Aug. 18, 2025

From Medical Field to Bar Management: A Mother's Inspiring Journey

Send us a text Dreams can materialize faster than you imagine when you combine determination with clear vision. Shonda's remarkable journey proves this as she shares how she transformed her life by leaving a 25-year career in medicine to pursue an opportunity in hospitality. What began as a practical decision for a single mother needing steady income quickly evolved into something much more significant. "My goal in less than a year is to become management," Shonda boldly declared during her ...

Send us a text

Dreams can materialize faster than you imagine when you combine determination with clear vision. Shonda's remarkable journey proves this as she shares how she transformed her life by leaving a 25-year career in medicine to pursue an opportunity in hospitality. What began as a practical decision for a single mother needing steady income quickly evolved into something much more significant.

"My goal in less than a year is to become management," Shonda boldly declared during her interview at Copeland's. The universe responded to her ambition, and within just three months, she achieved what many might consider impossible. Rising from server to catering manager and eventually to front of house and bar manager, her trajectory showcases the power of intention and hard work. Beyond personal achievement, this career pivot completely changed her financial situation, turning around life for both her and her daughter "110%" as she describes it.

The success story extends beyond rapid promotion to highlight the importance of workplace culture. Copeland's, a family-owned business, has cultivated an environment where employees routinely stay for decades – a testament to genuine care and connection. "We're owned by a family and so we treat everybody else as family," Shonda explains, touching on why the restaurant has become her second home. Now she's extending that sense of community through regular Friday night events offering "great music, great people, great food" and a chance to unwind in a safe, welcoming space. Want to experience this unique atmosphere for yourself? Join Shonda and the team every other Friday – your weekend deserves this perfect start.

Thank you for tuning in to another transformative episode of the Experiencing Amazing Transformation Podcast! If you've enjoyed the insights and inspiring stories shared today, we kindly ask for your support. Please consider subscribing to eat-podcast.org to stay updated on our latest episodes. Connect with us on all our social media platforms to join our vibrant community and receive even more valuable content. Don't forget to share this podcast with others who might benefit from the amazing transformations we explore together. Let's spread the positivity and growth together! Help us Transform lives with your giving click the links below!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/connectwitb
https://www.eat-podcast.org

https://www.eatwithlegends.com

Thanks for all your support!

00:00 - Career Change Success Story

01:31 - Welcome to Copeland's Family

04:17 - Friday Night Events Invitation

05:39 - Come Join Us Biweekly

WEBVTT

00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.524
General manager that interviewed me.

00:00:01.524 --> 00:00:03.169
He said what's your goal in five years?

00:00:03.169 --> 00:00:08.662
I said my goal in less than a year is to become in management, and in three months I made that happen.

00:00:08.662 --> 00:00:18.446
Welcome, Welcome back, guys.

00:00:18.446 --> 00:00:20.466
To another episode.

00:00:51.520 --> 00:01:18.722
And I am so excited to introduce my friend, miss Shonda, an incredible bartender that works for Copeland's, and she's going to tell you guys how long she's been there, what she does and what inspired her to become this beautiful person behind the bar, the person that you can sit and talk to and tell everything to, and you know it's not going anywhere until she sees you the next time.

00:01:18.722 --> 00:01:21.948
Just to say, did you fix that, guys?

00:01:21.948 --> 00:01:25.694
Without any further ado, let me introduce my friend Shonda.

00:01:26.781 --> 00:01:27.864
Thank you very much.

00:01:27.903 --> 00:01:29.349
You're welcome.

00:01:29.349 --> 00:01:30.131
Welcome on.

00:01:30.131 --> 00:01:31.646
Thank you for being on the show.

00:01:31.646 --> 00:01:32.885
Well, thanks for having me.

00:01:32.885 --> 00:01:38.828
I appreciate you, so I wanted to tell the people what you do.

00:01:39.328 --> 00:01:45.153
Okay, so I am a front of house manager and a bar manager for Copeland's.

00:01:45.153 --> 00:01:47.105
I've been there for 10 years.

00:01:47.105 --> 00:01:51.629
Come October and, ironically, I started out as a server.

00:01:51.629 --> 00:01:53.507
I completely changed careers.

00:01:53.507 --> 00:01:54.805
I used to work in the medical field.

00:01:54.805 --> 00:01:57.768
I did that for probably 25 years.

00:01:57.768 --> 00:01:59.302
Wow, Probably telling my age.

00:01:59.302 --> 00:02:01.530
Now it's okay, they don't know, they don't know.

00:02:01.530 --> 00:02:06.611
But so I changed careers, needed something quick.

00:02:06.611 --> 00:02:08.002
I'm a single mom.

00:02:08.002 --> 00:02:10.691
So I went and got a serving job.

00:02:10.691 --> 00:02:14.669
I had only served one other time, many, many years ago.

00:02:14.669 --> 00:02:22.721
I did it as a part-time thing while I had a full-time job and I walked in and the general manager that interviewed me.

