The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas

What do you do when the dream is real, but the rent is due? Fresh off the Forever Forward weekend, with a couple of weeks left before their new book We Is Greater Than Me drops, CJ and Eric Thomas go back to the one season CJ almost folded. Money was so tight that CJ, the first in his family to get a degree, master's in hand, was calling his blue collar parents to borrow five hundred dollars. So he started substitute teaching on the side. By the end of his first day he had a struggling classroom singing, the principal asked him to come back every day, and the district wanted to offer him a role worth close to six figures. Then ET found out, and told him to quit. ET explains why. CJ had already turned down Western Michigan. ET had already watched people from Detroit make enough to survive but never enough to thrive. And the calls coming into their office at Michigan State, from Reggie Bush to Puff, told him the needle was moving. You can't half do this. Then the real reason CJ took the job comes out, and it involves the Cheesecake Factory. They go back even further. ET had one rule for the team, no dating, and Candis of Detroit broke right through it. CJ remembers ET calling with his wife Dede in the background, asking how long this was going to last, and the Michigan State staff meetings where ET stared out a tiny window like he was in prison. ET shares what God told him to do with Dede's need for stability. It all lands on the story ET preached this weekend: why God let David lose everything right after he beat Goliath. You can't stay a champion off the last battle you won. JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings and Q&A with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Cold Open: You Can't Stay Champion Off One Win 00:01:34 Welcome: Fresh Off Forever Forward 00:02:58 Countdown to We Is Greater Than Me 00:04:50 Why CJ Struggles to Promote Himself 00:06:02 Why Now Was the Time for This Book 00:11:55 Was There Ever a Time You Doubted? 00:13:39 The Substitute Teaching Story 00:17:58 Why ET Told CJ to Quit 00:20:01 The Evidence: When Reggie Bush and Puff Called 00:22:04 You Can't Be Here One Week and Gone the Next 00:24:18 Western Michigan or the Cheesecake Factory 00:26:53 Candis of Detroit Broke the Rule Book 00:30:53 Five Grand a Speech and Dede's Big Question 00:33:12 Suffocating in the Staff Meeting 00:35:30 Turn Your Dream Into a Job 00:37:05 Want It as Bad as You Want to Breathe 00:39:21 We Is Greater Summit, November 16 to 18 00:40:27 Get the Book, Bring Your Team PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Pre-order now and get $346 in free bonuses. Get one for you and one for your team. https://www.weisgreater.com WE IS GREATER SUMMIT Three nights, live and virtual, with Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney, November 16, 17 and 18. Self, family and teams, plus the book launch party. https://www.weisgreater.com/summit WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel RATE AND REVIEW If this one hit home, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people find the show. LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast

How many times are you going to let somebody overdraft your life before you close the account? Eric Thomas and CJ go deep on relationships, boundaries and building the right team. E says it plain: God never told you to stay in a relationship that only takes. If people keep withdrawing more than they deposit, at some point you have to be strong enough to say, I have to let you go. It starts with CJ asking E how you know you are building on bedrock and not in vain. E gives three rules. Repeat the behaviors that get your best results, the same way a 24 hour fast finally moved his scale. Reproduce your best, even if it is the in your face voice Dede is tired of hearing. And select people who share your values, because access is not the same thing as love. Then CJ asks if there is ever a "me season." E tells the story of Dede asking the family for 18 months so she could get her master's, and why that was me for the sake of we. He explains why so many people quit on we after a bad partnership: they never prayed about it, they came for the money. The back half is a live Q&A with the S2S Patreon fam. E answers when the we is worth the sacrifice of me, why some of your me is sick and only spends in your own house, how to get volunteers to join what you are building, and why you can win a lot by yourself but you cannot win the big one alone. He also tells the story of how God gave him the title We Is Greater Than Me in prayer. JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON Hear every episode first and ask your questions live. New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Help us hit the New York Times Best Seller list. https://www.weisgreater.com EXTREME EXECUTION CERTIFICATION Live, October 24 and 25. Only happens once a year. https://www.extremeexecution.com CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Cold Open: I Need You to Produce Something 00:01:28 Welcome: We Costs More Up Front 00:02:43 NBA Coaches, Receipts and the Power of We 00:05:28 Who This Podcast Is Really For 00:07:46 How Do You Know You're Building on Bedrock? 00:08:31 Rule 1: Repeat What Gets You Results 00:13:21 Rule 2: Reproduce Your Best 00:15:46 Rule 3: Pick People Who Share Your Values 00:18:40 Is There Ever a Me Season? 00:19:05 Dede's 18 Months 00:21:32 Why Your Last We Failed 00:25:48 Why We Need You at WeIsGreater.com 00:27:12 Patreon Live Q&A: What E Is Most Excited About 00:30:06 When Is the We Worth the Sacrifice of Me? 00:31:17 Deposits, Withdrawals and Overdrafts 00:35:00 Why the Book Is Called We Is Greater Than Me 00:37:33 Does We Cost You Part of Me? Your Me Might Be Sick 00:41:45 How to Get People to Join Your We 00:43:07 You Can't Win the Big One Alone 00:46:16 How God Gave E the Title 00:47:34 Do You Stay With People Who Won't Grow? 00:49:53 Closing WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel RATE AND REVIEW If this episode hit home, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share it with somebody in your circle. It helps more people find the show. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast

