Doing What You Love

Meet CollegePlus! student Quint Ketts, a budding entrepreneur.

 

Delivering the commencement address at the 2005 Stanford University graduation, Apple founder Steve Jobs said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” CollegePlus! student Quint Ketts, age 20, embodies this philosophy as he splits his time between directing his own business, helping in a family enterprise, and tackling his college studies. Quint has been a CollegePlus! student for less than a year and has already amassed a good percentage of the credits required for his degree through passing CLEP exams.

 

Working for the family

Quint was raised in an entrepreneurial environment and has helped his dad in their hauling company for several years. His current title at the company is “office manager” but, according to Quint, “this includes dispatching trucks, dealing with angry customers, accounts receivable and payable—any and all of it.” He also helps manage a gravel mine that his dad owns.
On top of helping in the family business and completing his bachelor’s degree, Quint also owns and operates his own equine hoof care practice, serving horse owners in the region surrounding the suburb of Washington, DC, that he lives in. “I’ve been interested in horses ever since I was little,” he said. “My grandmother owned thoroughbred racehorse stables so I always wanted to do something with horses.”

 

Working with horses

A few years ago Quint completed an equine podiatry study course that certified him to care for horse hooves. “I had to complete 10 modules of an online correspondence course as well as 200 practical hours,” he said. “I didn’t find the training that difficult—other students did but I was familiar with horses’ feet anyway because I had been around them all my life.”
Quint mentioned that there are different philosophies in hoof care but that he feels that God led him to the particular podiatry school he chose. Horses cared for by these methods “can walk barefoot on abrasive terrain whether racing or in dressage—that’s almost unheard of,” he said. “It’s all about educating the owner.” And Quint has done a good job at that too: he’s already turning a profit after being in business for just under a year.
While his hoof care business is prospering, Quint continues to set his sights on the future. “I started from something I like,” he said, “but I only plan to do this for another five to seven years and then branch out into something else.” Yet, to Quint, God’s leading is paramount in entrepreneurial decisions. “The Lord’s work is more important than anything,” he said.
Quint’s day usually starts around 4 AM. “My phone starts ringing at 5:30 AM because the trucks from Dad’s business are usually on the road around 6:30,” he said. Because of his hectic schedule, Quint has had to discipline himself to keep a daily routine that includes exercise, work, and study. “Every day is a little different,” he noted, so he schedules time for everything he needs to accomplish.

 

Why He Chose CollegePlus!

Although Quint thought of pursuing a veterinary degree, the time and cost involved turned him off to the idea. “It’s way too much school and money to put down at first,” he said. “It would be like starting upside down in life.” Instead, Quint has opted to complete his business degree through CollegePlus! because the program “is very flexible and cost effective,” he said.