How a Stay-at-Home Mom Built 120 Franchises from Her Living Room with Rhea Lana [Ep. #176]

Rhea Lana’s story began nearly 30 years ago. A stay-at-home mom with three little ones and a tight budget, she found herself craving cute clothes for her kids but couldn’t afford new ones. Like many of us, she discovered a love for secondhand shopping—but at the time, the experience left much to be desired.

So she created her own.

“I just wanted something better. I wanted my friends to feel special, even while shopping secondhand,” Rhea Lana shared.

She organized her first consignment sale in her living room—meticulously washed and ironed everything, cleared out the furniture, and welcomed 11 moms who entrusted her with their items. It wasn’t just a garage sale; it was a boutique experience. But here’s the truth bomb: no one came.

That first sale? A total flop. Not because the idea was bad—but because she hadn’t learned yet how to invite people in. “I thought if I made it perfect enough, they would come,” she said. But God had other plans—plans that involved stepping way out of her comfort zone.

So she picked up the phone, called those 11 consignors, apologized, and asked to keep their items for one more week. She learned, adapted, marketed differently—and tried again.

And that’s a major takeaway for us all: Failure isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of becoming.

As a woman of faith and a mom, Rhea Lana doesn’t shy away from the tension of “doing it all.” She reminds us that life is lived in seasons. You won’t do everything all at once—and you’re not meant to. Instead, she encourages women to:

• Prioritize what matters now


• Declutter physically and mentally


• Let go of what’s weighing you down


• Lean into unexpected skills God reveals along the way

Her journey didn’t start with a business degree or financial training. “I didn’t know I could do marketing or numbers,” she said. “But I discovered those gifts after I stepped out.”

That’s key: You don’t have to know it all to begin. You just have to begin.

If you’re listening and feeling that nudge to start your own thing—but fear is whispering “you’re not enough”—Rhea Lana has a message for you:

“You have to figure out your why. When your reason to keep going is stronger than your fear of rejection, that’s where transformation happens.”

She shared how teaching a summer tennis camp once left her with zero profit—a painful but powerful lesson that propelled her to learn about money, margins, and the real difference between passion projects and businesses.

That bold honesty is such a gift to us.

So what if you’re sitting there thinking, “I don’t even know what my passion is?” Rhea Lana suggests asking:

• Where do you already see fruit in your life?


• What keeps drawing you in?


• What do others thank you for?


• What feels energizing—not draining—even if it’s hard?

And sometimes? The clues are hidden in the parts of your day you dismiss as “normal.” That thing you do without thinking? That might be your God-given genius zone waiting to be activated.

Rhea Lana is now 60 and still learning, still growing, still pressing forward in faith. And that’s the heartbeat of this episode: You’re never too early or too late to start.

Let this be your reminder today:

You don’t need to have it all figured out to move forward. Just be willing to say yes to the next step God places in front of you.

Whether that’s organizing a small event in your living room, launching an online offer, or teaching your kids with excellence—it matters. And your obedience can lead to an impact far beyond what you can currently imagine.

Thank you, Rhea Lana, for your authenticity, wisdom, and faith. You’ve reminded us that every great journey begins with one faithful step—and sometimes, three racks of secondhand clothes.

Connect with Rhea:

Website: http://www.rhealana.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhea-lana-riner-84874035/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RheaLanas/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhealanas/?hl=en

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