Eric Thomas and CJ break down leadership, team building and why you can't build it alone. The greatest wins in your life will never come from solo effort, and the thing that made you successful as an individual might be the very thing destroying your team. CJ said it at the 1% event. Your vision only has enough room for you. It is just CJ and Eric Thomas at the table this week, and E opens by saying he has never felt this good. The reason is not a new win. It is something he removed. E explains how the Flight Assessment showed him he was the opinionated flight attendant in his own house, and why the biggest thing he did for his family this season was stay out their business. His kids Jalin and Jayda left the “family we”, landed at the same company, and took off. From there the two get into money. E breaks down why money cannot buy happiness but it can buy options, the number he chased so Dede could retire, and why he stopped trying to fund everything on me income after a handful of kids came back from Dubai changed. Then CJ pushes E on the hard question. How do you know you are in the right we, and when do you leave one? E talks about God telling him to leave Huntsville, the day CJ told him he was a brand and made him keep the hat on, and why he picks people on character. CJ closes with the line that carries the episode. He and E did not find a finished table. They built one with a hammer and a nail, and you can build yours with the people already around you. So be honest. Are you building your own table, or waiting on a seat at somebody else's? Drop it in the comments. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Cold Open: CJ Almost Got Fired in His First Month 00:01:39 Welcome: Just CJ and E This Week 00:02:54 Pre-Order We Is Greater Than Me 00:04:22 Why E Has Never Felt This Good 00:05:42 Jalin and Jayda Outgrew the Family We 00:10:30 What E Had to Change on the Inside 00:12:44 The Flight Assessment and the Opinionated Flight Attendant 00:15:36 "Stay Out Their Business" 00:17:33 Sometimes Growth Is Removing Something 00:20:29 Coaching Grown Kids Without Controlling Them 00:25:22 Money Can't Buy Happiness, But It Buys Options 00:29:31 The Number That Let Dede Retire 00:31:09 Tithing, Giving and Who Really Carries the Church 00:34:18 Sending Kids to Dubai: When Me Income Runs Out 00:38:00 "Your Vision Only Has Enough Room for You" 00:42:19 A Vision Big Enough for a Thousand People 00:43:18 Dallas, the Hospital and the Van 00:48:45 How Do You Know You're in the Right We? 00:53:19 God Said Go: Why E Left Huntsville 00:54:30 From Anointed Speaker to a Brand: The Hat Story 00:57:14 Leave the We or Grow the We? 00:59:45 E Chooses People on Character 01:02:56 We Built Our Table 01:04:19 You Can Build It With Your People 01:06:35 Build Where Your Feet Are 01:09:10 Why CJ Only Wants His Own Table 01:10:37 What a 12 Year Old Taught the Pastor 01:14:15 Closing: Go to WeIsGreater.com PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Help us hit the New York Times Best Seller list. Buy one for you and one for your squad. https://www.weisgreater.com EXTREME EXECUTION CERTIFICATION Live, October 24 and 25. Only happens once a year. https://www.extremeexecution.com JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast

