We recently connected with Lea Rhynehardt and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lea, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
For as long as I can remember I have always had this interest in planning, and more so just being in charge. Growing up, my Granny was an owner of a Daycare business “Grandma Robbie’s Childcare” and to this day I owe a lot of how I am, and my analytical and problem solving skills to my Granny and the fundamentals taught as a student attending her daycare.
My granny was a former educator, actually, I come from a family, generations of educators, ranging from all grade levels. Ironically, there was this game called “School” my cousins and I would play, where we literally were all teachers, with imaginary students. But don’t get it twisted, just because the students were imaginary didn’t mean we’d give imaginary assignments. My granny would bring us workbooks, office/classroom supplies, and even let us use the printer and we’d create lesson plans, rosters, student folders, and even have real assignments for our imaginary students to complete. Yes we had an imagination on us.
But, from playing “School,” to then going to grade school and being elected Class President every year since the 5th grade, my responsibilities had been to always plan something: school spirit weeks, fundraisers, dances, any school-related event, I was on it. Even in my family and friend group, I was the “go-to” person to plan games nights, outings, holiday dinners, something with a purpose for people to gather. Not yet realizing, planning, was an actual talent, this skill carried on into my first career upon undergraduate studies at NC State University .. GO PACK .. It made the transition into the role, as a Middle School teacher, Eighth Grade specifically, fairly easy. I took on leadership opportunities within my first year to bring a “warm” culture to the school and by the end of my first year my principal had appointed me to be the “School Event Coordinator,” which I served for 3 years.
As I’ve shared before, I didn’t actually discover my purpose until my bestfriend asked me to be her Maid of Honor, with a twist. I could only accept the role if and only if I would be the wedding planner as well, and that’s when I realized all along this life-long “hobby” of mine was actually preparation for my purpose. This was the light bulb moment and starting point behind Lea Rhynehardt & Co.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
When it comes to business: Lea Rhynehardt & Co. is an all things wedding and event planning and coordination company based in North Carolina. We focus on meeting clients and couples where they are in their planning process, rather it’s just an idea, or if it’s throughly thought out and more so needs the actual production piece. We truly enjoy learning what the vision is and using our expertise along with being able to assist and become planning partners to bring an idea to reality. Creating stress-free and memorable moments, is what we wholeheartedly do best.
Recently, this past July, we celebrated our two year anniversary. The journey of entrepreneurship is far from easy, but when you surpass obstacles and overcome, the outcome is validating and very much so rewarding. In the midst of celebrating, I was applauded in the fact that I had reached year two and the growth that had been made in just two years, I realized that my journey as a business owner of Lea Rhynehardt & Co. and being an entrepreneur serves a bigger purpose than just a means of income. Being able to have a business idea and take the risk to go for it, build it, and succeed has had an impact on not just myself but others who see what I am doing. Of course, I am focused on growing my brand and my business, but being a Black American who is growing daily, professionally, and personally as I am going through this journey in 2023, I grew this heavy feeling in my heart to use this experience to not only celebrate but to share my story, give back to my community, and honestly spark interest for those within my community, that they too can do the same.
My business anniversary Lea Rhynehardt & Co. gave me the idea of my now launched non-profit organization, entitled, The Lea Rhynehardt Foundation.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three qualities that I have forever embraced are my resiliency, obsession with planning, and my work ethic. I think if you were to ask anyone: close friend, family member, colleague, they all would confirm. For me these qualities feed off one another and impact my journey every day.
As the R&B singer Aaliyah once said “And if at first you don’t succeed … Then dust yourself off, and try again” I am a person who is always going to keep trying. I may have to go back to my notebook and write up a new game plan, but baby I’ll come back and try again. Resilience is a quality that I think every person has, it just has to be tapped into. Growing up, I went from a two parented home to being raised by a single mother early on. That drastic change alone could have been deterring, however, I knew I wanted to be the author of my own story. No matter the difficulty or tough situation, it shaped my character, and created Lea Rhynehardt, which I am super proud of and amazed by every day.
Now my obsession with planning, that’s just who I am. I’m forever planning something, one of my close friends tells me I make plans to plan, it sounds silly, but it’s me. And don’t let my plan not go as planned, that’s a topic for another interview. But my obsession with planning is a strength that I’d say all entrepreneurs need to have. Think about the daily operations of a business. When you are first starting out, you are your business, I’ll speak for myself, you hold every single position that it takes to run your business. If you don’t have a plan and goals for your brand and your business then I’m not sure if having a business is even realistic.
And finally your work ethic. My work ethic is what it is because of resiliency and planning. When it is all said and done I want to be known for what all I did while I was here. Growing a seven figure business entity, that created employment opportunities that allowed others to create business opportunities for themselves, and make meaningful changes in my community and for my family. All of that is possible but the time has to be put in, the plans have to be created, the work has to be done, and you have to have faith!
For my folks early in their journey, advice I can confidently give is: Success is not instant, it’s a journey, I’m still on that journey myself. You have to have an idea, concept, or plan and FAITH in yourself. You have to hustle hard and hustle with heart. You have to know if God gave you the vision, he will give you the business and the clientele as well. But all in all, you got this!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I decided to become an entrepreneur I quickly learned the importance of self-care. I had to learn to look at self-care not as an expense, but as in investment. When I feel overwhelmed I know that I need to take a step back, breathe, and reevaluate what it is that is going on, what is causing this feeling, and how can I approach it differently to have a better outcome emotionally.
When I am overwhelmed it can create a blockage in productivity. I’ll be honest for me, sometimes the most productive thing I can do is take a moment or a day to relax.
Self-care is giving the world, your brand, business, clients, and whoever that comes in contact with you, the best of you and your services. Instead of what is left.
Advice I’d give to help not get to a point of feeling overwhelmed is literally to write everything down. Write out ideas, thoughts, plans, goals, to get them into your muscle memory (that may be the educator in me trying to resurface) and mark them out as you complete them. Look over and reflect on your progress at least weekly, if not daily. If you like the results keep going. If not, take a day for self-care, reevaluate, and create a different approach and go for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://learhynehardt.
co/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learhynehardt_co/
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/learhynehardtco/ - Other: The Lea Rhynehardt Foundation https://
thelearhynehardtfoundation. com/home
Image Credits
Photos by: India Reaves Tayla Berry Joshua Lee
