Story & Lesson Highlights with Sarah Coppens

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sarah Coppens. Check out our conversation below.

Sarah, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Before I acquired BarBees this May, I had been searching for a business to buy for about 6 months. I looked at a number of different businesses and thought I had found what I was looking for and I had submitted a letter on intent on one of them. I already had the meeting scheduled with the founders for BarBees before I decided to put in a LOI on the other business. Instead of cancelling the meeting, I decided just to do it to see what they had to offer. I am glad that I did, because here we are another 8 months later and BarBees has been an amazing fit for my life and goals!

BarBees has allowed me to step away from my nursing career of 10 years, have more flexibility to have time with my family- including being home with my son more, and has provided a creative and business outlet to channel all of my energy and ideas into. I have also been able to employ my best friend that was looking for a career change and it gives us even more reasons to talk everyday!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sarah Coppens and I am the proud owner of BarBees Bartending. I acquired BarBees this May (2025) from the founders Jess and Willow. Willow had convinced Jess to attend Bartending school and start a business back in 2019 and then it was passed on to me and I convinced by best friend Amber to be my Director of Operations. I think it very serendipitous!

I had been working as a nurse over the last 10 years, but was looking for a fun change of pace that I could really sink my teeth into and allow me flexibility in my life for my son and also soon to be new baby!

When I found BarBees I loved that the mission was to create connection and memories, while also having a great time and great cocktails! I may not be a bartender, but I love a good drink and I love people!

Since May I have learned that BarBees has not only provided a way to help connect people and allow them a fun ice breaking experience or a way to make memories together, but has also allowed me to help other moms looking for ways to “make it all work” and “have it all” after having babies!

When my son was born 3 years ago, we found out there was going to be more medically involved with his care than we had originally thought during pregnancy. We were originally planning to send him to daycare while I worked at the hospital, but it became obvious very quickly that plans needed to change. Thankfully, with the help of family and some other creative solutions, we were able to make it work.

Through that experience and becoming a mom, I learned how important and precious time with our babies is and BarBees has allowed me to help other moms in need of flexible work.

Like BarBees has for me, it has provided a much needed flexible job for my best friend and Director of Operations-Amber when her twins started school. I’ve also been able to hire other moms looking for flexible and fun work, while also being able to spend important time with their kids and families! And like Kevin O’Leary says, “If you need something done, ask a busy mom!”

I am looking forward to continuing to grow BarBees to further help to connect people in a fun way and also continue to grow my mission to help moms find a way to help support their families while still having time and flexibility to be with them.

We currently offer in-person classes in over 15 cities across the US and expanding and virtual classes anywhere. So wherever you are we would love to “shake things up” with you!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was very young, maybe 5 or 6 years old, I have a vivid memory of my mom telling me, “You can do whatever you want to do, as long as you put your mind to it.” This one memory has shaped the rest of life. For the first time, at 5 years old, I thought about what I wanted to do in this world. This comment from the person who I love and trust most in the world gave me permission at a young age, to, for the rest of my life to grab ahold of what I want and run with it- without hesitation.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I grew up without the means that a lot of kids have. I had a single mom who is legally blind, we lived with limited finances, and I had to learn to make my own way through life, without being able to have a safety net to fall back on. Situations like this teach you to be independent, that failing is not an option, and how to pivot when something isn’t working, instead of giving up. It also teaches you that sometimes to have to finish something to use it as a means to an end.

An example is, when I was in nursing school, I knew I would have a career change, but I couldn’t afford to just quit that late in the game and start over. Instead, I finished and got a nursing job, made good money, which allowed me to invest in other things and in my 30’s grow a family and buy a fun business that I enjoy!

Success doesn’t teach you patience or give you the will not to give up like the fear of having to suffer in poverty again does.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I follow a lot of monetarily successful people on social media, YouTube, etc. I love hearing their stories and how they got to where they are. However, there is among a lot of them a recurring theme, which is, lack of work/life balance and any interest in striving toward one. I believe for that reason many of them choose not to have children.

Having children and a family is a very personal decision, but coming from someone who didn’t even originally want children, I can honestly and wholeheartedly say it is the best and most important thing I have every done in my life. My business and everything else in this world pales in comparison to the joy and importance of being a wife and mom.

Also, as a nurse for 10 years I have seen my fair share of people in their final days and moments and I can tell you without a doubt, no amount of money changes what those last few moments look like. People always ask for their family or someone they love. No one has ever asked to see their bank account one last time or to be covered in all of their dollar bills. Or to have one last moment to get some work done and grind a litter harder one last time.

So for as many podcasts and videos I have listened to from very successful people, I believe that most of them get this one this wrong.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would definitely stop cleaning my house and hire a house cleaner. Cleaning eats up so much of my time/energy without much enjoyment and it constantly needs redone, especially with a 3 year old.

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