We were lucky to catch up with Ja’Quan Riggins recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ja’Quan, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from two places: my upbringing and my pain. Growing up in Anniston, Alabama and later Atlanta, I watched the people around me survive on resilience. My family taught me early that nothing is given you have to earn it, and you have to keep pushing even when life knocks you down. That foundation, mixed with my own battles with mental health, shaped the way I approach everything I do. I work like every opportunity is my only one, because for a lot of us coming from humble beginnings, it really is. Fueled By Pain was built on that same mindset, turning obstacles into fuel, discipline into consistency, and vision into reality.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Fueled By Pain is in an exciting chapter of growth right now. This fall we are introducing our first women’s gym two-piece sets, built to remind our female audience that strength is not only physical but also mental. We are also releasing long sleeve athletic tees to keep people pushing through the colder months because wellness does not pause with the seasons. One of our most meaningful drops yet is our new graphic tee featuring the words “Pain is the Fuel, Freedom is the Goal.” To me, that phrase captures the entire heartbeat of FBP. We all carry pain, but the true mission is freedom, freedom from stigma, silent battles, and the weight that holds us back. I want everyone who wears that tee to feel like they are declaring their healing out loud.
Beyond apparel, FBP is expanding into spaces that truly bring people together. This fall we will be partnering with Sharolyn Turnbow of Hoganville Lifestyle Kickboxing LLC and Albany State University to host a class led boxing event designed to help students release stress and let go of the mental battles they are carrying. It is about showing that movement, community, and conversation can all be powerful tools for healing.
On top of that, I will be stepping into more speaking opportunities this season, sharing my journey and reminding others that their story has value. Whether it is through our clothing, our podcast, our toolkits, or community events, everything FBP does is centered on the same mission: to take pain and repurpose it into fuel while helping people see that their ultimate goal is freedom.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are resilience, vision, and consistency.
Resilience taught me how to bend but not break. Life tested me early, and I had to learn that setbacks aren’t endings, they’re opportunities to grow stronger. For anyone starting out, resilience is built by facing challenges head-on instead of avoiding them. Don’t let failure scare you; let it teach you.
Vision gave me direction. I always knew I wanted to create something bigger than myself, and having that clear picture of what I was working toward kept me going even when the road was tough. My advice is to spend time defining what success looks like to you, not just what it looks like to everyone else. Write it down, speak it out loud, and keep it in front of you until it becomes real.
Consistency turned ideas into reality. You can have talent and passion, but if you’re not consistent, it won’t stick. Building Fueled By Pain showed me that showing up every day, even in the small ways, is what creates momentum. For those just starting out, focus on progress over perfection. Stay consistent, and the results will follow.
At the end of the day, I tell people this: your pain will shape you, but your discipline and vision will carry you. Build resilience by embracing challenges, sharpen your vision by knowing your “why,” and strengthen your consistency by showing up even when it feels hard. Those three qualities will not only keep you on the journey, they’ll help you turn it into something impactful.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one challenge I’m currently facing is financial. Right now, I am funding Fueled By Pain completely out of pocket, and the only steady income I have is from my nine-to-five. Balancing personal responsibilities while also trying to grow a brand with such a big mission can be overwhelming at times. There are days when it feels like every dollar has to stretch in two directions—keeping my life afloat and fueling the vision I believe in so deeply.
But even in that challenge, I see opportunity. It forces me to be creative, resourceful, and disciplined with how I build. I’ve been focusing on structuring budgets, cutting unnecessary costs, and looking for new revenue stream, whether through apparel drops, partnerships, or grants that align with our mental health mission. I’m also learning that patience is just as important as ambition. The process may be slower without major backing, but it allows me to build a strong foundation that will last.
What keeps me moving is knowing that Fueled By Pain is bigger than me. It’s about changing lives, starting conversations, and giving people hope. So even if it means sacrificing comfort now, I know the investment is worth it. My advice to anyone facing the same struggle is this: don’t let financial barriers make you give up on your vision. Use them as fuel to strategize smarter, manage better, and prepare yourself for the breakthrough that’s coming.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fueledbypain.net
- Instagram: Fbp.thebrand
- Youtube: Fueled By Pain Ent
Image Credits
Bro Chris Chadwick
FBP Executive Member Austin Joiner
Podcast featuring Jada Starr
Podcast featuring Chaundee Brown
Podcast featuring
FBP Sketches Of Survival Graphic Tee purchase by Bro Vince Grace
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
