Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaundara Jones.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shaundara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started with a “VISION” and deep inside it was just that “A VISION”. “A Dream” that I knew at the time probably wouldn’t become more than just a dream.
When I was younger, I wrote down EVERYTHING! As a kid I had so many diaries and journals, I actually kept all my journals until the dreadful year Tropical Storm Allison hit Houston, our home flooded and all my journals were destroyed. Journals full of so many of my thoughts, feelings, events and PLANS for my future were written down in those journals. I always felt that I needed to plan if I did not write it down it just wasn’t going to happen. Thinking I had my life all planned and figured out, life through all types of curve balls my way and I quickly realized things in life is not going to always go as planned.
After high school graduation, I already knew what I wanted to pursue as a career choice and that was a degree in Nursing (at least that’s what I thought. I received my Certified Nursing Assistant License shortly after high school graduation and started working in a nursing home and worked my way to the hospital setting all while taking college courses perquisites to apply for the nursing program. That 1st year I applied for the program and did not get in. I was devastated and felt like a complete failure a feeling I feared the most. While I’ve always been goal-driven, up for any challenge, I felt defeated.
Later I soon found out I was expecting my 1st born the first year of college. At that moment while raising her, I knew I needed to do more. When my oldest daughter turned three years old, I decided to reapply to nursing school. While in the process, I discovered a degree program In Respiratory Therapy, researched it, applied, was accepted and of course, I graduated!
Since I have been a Respiratory Therapist for eight years and in that midst, became a wife and a mother of three beautiful children.
Working as a Respiratory Therapist has definitely had its rewards. I love bedside care and the connections I created with patients and their families. However, working 12 hour overnight shifts was not ideal for me. I wanted flexibility, I wanted control over my life, I wanted to be more involved with my husband and kids. I am huge on family and making sure my home is good was my priority. In addition to that, I wanted to lead and inspire in ways that entering in those hospital doors wouldn’t allow me to. I knew If I wanted something to change, I had to do something about it. Owning my own business was always a vision of mine but who was I kidding? I knew nothing about owning a business and there was always that voice in my head saying “Shaundara could you really run a company”?
Being comfortable and feeling secure, I held off for years to pursue my own business, until one day while surrounding myself with a group of like-minded friends began to encourage me (actually push me) to just take that leap of faith and just do it.
Early in 2019, I decided to look into home care and the need for it outside of skilled facilities. I kept thinking and witnessing that everyone at some point has experienced a time they had to care for an ailing loved one. Seniors are living longer, people are working longer in their careers and the difficulties of trying to care for a loved one, considering all that they juggle, is difficult, not to mention taxing. During my evaluation of the home care industry, I saw a growing need for home care services, which I was passionate about as well as skillfully in tune with.
After discussing my vision with my husband and much prayer and putting my FAITH in the ONE who truly knew the plan for my life, I decided to just do it and when I say everything fell into place so perfectly and so fast It almost became unreal.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road?! Absolutely not! LOL This road has been as rough as I think it can get. It’s undeniable that there will be struggles. I have faced every challenge that can be thrown my way, and continue to expect challenges. I have only been in business for a few months and every day is a struggle, but with every struggle comes a victory, right? One of the things I struggle most with is fear and confidence. I dealt with anxiety throughout my life as well. I had to break free from that. Failure is something no one wants to experience when it comes to anything, I recall someone asking me what’s the worst that could happen if you were to fail at this? After giving my response and leaving that conversation I realized, so what if I do fail what a big accomplishment for even trying and all you can do is dust yourself off and try again. Just don’t give up! Listening to other’s opinion and surrounding myself around doubters, unbelievers and people who just don’t want to elevate in life. I had to change my crowd and shut out all the noise. When I did that, everything became so much clearer and I knew this was my vision and not everyone will see your vision the way you do and they sure won’t execute it the way you will.
I also struggle with what my husband call “The Right Now Spirit”, meaning I wanted things to manifest at that moment, change to be instant, growth to substantial right away. It doesn’t work like that patience is key and believing that growth will come, just keep pushing and keep grinding.
Still working as a Respiratory Therapist, being an entrepreneur, a wife, and a mom has been my biggest struggle. I have always been a planner as I mentioned earlier but since this journey has begun all that has been thrown out the door. I have learned that everything in life is not going to perfect. At the end of a long day to come home sometimes to my girls telling me how proud they are of me followed with a hug and my supportive husband, my rock, who has stayed up with me during my sleepless nights constantly encouraging me (you guys those hugs are everything) I realize I am certainly walking in my purpose and they are watching and noticing every move I make so I owe it to them to be that example and don’t take no for an answer. Keep going!
I feel that believing in myself and surrounding myself around like-minded individuals has really help get me through the toughest days. I can truly say my support team is strong. I have people rooting for me, encouraging me, praying for me and my success from all directions and just to have the bulk of my support system be my family is good enough for me.
Synergy Homecare of Northeast Houston – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
With all the ideas running through my head about how I would start my business in home health care including business plan after business plan, I researched day and night and decided to become a franchisee. I am a proud owner of SYNERGY Homecare of Northeast Houston operated and individually owned. I’m in the caring business!
SYNERGY Homecare has locations all over the United States with five offices serving the Houston area, I am one of the newest offices on the Northeast side of town.
We specialized in simply caring for EVERYONE. We are a non-medical home care agency who provides personal care services, respite care, memory care, care for mental illness, disabilities, strokes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, post op surgeries and so much more.
At SYNERGY HomeCare we give you that peace of mind knowing that your family member is being taken care of at high-quality standards by providing top quality, compassionate home care services available at your call.
We promote independence. We build trust. We lead with empathy.
I can only build this company the only way I know how and that’s to be honest, passionate, trustworthy, and genuine, and that’s what I would like to be known for. Build relationships and connections. I tell my employees and they agree that this isn’t just a job or just a business. We are entering into people’s lives at a vulnerable time we must have the passion for this. I don’t want to be categorized as just “another homecare agency” We are way more than that. And I think that’s one of the things that sets us apart. I have so much to offer and my dedication and hard work I put in will show for itself.
I am most proud of the decision I have made to build a legacy for my kids, this is just the beginning I have so much more in the works it’s not stopping here at all. I believe in elevation there’s so much out there to do and build on and I am here for it. Stay tuned!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Succeeding and excelling! I’m leading by example. My parents have taught me that nothing in life comes easy. I didn’t sit on my hands waiting for the opportunity to fall in my lap. I worked hard and still putting in work to build a life that God intended for me and my family to have. I’m showing not only my kids but those affiliated with me that I am (we all) are capable of doing anything we put our minds to. What makes me even more proud is that my girls are watching their mom kill it out here and with expectation, I will witness them soon to follow in my footsteps! I don’t work alone, and I certainly couldn’t have made it this far by myself. Those closest to me who have pushed me and encouraged me on a daily know who they are and with that comes with an abundance of success.
Contact Info:
- Address: 12605 East Freeway Ste #320
Houston. TX 77015 - Website: https://www.synergyhomecare.com/agencies/tx/houston/tx30/
- Phone: 281-973-5225
- Email: shaundarajones@synergyhomecare.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Synergy-Home-Care-of-NE-Houston
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