Today we’d like to introduce you to Jada Sullivan Sr..
Hi Jada, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“You have to play the hand God dealt you in life.”
See, He dealt everyone on this Earth a different hand, so it’s up to you how you play your cards. So, I’m going to share the hand God dealt me in life.
My mom and dad separated when I was 5 years old due to my father’s physical, drug, and alcohol abuse. My mother, sister Keesha, and I moved to the “Reedy Fork” community (we say Reedy Fawk) in the country to live with my grandparents. We lived in a 900 sq ft house with 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and no city water—just well water. Some days, you’d take a shower, and the water would be red from the red clay dirt. As far as I can remember, there were at least 8 to 10 people living there at a time—family members sleeping on the couch and loveseat.
Growing up, I struggled with a learning disability and had trouble reading, all the way through elementary school and into college. I was held back in the 1st grade while all my friends moved on to the next grade. From an early age, I battled with low self-esteem, confidence, and doubt because of this. I was afraid to read in front of my classmates because I couldn’t pronounce some words, and I read very slowly. I also struggled with comprehension, which made me not want to read at all. At times, I didn’t believe in myself at an early age. I often felt uncomfortable and out of place. However, I did have a teacher who believed in me and helped me begin to regain my self-esteem and confidence, releasing any self-doubt as I moved into middle school.
I played sports my whole life, and in 7th grade, I began playing freshman basketball at Hillcrest High School. I was still struggling with some subjects in school and was definitely having a hard time reading. I wouldn’t make eye contact with my teachers when it was time to be called on to read. The anxiety I experienced during that time looking back was incredibly challenging. I started using sports as a cover-up for my situation once I began playing for the high school team. At this point, I didn’t have a male role model in my life. My father was on drugs. My uncle was on drugs. My cousins were selling drugs. I found myself in a place where I just had to keep living this uncomfortable and anxiety-filled life—struggling with school, learning, not having a father figure, and growing up without the things I wanted because my single mother couldn’t afford them.
When I got to high school, I became the school’s All-Time Leading Receiver in football. Things were looking up. I was getting recruited by many colleges, and I received letters from schools every day asking me to come play football at their respective colleges or universities. But another setback came my way: I couldn’t pass the SAT or ACT to qualify for college, and all I needed was an 820! A lot of schools backed off recruiting me because of that. I failed the SAT three times and the ACT once. I had to meet with a school psychologist, which was a tough experience. Once again, I felt dumb. My self-confidence began to drop. Even though I used sports as a shield for my learning disability and reading challenges, it seemed like everything was coming to an end. I couldn’t pass the tests to get into college, and I feared I’d be labeled as the hometown kid who was great in sports but couldn’t make it to college. I didn’t want that. Fortunately, I was given extended time and one-on-one assistance for my SAT, and I qualified. I received a full athletic scholarship to play football at Western Carolina University in 2001.
This is my hand God dealt me. There will be ups and downs, challenges, and setbacks as you go through life, but it’s how you play your cards that determines your destination. I was living my dream and playing college football. I was doing fairly well in the classroom and had a good collegiate career on the field. But then, during the last spring practice before our annual Purple and Gold spring game, a major setback occurred in my life. We were doing a tackling drill, and when I made a perfect form tackle on the running back, I thought I did everything right. But the Man upstairs thought otherwise. When I hit the ground, I knew it was over. My left shoulder was burning, and I couldn’t move my left arm. I had no feeling in my left arm, and what made matters worse is that I’m left-handed! I had a tough decision to make. Option A: Play my senior year, possibly at the professional level, but risk becoming paralyzed. Option B: Give up my last year of eligibility and hang up my cleats so I could have the chance to play with my future kids.
I thought long term and chose to give up the game of football. That decision led me to make one of the worst choices of my life: I dropped out of school in May 2005, just one semester shy of graduating. I struggled with depression and feelings of failure, so I didn’t think twice about returning to college. It was a dark place in my life. Trying to live up to other people’s expectations of me, I felt like I let them down. I wasn’t thinking about my own expectations of myself because I was so caught up in trying to please others instead of living for myself.
I went back to school in August 2008 at Lander University for a semester, before landing an internship at Disney in Orlando, Florida. After the internship, I didn’t return to school for a second time. So here I am, still without a degree. I stayed in Orlando for almost 10 years, where I met my wife, Vanessa, before moving back to South Carolina in March 2018.
In 2019, my wife and I started our moving company, J. Sullivan Moving LLC. In 2021, I had the opportunity to speak to the Hillcrest High School football team. I shared something my college head coach, Kent Briggs, used to say to us: “You have to focus, fight, finish.” By the end of my talk, I had them all yelling, “Focus, Fight, FINISH!” A week later, I was offered a position to coach at the same high school I played at! That’s when my brand, F3—Focus Fight FINISH—came to life. F3 is our motto, and it’s not just that—it’s a way of life. These three simple but empowering words inspire me every day. They represent a mindset to be relentless when pursuing something great, when chasing your dreams and goals.
