Andrew Blikken

I’ve had four chapters that all turned out to be the same job

The Big Picture

I spent five years as a touring public speaker for DeVry University while building my first company, Coast Bike Share, as my MBA thesis — securing over $1M in investment and deploying 600 bikes across 60 docks. In 2014, I sold my interest to help lead Wilcox Law full-time, where my wife, Lisa, and I co-ran the firm’s operations for a decade, growing it to $11M in annual revenue.

In the Beginning…

My story began in Florida, where I was born to US Navy parents: Warren and Kathy. We bounced from Hawaii to California to Maine and finally to Texas, just in time for DFW to enter a decades-long boom.

This was in 3rd grade, and I was tossed into a brand new situation – farm life in Pilot Point Texas. Cows, chickens, hay and our family garden got us started, and we’ve had to learn each of them – the hard way!

After finishing high school, I was quickly accepted to the University of North Texas, where I learned about economics, history, philosophy and writing. And I took enough German classes to test as ‘fluent’, deshalb darfst du mir ein Bier einkaufen!

Career in the City

Once I finished my bachelor’s degree, I accepted a job offer in St. Petersburg, Florida. Working for DeVry Univeristy was an excellent experience and an employer I’d recommend to everybody. And thank you very much for financing my Masters’!

Thru the course of my Masters’ courses, I had the idea to start myBike, the precursor to Tampa Bay Bike Share, now Coast.

The idea of bike share attracted considerable attention and press. I’m thrilled to have been part of the effort, and thankful to those who helped make bike share come true for Tampa and St. Pete.

Meeting my Tribe

In the process, I met a wonderful woman, Lisa Renee Wilcox, and for a decade we co-ran Wilcox Law’s operations together, growing it to $11M in annual revenue. In 2024, the firm closed after Lisa was diagnosed with dementia. I became our family’s sole provider and went back to the classroom, teaching history and social studies. It was a harder, more disillusioning stretch than I expected. Lisa still runs her own work at lisareneewilcox.com.

Path to Unity

in August 2026, Robert Liva at Path to Unity asked me to become the primary host and interviewer for PTU Studio — a non-partisan movement built to give citizens real tools to organize locally, talk to their representatives, and fund neighborhood-level change. It’s the same work I’ve been doing the whole time, just with a microphone instead of a spreadsheet, a courtroom, or a whiteboard: take something complicated and make it make sense to the person across from me. I still teach part-time. PTU Studio is where my focus is now.

We planned the most wonderful wedding at the Plantation Inn in Crystal River.

Then, along came Jackson. We had a wonderful time and a very warm reception at the Feather Sound Country Club.

Why Self-Reliance?

Because I love my land, my clean air, and the abundant wildlife that live with me. Now I write helpful guides about:

Farming, aquaponics, native birds, honeybees, tools, equipment, lawn care, tractors, water management, home repair, home office, do-it-yourself guides, solar energy, power management, property ops, chickens, dogs, hunting, gardening, upcycling and more

Where I belong

On my blog, I blend tried-and-true solutions with high-tech automation. This includes hydroponics, aquaponics, farming, gardening, hunting, woodworking, well digging, solar power, and a whole host of other big ideas

And I’m grateful that my path has led me back here, to my real home on the range.

So welcome, my friends, to the blog of the Prodigal Son.

Thanks for stoppin’ by