Every entrepreneur has a beginning. For Courtney James, that beginning was Main Street in Presque Isle —

small-town roots, a big dream, and the determination to make it happen. But as Courtney shared in her workshop, beginnings aren’t always easy.

The Roadblock That Almost Stopped Her

When Courtney first stepped into entrepreneurship, she found herself working long days with very little payoff. She had the passion but lacked the resources, connections, and confidence to take her vision to the next level.

She told the story of one particularly difficult season when nothing seemed to click: vendors backed out, funding stalled, and the weight of being a solo entrepreneur in Aroostook felt overwhelming. For a moment, she considered giving it all up.

What turned it around wasn’t some miracle — it was workflow and mindset. Courtney leaned into structure, creating systems that allowed her to stay consistent even when motivation dipped. She also stopped trying to do everything alone and instead tapped into relationships that encouraged her to keep going.

That shift — from isolated struggle to supported persistence — became the catalyst for her growth.

The Lesson We Can All Learn

Courtney’s story is proof that success doesn’t come from avoiding challenges — it comes from learning how to work through them.

The moral? Resilience is built in the hard seasons, and community is what carries you through them.

Every entrepreneur in Aroostook knows the weight of pushing against legacy systems, limited tools, and the fear of trying something new. Courtney’s perseverance shows that those challenges don’t define us — they refine us.

How This Ties Into Ignite

At Ignite, this is exactly what we’re here for. Our mission is to make sure no rural entrepreneur has to feel as isolated as Courtney once did. Through workshops, mentorship, and connection, we’re building the kind of ecosystem where grit meets guidance — and where one person’s breakthrough becomes everyone’s inspiration.

Courtney’s journey reminds us that innovation doesn’t mean leaving Aroostook behind. It means taking our roots, our resilience, and our creativity — and building something lasting, right here at home.

Your Invitation

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in the same spot, struggling to move forward, let Courtney’s story be your spark.

Join us at the next Ignite event. Share your story. Learn from others. And most importantly, see for yourself that you’re not building alone.

Because here in Aroostook, tradition is the foundation — and perseverance is how we ignite what’s next.