Jodie Nelson
Newport Beach, CA USA
"No idea is too big. Anything is possible—you just might have to work a little harder to get it."
Career Roadmap
Jodie's work combines: Action Sports, Television, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
If you want to be a freelancer, the main things that I look for are work ethic, initiative, and teamwork. When you're on a job, take initiative, be proactive, and work hard. The people who will get rehired and make it far will be those who step up to any task they're given. Nothing should be "beneath you" when you're starting out. I'd also advise to never burn a bridge as a freelancer. As you get jobs and build your network, you'll want to keep all of those connections and opportunities.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Sports Marketing, Management, and Mass Communications
California State University, Long Beach
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I struggle with dyslexia and was embarrassed about it when I was growing up—however, my dad is also dyslexic and very successful in his career, which helped inspire me.
2.
I realized that I needed to be passionate about what I was doing, but I struggled to find subjects that resonated with me—I tried so many sports and instruments in hopes of finding something that fit.
3.
Once I found surfing, I was completely hooked—it took over my whole life as I followed my passion and became a professional athlete.
4.
After high school, I made the tough decision to take a break from being a professional surfer and pursue my education.
5.
I eventually found my way back to pro surfing, but knew it wasn’t something I could do forever—fortunately, I had done some sideline reporting and found that storytelling was also a passion of mine.
6.
When my contract as a pro surfer came to an end, I was able to grow my career in other areas of the industry because of my connections within Hurley, the company I had surfed for.
7.
I transitioned into broadcasting, which combined my passions for both sports and storytelling—I’ve produced broadcasts for Nitro World Games, Dew Tour, Spartan Race, and more!
8.
After paddling from Catalina Island to Dana Point, California, to raise money for breast cancer, I started Paddle With Purpose to raise funds and awareness for causes through stand-up paddle boarding.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I have no business doing this. This is too big of a risk.
How I responded:
When I decided to paddle from Catalina to Dana Point, California, and raise money for breast cancer, I was full of fear and doubt. It was a huge risk. But the idea of doing it just took over and I felt that I had to go through with it. I was successful and it ended up being a launching pad for my nonprofit! Ignore the noise and listen to yourself. Not every risk is worth taking, but sometimes you need to deny the fear and doubt to follow through or you'll end up missing out on something great.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was embarrassed of my dyslexia when I was young. In college, I took advantage of resources for people who learn differently which helped a lot. My dad is also dyslexic and was very successful in his career—he helped me see that I could succeed too.