The Ex-Convict Who Turned Pain Into Purpose: How One Man Built 3 Businesses and a Book From His Rock Bottom

Juan Nelson Battle Jr., a man once buried beneath the weight of his past, now stands as a living testimony that pain can be repurposed into something powerful. A former convict who once faced the darkness of incarceration, homelessness, and broken systems, Juan didn't let his circumstances define him—instead, he let them refine him.

Today, Juan is the CEO and founder of three impactful ventures:
Gifted Ghost Records, an independent label built to empower artists with the tools and knowledge to move like a business;
Who Iz T.V., an invite-only content platform spotlighting raw talent and real stories through interviews and mic check performances;
and Believe By Battle, a luxury motivation wear brand blending fashion and faith for people climbing out of dark places.

Each of these brands has one thing in common: they were birthed from struggle, developed with intention, and sustained by faith.

But behind the success and structure lies a man who still wrestles with the weight of it all. Juan doesn’t sugarcoat the journey. “It’s still hard till this day, and sometimes I feel like I’m drowning,” he admits, “but my faith in God is keeping me going.”

This honesty pours through the pages of his book, How I Turned My Pain Into Purpose: A Journey of Growth, Grind, and God. In it, Juan opens up about becoming a father at 19, surviving low-income housing, losing everything, and rebuilding his life from scratch. It’s not just a book—it’s a blueprint for transformation, written by someone who’s been at the bottom and fought to rise above.

His journey isn't filled with luck or handouts. It’s marked by sleepless nights, divine faith, and a relentless will to create opportunities not only for himself but for others who feel forgotten by the system and overlooked by society.

Juan now uses his story and platforms to help artists and entrepreneurs who come from pain, poverty, and pressure—just like he did.

Because if there’s one thing he knows, it’s this: You can’t get a new life until your old one is gone.

The Ex-Convict Who Turned Pain Into Purpose: How One Man Built 3 Businesses and a Book From His Rock Bottom