collaborate with others, and make decisions that align with your values and mission.

Andrew’s story will get you fired up to be bold, take risks, and stay open to possibilities that may lead to your next “It has to be me.”

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS:

• Make decisions from your values.
• Let go of labels and define success your way.
• Strive for excellence, not perfection.
• Try everything you feel like to find where your passion is.
• Just showing up and having conversations leads to opportunities.
• Go with your intrinsic motivation: What gets you up in the morning!
• Reach out for help and collaborate with others to achieve your goals.
• Success isn’t a straight line. Enjoy the messiness and learn from it.

ABOUT ANDREW WILDER

Andrew Wilder is the founder and CEO of NerdPress, a dynamic team renowned for providing exceptional WordPress support, optimization, and maintenance to hundreds of publishers and small businesses. Andrew's first career, in theater lighting design, instilled in him a deep appreciation for collaboration, a principle integrated into the ethos of NerdPress. Andrew’s technical expertise and knack for making complex topics understandable have made him a go-to speaker on web-tech, and a regular contributor on the “SEO for Bloggers” webinar series. Through his Eating Rules food blog, Andrew started the October Unprocessed challenge that inspired more than 30,000 people to adopt healthier eating habits by building community and avoiding processed foods. An Eagle Scout, Andrew serves on several boards and commissions in Los Angeles as part of his commitment to community service.

CONNECT WITH ANDREW  

Website: https://www.nerdpress.net/   

Website: https://eatingrules.com/   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdpress.net   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatingrules   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdpressteam   

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjwilder/   

Meet Tess Masters:  

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.  

Connect With Tess: 

Website: https://tessmasters.com/  

Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/

Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

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