We recently connected with Leah Reinhart and have shared our conversation below.

Leah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for my business, the Wellness Garden Tool Shed, came about in 2008, after I had already been a hairstylist for 25 years, renting chairs in various salons. While I loved doing hair, I wanted to expand beyond the salon chair and incorporate some of my other passions into a business. I envisioned a space where I could combine writing, personal development, teaching, and energy work, all in a calming garden setting. This vision came to life in May 2016 when my husband built a home salon overlooking our garden, allowing me to continue serving my hairstyling clients while also building the Wellness Garden Tool Shed.

At the core of this business is my desire to help people manifest their ideal lives. I offer tools like inspiring books, card readings, and healing jewelry, all aimed at empowering individuals to focus their intentions and goals. Over the years, I’ve also hosted intimate events featuring mediums and psychics, as well as tarot readings for clients during appreciation events.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I decided to transition my offerings online, which opened up new opportunities. I launched an online store that provides products designed to help people manifest through sensory experiences like crystals, essential oils, candles, and mantras. In addition to the online store, I also offer classes on manifesting and tarot readings, blending my passions into a full business model focused on personal transformation.

Leah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The personal development industry is saturated with life, business, and spiritual coaches, but many advertisements I’ve seen feel inauthentic—some seem to exploit people’s vulnerabilities, leaving them financially drained and tarnishing the reputation of personal growth. At Wellness Garden Tool Shed, we aim to change that perception by demonstrating the genuine benefits of integrating energy work with intentional, concrete action.

Our mission is to empower individuals to break free from limiting beliefs and patterns that block them from reaching their highest potential. We offer a variety of services and products designed to support this transformation. What sets us apart is our holistic approach, combining energy work like card readings and mediumship with educational courses, books, and our curated Attraction Bundles. These bundles are thoughtfully designed to engage the senses, sharpen the
mind, and inspire focused action, which are key elements in the process of manifesting personal
and professional goals.

Having witnessed firsthand how my energy impacted the success of my hair business, I felt compelled to share this knowledge with others, especially those launching new ventures or seeking a better life. I’m now watching this same energy work aid in the growth of my online manifestation business, the Wellness Garden Tool Shed, in real time.

Earlier this year, I made the decision to hire a marketing manager/business partner to help elevate the brand to the next level. Together, we launched a new website in July, and the response has been incredible. We’ve successfully driven traffic to the site, expanded our email subscriber list, and received positive feedback from our blog, YouTube channel, TikTok, and sales of our Attraction Bundles.

Recently, we introduced the SHINE Method—a free downloadable resource designed for individuals who know they’re destined for more but feel stuck. This guide provides practical steps to help people to break free and achieve their goals no matter what age they decide to begin their journey to success.

Starting any business comes with its share of fear and uncertainty, especially when the world wants to tell you that being in your fifties is old, but one of my strengths, developed through personal challenges, is facing fear head-on and remaining persistent. Writing a book required that same determination, focus, and action. I am incredibly proud of my first published memoir, “Manifesting Me: A Story of Rebellion and Redemption”, which illustrates how fear-based thinking versus love-based thinking shapes our outcomes.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Life has not always been easy for me, but I’ve always embraced challenges. Growing up in Oakland, CA, during a time when it was considered one of the most violent cities in the U.S., I learned invaluable lessons. Oakland provided me with the tools I needed to succeed, and for that, I will always be grateful. As a Gen Xer, we didn’t grow up with doting parents. The focus was on curfews and grades, with little attention given to much else.

Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ was practically my anthem during those years. I worked hard, starting my first job at 13, but I also partied hard, often with little moderation. That lifestyle caught up to me, and after staying awake for an entire week on crank, I ended up in the hospital. I was spiraling down a dark path of drugs and alcohol until one night of reckless behavior led to me becoming a mother at 21.

At the time, people assumed I had ‘ruined’ my life and that I wouldn’t amount to anything. But deep down, I knew that having my child was the wake-up call I needed to turn my life around—and I did. I understood that this difficult phase was temporary and didn’t define my future. As a single mother in 1990, I faced significant discrimination. Housing options were limited, and I ended up in a tough neighborhood while building my hairstyling clientele. I viewed this as a temporary setback and was determined to prove to myself and others that I wasn’t destined for failure.

I set clear goals and worked tirelessly to achieve them. By 22, I was self-employed, and by 25, I purchased my first condo as a single mother with no financial support from my parents or child support. My grandmother did allow me to rent her house at a low cost, which gave me the opportunity to save for a down payment. That period came with its own sacrifices, like adhering to a curfew at 24, but I pushed through and bought my condo within 18 months.

In 1993, I was introduced to the Law of Attraction and the Law of Action, which profoundly shaped my life. I began applying these principles, and they worked. I met my future husband, married in 1997, and by the age of 30, I had three properties, two children, and a thriving career. So much for having ‘ruined’ my life at 21.

Growing up in a challenging environment gave me the resilience to face fear head-on, whether it was standing up to bullies in school or handling difficult situations in the workplace. Although my parents didn’t provide much, they never discouraged me from pursuing my ambitions. At 14, I saved up and bought my own horse, a testament to the resourcefulness I developed early on. This resourcefulness, combined with my resilience, helped me achieve many of my goals.

Resilience is essential in any worthwhile endeavor. Life’s inevitable challenges will knock you down, and at times, you’ll want to give up. But experiencing hardship and coming out the other side prepares you for future challenges. The only constant in life is change. Building resilience has enabled me to navigate those changes while continuing to grow, even during the most difficult periods. Having resilience is also how I can start my new online business at my age and not let the naysayers get me down or off track.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Although I was initially nervous about bringing someone onto my team, I knew it was essential for growing my business. So, I took the leap and posted a job ad on LinkedIn. Several resumes came through, but one stood out to me immediately. As someone who deeply values energy work and manifesting, I couldn’t ignore the synchronicities in his background. While I was specifically seeking a marketing manager, his resume also included experience at Atlantic Records and a real estate investment firm. On top of that, we shared a mutual acquaintance. We arranged to meet for an interview at a local Philz Coffee.

During the interview, I had to ask about his experience in the music and real estate industries, as they seemed oddly aligned with my own life—my son is a musician, and my daughter works in real estate. For a moment, I wondered if he had researched my background to tailor his resume, but I quickly dismissed that thought. As someone who works with energy, I insisted on meeting in person to gauge his energy firsthand.

While his marketing expertise seemed solid, I’ll admit that I’m not a marketing expert myself. I trusted my instincts and decided to hire him based on the connection I felt. Despite our differences, we share a common belief in the Law of Attraction and the Law of Action, which was crucial for me. It’s important that anyone involved in marketing my business genuinely believes in what they’re promoting.

I introduced him to my energy work and showed him how I use tarot and oracle cards. I explained that while I’m spiritual, I also bring a practical approach to my work. I even did a card reading for him, and although he was initially skeptical, I think he was quite impressed. Our partnership has worked well—I’m the creative force, and he handles the logistics. The continued synchronicities between us have only reinforced that hiring him was the right decision.

Trusting others has always been a challenge for me, largely due to my upbringing. I’ve run my business solo for 35 years and achieved success on my own. However, when I decided to relaunch my e-commerce business, I realized I needed to let my guard down and bring someone on board to take it to the next level. It was a significant step for me, but I’m confident I made the right choice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wellnessgardentoolshed.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnessgardentoolshed/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WellnessGardenToolShed/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahereinhart
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leah_e_reinhart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellnessGardenToolShed
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnessgardentoolshed

Image Credits

Elegant Reflections Photography – Cheryl Phillips