We had the good fortune of connecting with Darius Recard Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darius, every day, we know how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
It was crazy, I put this on everything. I was sitting in my room back in November of 2011 at about 1 a.m., just thinking. I was thinking about the surgery on my knee that took my scholarship away, didn’t know if I should continue running track or not, and then I just went down this rabbit hole about my life. Now, before I say what happened next, I always had a lot of faith, I always had conversations with God, but life was so heavy on me.

For the first time, I dropped to my knees and just started praying about everything. I felt like a different person after. My vision was clear. I knew my purpose in life. And next thing I knew, I was writing down an idea, and that’s when YCQ! (You Can’t Quit!) came about. But here’s the thing, YCQ! didn’t start with me. My dad, Darius Recard Sr started the movement back in 2003. To him, my understanding was he was just building a business to make it a trademark and make some money. My mom was the one who Made it hit different. I grew up watching her push through every obstacle, never giving up no matter what life threw at her. He built the foundation, but my mom fighting gave it meaning.

When he passed, my mom, Deborah Recard, made sure that fire didn’t burn out. She kept YCQ! alive in any way she could, to the point YCQ! Was in the bedding of my father casket. I don’t remember seeing him, I remember seeing You Can’t Quit! From YCQ! Lawn Care Service my dad started to YCQ! shirts, or throwing YCQ! parties. Whatever she had to do to keep that torch lit, she did it. She made sure it was still burning until I was ready to carry it myself. And when that time came, I knew I had a responsibility to take it further, to turn YCQ! into something that could impact lives the way my parents impacted mine. That’s when I really started going after it.

But The Nova Star Foundation? That was a full circle moment for me. Writing my book took me back to the day my father passed. I thought I had already healed from it, but the truth was, I had just buried it. Book Star forced me to relive that pain, to sit with it, and to finally process everything I had never fully dealt with. That book became my therapy, and through it, I found Nova.

I created Nova as a character, but she became something much bigger. In astronomy, a nova star is a star that becomes the brightest in the galaxy right before it dies. That’s what I want to be for people. I want to be that light, that spark that reminds them they still have something left to give, that their story isn’t over. The Nova Star Foundation was born from that idea, to be a source of hope, to help people find their own light even when they feel like they’re fading.

YCQ! is about the fight, about never giving up. The Nova Star Foundation is about making sure people have the light they need to keep going. One came from my father’s legacy, the other from my own healing. Together, they are my purpose.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The healing journey is the most important part of everything I talk about because it’s the foundation of You Can’t Quit! (YCQ!) and everything I’ve built. When I reflect on my journey, I realize that everything I’ve accomplished came from a place of deep pain and struggle. Losing my scholarship to injury, dealing with my dad committing suicide and blaming myself and just dealing with depression and my own personal demons, those were all moments that nearly broke me. But choosing to heal is where I found my strength.

The road wasn’t easy, and at times, I felt trapped in darkness. But the moment I truly began to heal, I discovered my purpose. I had to confront my past, my fears, and my pain. I had to accept what was and surrender it to God, aligning myself with the journey to healing, something I had never done with such vulnerability before. I always thought I had it under control, but when things got rough, I used to believe I couldn’t go to God because he had already given me the tools I needed. It was through healing that I realized I could always go to Him, He was always willing to help me carry the weight. That realization changed everything. It showed me the power of healing, the power of prayer, and the power of refusing to let my struggles define me. From that moment on, I committed myself not only to my own growth and healing but also to helping others do the same.

YCQ! and The Nova Star Foundation are about healing too. I created the Book Star as a way to process my own pain. It wasn’t just a story it became a form of therapy. Writing about Tyrone Bonner and the darkness he faced helped me realize I still had to forgive myself. Through writing, I found the light. And that light is what The Nova Star Foundation represents the light that shines brightest when we allow ourselves to heal.

In addition to the foundation and book, I’ve been pouring my heart into YCQ! through fitness and clothing as well. My fitness programs, including the YCQ! workouts, aren’t just about physical strength they’re about mental and emotional resilience too. The clothing line serves as a constant reminder for those who wear it. You Can’t Quit! is not just a motto, it’s a way of life, it’s a state of mind. Each piece is a symbol of overcoming.

Healing is a journey, not a destination. And that’s something I want the world to know. The process of healing isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. It’s the hardest work you’ll ever do, but it leads to the greatest transformation. I want people to know that I’m not here to just tell them to not quit, I’m here to walk with them through their own healing journeys. Life is going to challenge you, but it’s through those challenges that you grow, and through healing, you find the strength you never knew you had.

What sets me apart is that my work is rooted in real life healing. It’s about facing the darkest moments and choosing to push through, knowing that healing is possible. And the lessons I’ve learned along the way are simple, embrace the healing process, don’t rush it, and never give up even when the pain seems unbearable. Because on the other side of that pain, there’s a version of you that’s stronger, wiser, and more capable than you ever imagined.

That’s the message I want people to take from my story, healing is possible, you don’t have to do it alone, and you can keep going no matter what.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m not sure where we would be since I’ve been on the road a lot lately, but if I had to show my best friend the best time ever, it’d be packed with fun and nostalgia. I’m pretty spontaneous, so I can literally take off and go right now lol. As long as business is taken care of, of course!

We’d hit up arcades for some friendly competition, then take a trip to California’s beaches to relax by the water, network with some people. After that, I’d take them to Ohio to hit Cedar Point for some roller coasters fasho! Then we most likely hitting Las Vegas to walk the strip, hit the casino, and try to make a mil!

We’d definitely have a hot wings and ranch day and an all you can eat taco night lol. You can’t go wrong with that combo! Then, I’d take them to my hometown Flint, Michigan, to grab Big John’s and some Stromboli’s from Lil Caesar’s. Big Shoutout to Flint!

The week would wrap up with more arcade fun and just hanging out, enjoying good food and company. It’s all about having fun, making memories, and keeping the kid in us alive!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Big shoutout to everyone who’s been rocking with me and holding me down since day one! From Flint, MI, to my Swartz Creek family, from Riverside, CA, all the way to Atlanta, GA, every single person who believed in me, supported the vision, and kept YCQ! alive through my struggles. Y’all kept me going, and I can’t thank you enough! Much love to YCQ! NATION, this one’s for us! 💪🏾🔥

Website: https://ycqmovement.com

Instagram: drecardjr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darius-recard-jr-3b39075a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darius.recard.1/

Other: TikTok – Darius Recard Jr

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