AQ'S Corner

Photo Credit: AQ’S Corner LLC

This year, I took the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program, and let me tell you, it wasn’t just a class. It was a mirror. A mirror that made me face my fears, sharpen my focus, and stop waiting for perfect conditions to build something meaningful.

What did I learn?

• Entrepreneurship isn’t about having all the answers.
  It’s about knowing what questions to ask and being brave enough to ask them out loud, even when you feel silly.

• Starting is the secret sauce.
  I used to freeze when I didn’t know how to handle things like accounting, business taxes, or even getting the right numbers from the state. But I’ve learned that momentum builds clarity. I got my LLC. My EIN. I’m currently working on getting other things set up for my business. I’m learning the rest on the fly, and that’s OK.

• Fear doesn’t mean stop. It means go with curiosity.
  I had to let go of the shame around “not knowing” and embrace the beauty of figuring it out. Google. Phone calls. Asking for help. Laughing when I mess up. That’s how real foundations are built.

• Vision doesn’t work without action.
  And action doesn’t require a perfect plan, just a bold first step and the guts to keep going.

But here’s the best part of my journey:

My 9-year-old daughter showed up to every single class with me, notebook in hand. She wasn’t just drawing butterflies (okay, sometimes she was); she was capturing gems. Real takeaways. Actionable steps. Entrepreneurial wisdom. I’m not ashamed to admit, I peeked at her notes more than once. Yep. The teacher became the student. And I swear, her bullet points were neater than mine!

We didn’t just finish the course, we graduated together.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just something I’m building for my family. It’s something I’m building with my family. That’s the legacy I care about. Not just launching a business, but showing my daughter that you can do hard things, even when you’re unsure, scared, or figuring it out in real time.

The Ice House Entrepreneurship class gave me structure.
My daughter gave me perspective.
And together, we’re building something bold.

Wait, What Is the Ice House Program?

The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is more than a class, it’s a mindset shift. Inspired by the life of Pulitzer Prize nominee Clifton Taulbert and his experiences working in a humble Mississippi ice house, the program teaches that entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business; it’s about reclaiming ownership of your future.

I had the privilege of taking this powerful course at Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Small Business Center, where it was thoughtfully facilitated by The Madison Consulting Firm. Their guidance, energy, and real-world examples made every lesson land with impact and heart.

Built on eight life-changing principles, The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program empowers everyday people (just like me and my daughter!) to think like entrepreneurs, act with purpose, and build something meaningful, whether that’s a company, a movement, or a mindset.

And if we can do it… so can you.