Let’s start with this: I am 32 years old and I’ve spent 13 years in the restaurant industry. I’ve done it all. I’ve been a hostess, server, bartender, manager, cook, cashier, food runner, trainer and most recently an owner.
In my 17 years of working I’ve been a cashier at a supermarket, cook/cashier at Pizza Hut, I spent a week working at McDonald’s, I’ve worked at an internet cafe, Claire’s Boutique and a few other retail stores in the malls along with an emergency clinic. Then there was Laughing Pines Restaurant and Brewery, Rafters (restaurant), Copeland’s of New Orleans (two locations), Razzoo’s Cajun Restaurant, Longhorn, Paradise Grille, Jock’s and Jills (two locations), Danielle’s Great Eats and Antonietta’s Italian Grill. I’ve owned Culinary Creations, “Diet” Free Living and Blairsville Downtown Grill. I’ve also been an independent consultant for The Pampered Chef, The Traveling Vineyard, Melaleuca and Vemma. I ran the service department for a used car dealership, been the Office Manager at my father’s consulting company, Energage, and at a construction company that I can’t even remember the name of. And believe it or not, I’m sure I’ve left out a handful of jobs from the years.
Now, back to my career in the restaurant industry. Man, what a ride! I LOVE restaurants! I love the chaos of it all mostly. I know, that seems weird, but I do my best in high pressure situations, and restaurants hemmorhage high pressure, chaotic situations. I’ve always loved food. I can’t remember if, as a teenager, I had dreams of owning a restaurant or even working in one, but I’ve been cooking since my early tweens. Thank you, mom, for selflessly allowing me in your kitchen to feed the family! (wink, wink) I quickly discovered my natural talent for tasting individual ingredients in the food I was eating. “Shanna, taste this and tell me what that flavor is. I know it’s familiar to me but I can’t figure out what it is” my mother said. After a bite and a moment of concentration, “Mom, it’s lemon.”
There was never any doubt that I was a natural with food, at least not for my family. I’ve had my doubts over the years, mostly fear of learning that I really sucked and my parent’s had been blowing smoke up my ass all these years, but it really boiled down to a lack of confidence in my ability. Any chance I had to go to Culinary school I ran from like my hair was on fire. Why? Well, I’ve already told you. So, I took the hard road, like I usually do, and worked my way through the restaurant industry. Let me tell you, restaurant work is not for sissies! You have to be able to take a bunch of crap from people and also give it back when they push too far, customers and staff alike. People are nice to your face and will stab you in the back when you turn around, customers and staff alike! The most hours I’ve ever worked in a week was at the second Copeland’s of New Orleans location during the last month before we opened, 88 hours, in one week. I spent a full month working like that. Home at 3 or 4am, (after some late night fun) up at 6am to be back in the restaurant by 7am to do it all again. My best friend, who rode this particular roller coaster with me, kept a case of Red Bull in her trunk for us. Actually, now that I think about it, the most hours I’ve worked in a week were 107. That was when I opened my own restaurant. A month straight, no day off, in at 5am (we served breakfast) and passed out around midnight, up at 4am to start all over. So, you get the point, not for sissies!
After climbing my way up the ladder, in an economic down fall I decided to take advantage of an opportunity to buy a restaurant, at what I thought was a great price, and finally have my OWN restaurant. It was GREAT, everything I thought it could be…at first. Long story short, I learned that small towns could be wonderful and cruel at the same time. I had to shut down my dream and pretend that my experience did not devastate me. But…it did.
I could blame it on the town, myself or my lack of formal training (school), but that wasn’t going to make me feel better. That was not going to help me dust myself off and bravely start again. As time went on, it stung less every time I saw one of my regulars. But, I was lost, completely disenchanted with restaurants and the state they’re in with this economy. I found myself back to waiting tables in someone else’s restaurant, giving that fake smile to every rude customer, trying so hard to keep my mouth shut regarding (in my opinion) the terrible lack of structure that gave way to despicable customer service. After 13 hard, exciting, stressful, exhilarating, dedicated years in the industry this was all it could offer me?
Since I was known in my small town as an entrepreneur all of my wonderful friends and colleagues offered me jobs, business opportunities, advice and encouragement. I said no to the opportunities they presented because none of them had anything to do with restaurants or food, or they required start up money (that I did not have). I sent out dozens of resumes and kept a close eye on the classifieds of our local paper. One day, I woke up with the thought, “What if I stopped say no to people? What opportunities would I find and how might that change my attitude?” So, I decided to give it a try. And lucky for my friend, Donna, she asked me for the 50th time to sign up for Vemma, a direct marketing company that sells health supplements. She offered me a sweet deal and I said, “Yes!” I continued leaving “no” behind and found myself answering an ad in the newspaper for an Admin Asst. to a local real estate broker. He told me the position was really a training opportunity for someone who wanted to get their license and be an agent. “Would you like to be a Realtor?” Mike Kelly asked. Now, refer back to the list of jobs held in my lifetime, what do you think I said? “Sure, can I come talk to you tomorrow?”
I’ve started this blog because I’d like to document my journey into real estate and the next chapter of my life. I’ve been working at Mike Kelly Realty for a month and I absolutely love it. I find myself in a place where I am appreciated and my knowledge and experience is valued. Please don’t judge me on my grammar, language or frustrated rants. My intention with this blog is to “talk” to my family and friends, to keep a journal of my daily life and to just have fun. While I may not be done with restaurants in the grand scheme, I’m ending that chapter. Food and Restaurants are in my blood. I will always come back around to them. But, this is the direction I’m going now. Let’s see where it takes me!
Cheers!
Tags: broker, chaos, culinary, Culinary Creations, Energage, entrepreneur, flavor, food, internet cafe, journey, leaving "no" behind, Melaleuca, real estate, Realtor, restaurant, restaurant industry, training, Vemma
The Curious Life of Shanna 