00:02:22.721 --> 00:02:24.355
He said what's your goal in five years?

00:02:24.355 --> 00:02:29.835
I said my goal in less than a year is to become in management and in three months I made that happen.

00:02:29.835 --> 00:02:31.280
Wow, In three months.

00:02:31.389 --> 00:02:32.795
In three months I made that happen Wow.

00:02:35.093 --> 00:02:35.877
That's awesome.

00:02:35.877 --> 00:02:40.782
I started as the catering manager and then I slowly moved up to front of house.

00:02:40.782 --> 00:02:47.002
I did both for a while and then I moved just into the operations and had somebody else fill in for the catering.

00:02:48.251 --> 00:02:49.032
You guys.

00:02:49.032 --> 00:02:54.159
So she went in this place with a goal in mind.

00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:56.584
I had to Wow.

00:02:58.551 --> 00:02:59.515
And it changed my life.

00:02:59.515 --> 00:03:11.242
It did Like I said, single mom making the bare minimum we were just barely getting by and working for Copeland's completely changed our lives Really For the better.

00:03:11.242 --> 00:03:18.474
Yeah, Not only is it a great place to work, it's so family oriented, you know, we have fun but we really care about each other.

00:03:18.474 --> 00:03:23.629
But on the other side, it just turned me and my daughter's life around 110%.

00:03:25.395 --> 00:03:31.637
That's awesome, yeah, so I guess it's like being a part of another family and just growing with that Absolutely.

00:03:31.937 --> 00:03:35.090
For one, you're honestly at your job more than you're at home.

00:03:35.090 --> 00:03:40.288
Right, you really are, but just the type of people we work for.

00:03:40.288 --> 00:03:50.673
We're owned by a family and so we in turn have learned from that and we treat everybody else's family Very.

00:03:50.673 --> 00:03:51.937
Tenured company.

00:03:51.937 --> 00:03:54.955
Most of us have been there for a very long time like I said me, ten years.

00:03:54.955 --> 00:03:57.286
A general manager has been there for over 20.

00:03:57.286 --> 00:03:59.473
My dishwasher has been there for over 20 years.

00:03:59.473 --> 00:04:03.139
So, yeah, pretty.

00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:04.622
So yeah, that's pretty neat.

00:04:04.622 --> 00:04:06.247
That's a good company to work for.

00:04:06.247 --> 00:04:13.103
Anytime you see tenure like that and everyone is pretty much saying the same thing it's a good company.

00:04:13.103 --> 00:04:16.495
It really is so what made you do this event?

00:04:17.237 --> 00:04:21.084
So Caitlin Traylor, who is the caterer manager now.

00:04:21.084 --> 00:04:23.473
She is very good friends with Rachel.

00:04:23.473 --> 00:04:46.701
They do a lot of events on the side and she has really went from a Monday through Friday 8 to 5 and just didn't want to do a lot of night stuff anymore and so she asked me, and then one of my other bartenders that's been up here on Wednesdays and just kind of like asked us if we wanted to chip in and I was like absolutely, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

00:04:46.701 --> 00:04:51.999
Everybody, including you guys, rachel and her husband and the kids, they're all great.

00:04:51.999 --> 00:04:58.098
All the people that have walked through the door been so friendly and welcoming, like why wouldn't I want to spend my Friday night doing this?

00:04:58.278 --> 00:04:59.081
I agree.

00:04:59.081 --> 00:05:04.060
So what would you tell the people to get them to come out and have a good time with you?

00:05:04.449 --> 00:05:08.180
So this venue is not what you're going to get anywhere else.

00:05:08.180 --> 00:05:11.339
You're not at a bar that's wall-to-wall people.

00:05:11.339 --> 00:05:14.218
You've got great music, great people.

00:05:14.218 --> 00:05:22.540
We've always got great food, of course, an awesome bartender, and then we've got the great podcast, always here.

00:05:22.540 --> 00:05:27.497
It's just really a nice relaxing after your long week.

00:05:27.497 --> 00:05:34.516
Just relax and chill, have a drink, do some dancing and you don't have to worry about anything.

00:05:34.675 --> 00:05:39.959
Right, that's right, you guys, it really is safe here.

00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:43.459
Fun relaxing everything that she said.

00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:49.338
So why don't you guys come out and hang out with us every other Friday.

00:05:49.358 --> 00:05:51.302
Every other Friday, y'all come check us out.

00:05:51.302 --> 00:05:52.451
Mark it on your calendar.

00:05:52.451 --> 00:05:53.053
That's it.

00:05:53.053 --> 00:05:54.697
We'll be here every other Friday.

00:05:54.697 --> 00:05:55.982
That's it Hanging out.

00:05:55.982 --> 00:06:01.430
Thank you so much.

00:06:01.430 --> 00:06:02.110
Thank you.

00:06:02.110 --> 00:06:04.052
I did not know I'd be able to speak so well.

From Medical Field to Bar Management: A Mother's Inspiring Journey

Listen On

Recent Episodes

Support On