Here’s the kicker: In 2022, I had a conversation with my wife, and she said, “Jada, you need to go back to school and finish your degree.” She told me I couldn’t talk the F3 talk and not walk the F3 walk. That set a fire under me! In January 2023, I enrolled back at Western Carolina University. I took online classes, which terrified me because of the things I’d heard about them—how challenging they could be and the discipline required to avoid falling behind. But on December 14, 2024, I walked across the stage in my purple cap and gown to receive my four-year degree.
See, it took me 19 years to get my degree, but guess what? I made up my mind that I was going to finish it. I focused on the task at hand. I fought through the setbacks, adversity, and challenges along the way. And I FINISHED the deal by walking across that stage and receiving my degree!
That was my hand God dealt me in life, and it’s what brought me to where I am today. I didn’t use my childhood as an excuse. I didn’t use my parents’ separation as an excuse. I am currently writing my first book, and I didn’t let my reading problems growing up stop me from doing that. I didn’t let setbacks and adversity stop me from pursuing my dreams and goals. It may have delayed things temporarily, but I NEVER quit. A quitter never WIN and winner NEVER quit. I’m a WINNER and I know y’all are too! Whatever you set your mind to do in life, do it, and don’t let anything or anyone stop you until you FINISH. F3!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I mean having self doubt and low self confidence can been very tough and challenging to a kid. And having insecurity issues reading led me to having those feelings.
Not having my father around growing up messed with me a lot. Just missing that father figure growing up.
Not feeling like you’re good enough or smart enough is a challenging situation. I mean I failed the SAT 3 times before finally qualifying. I was having those thoughts.
Having a career ending injury was a big challenge. I was down and out for a while about it. But everything is in God’s hands and He’s using me to now coach and be an inspiration to the kids.
After the injury I left school but after 19 years I went back to FINISH
We’ve been impressed with F3 Focus Fight FINISH / J. Sullivan Moving LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have a moving company called J. Sullivan Moving LLC where I provide residential and commercial moves. We provide local and out of state moves. What makes us different is we engage with our customers while providing them with top-of-the-line service in a positive and fun environment. I’m most proud of the progress and growth of the company. Great work brings more customers and growth to the company and seeing the progress of it all unfold out is very gratifying. So reach out to me if you’re ever looking for a great and fun moving experience!
As far as F3 Focus Fight FINISH brand I’m most proud of the impact that these 3 simple but empowering words have had on people and myself. It’s a lifestyle, a mindset, and just the way I live my life every day. Focus on the task at hand. Fight every day to sustain the right mindset to be GREAT and overcome any adversity or distractions that’s trying to prolong you from reaching your end goal. FINISH the deal! Whatever you set your mind to do in life do it and don’t let nothing or no one stop you until you FINISH!
High school football coach at Hillcrest HS in Simpsonville, SC. I’ve been coaching there since 2021 where I coach Defensive Backs.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have several individuals who have played a part to helped me get to where I am today, starting with my wife, Vanessa. I am so blessed to have her in my life as the backbone of our family. She’s been incredibly supportive of everything I have going on. She has pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone to become who God put me on this earth to become because she seen something great inside me, and I can’t thank her enough! She encouraged me to go back and finish my degree, and she encouraged me to write my first book, which I’m currently working on. She’s one incredible woman and I love her so much!
My high school football coach, Ken Cook, believed in me and saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. He promised my mother that he wouldn’t leave Hillcrest High School until I signed a full athletic scholarship, and that’s exactly what happened. He was loyal to me. He took me on all of my recruiting visits and poured so much time and energy into me. I am so very grateful and thankful for everything he did in my life.
My AAU basketball coach, Don Warren, has had a huge impact on my life. I love him to death because he allowed me to see and travel to different states through the game of basketball. The thing about Coach Warren is that, if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do so because my mama couldn’t afford it. He paid for my team shoes, uniforms, hotels, and made sure I had food to eat. I’ll forever be grateful that he’s a part of my life.
My elementary resource teacher, Mr. Jannie Hill, will forever hold a special place in my heart. She was the one who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She told me that it was okay that I read slower than others. She reminded me that everyone learns differently and that I was no different from any other kid in the school. She assured me that I was going to be okay—and fast forward 30+ years later, she was right, because I ended up being okay!
My mama, Brenda Sullivan, who I call “Big M,” has been in my corner since day one. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here today. I love her to death. I watched her work tirelessly as a single mother. I saw her struggle growing up, but I also witnessed her growth and positive changes as she got older. She has a heart of gold. She’s a God-fearing woman whom I admire tremendously. I have so many traits from Big M that I’m incredibly proud of, and they’ve helped shape me into the person I am today. She might not have been able to afford a lot of things I needed to play travel ball and high school ball, but she was my biggest and #1 fan. She never missed a high school or college football game. I’m so grateful and thankful to have her as my mother.
My father, Charles Foster, is my HERO. Even though he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse when I was a kid, he was still my hero. I got my athleticism from him, which allowed me to earn a college education. He never saw me play high school football or basketball, but when I got to college, he got clean and never missed a home football game. He also listened to every away game on the radio. I know my daddy was a great man when he was off drugs who loved me like no other. We have a bond like no other, regardless of what he has gone through in life. He is my HERO, and I thank him and love him for giving me life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @f3focusfightfinish/ @jsullivanmovingllc
- Facebook: Jada Sullivan/ @j.sullivanmoving
- Twitter: @CoachSullivanF3