Should the coach change to fit the player, or should the player change to fit the coach? This week the crew opens up one of the oldest arguments in coaching, leadership, and life, and nobody fully agrees. CJ starts it off by admitting someone once told him his coaching style was too harsh, not wrong, not ineffective, just uncomfortable. That one comment turns into a debate that swings from brunch etiquette to Allen Iverson, from Navy SEAL hell week to the Mr. Miyagi principle to the exact moment you stop being valuable to a team. ET explains why he walked away from being a democratic coach. Giving everyone an equal voice sounded fair, until it produced a room full of preferences and no results. But does that mean every coach should run it that way? The Allen Iverson and Coach Larry Brown story becomes the test case, the only coach in history to win championships in both college and the pros, paired with one of the most talented players ever who never fully bought into the system. Was that on Iverson, or on the system? Jemal argues that if the coach is proven, the player adjusts, not the other way around. You don't get to skip wax on, wax off. ET goes further, crediting his hardest seasons of being coached, not coddled, for getting him from homeless to number one in the world. But where's the line between discipline and being broken down? The crew pushes into the screaming baby at brunch, why some kids need the paw paw, whether hell week coaching actually prepares you for real life, and why blessed kids might need a little manufactured hunger to grow. So which side are you on? Does the coach adjust to the player, or does the player adjust to the coach? Where's your line between hard coaching and harsh coaching? Drop your answer in the comments, the crew wants to hear it. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Stay Inside the Margins or You're Not You Anymore 00:01:35 Welcome and Fair or Foul: The Screaming Baby at Brunch 00:07:08 The Pow Pow Philosophy: When Kids Need Boundaries in Public 00:09:04 The Coaching Dilemma: Should the Coach Change or the Player? 00:12:16 The Mr. Miyagi Principle: You Don't Change the Winning Formula 00:14:29 The Allen Iverson and Coach Brown Story: When Talent Meets Discipline 00:17:43 Different Learning Styles vs. Taking Ownership: The Real Debate 00:21:55 From Homeless to Number One: Why ET Coaches the Way He Does 00:23:06 The Expectation Problem: Why ET Stopped Being Democratic 00:28:02 The 252 Moment: When You're Not Valuable Anymore 00:39:37 The Levels of Coaching: From Peewee to the Pros 00:45:11 The Letter With No You In It: Taking Responsibility for Your Story 00:46:58 Hell Week Coaching: Why We Came Up Different 00:53:04 Teaching Sons Not to Touch Women: The Non-Negotiable Standard 00:55:15 The Virtual Jungle: Creating Hunger in Blessed Kids 00:55:58 Closing: We Is Greater - Go Get the Book PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available now. https://www.weisgreater.com JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15 FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast ABOUT THE PODCAST The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and drive.

You want to be in the circle, but you're coming in needy. You want the access, the connections, the benefits. But you're not bringing health. You're not bringing value. You're coming in taking from the circle instead of adding to it. And until you fix that, you'll never stay. This week the crew gets raw about what it really means to be part of a team. CJ opens up about losing his Delta 360 status after two years. Not because he stopped flying. But because he started using too many of the benefits. The upgrades, the miles, the Sky Club access, the Porsche pickups. He was taking more from the circle than he was putting back in. And Delta kicked him out. ET breaks down why the same thing happens in relationships, marriages, and friendships. You can't keep pulling from the circle without adding to it. Because the moment you become a liability, the moment you start draining more than you're contributing, people start distancing themselves. Not because they don't love you. But because you're using all your credit. The crew unpacks why most people come into circles looking for what they can get instead of what they can give. Why generosity is a war, not a transaction. And why the healthiest people in the circle are the ones who never need anything. Shout out to Rondell, shout out to Will, shout out to Maul. They came in healthy. They came in ready to serve. And because of that, they're still here. ET gets real about teaching his son Jalin the difference between being fed and knowing how to hunt. Why wealth doesn't start with money, it starts with a mindset. And why you can tell the difference between a lion and a giraffe just by looking at their bodies. One hunts. One grazes. And your physique, your character, your future depends on which one you are. They also talk about why ET's daughter Jada called and asked what God said about her. How he told her everything she needs is about to come because she's finally in the Serengeti. And why being a COO at her brother's company is putting her in position to attract everything she's been praying for. This episode will challenge how you show up in your circle. Because if you're needy, people can feel it. If you're draining, people will distance themselves. Stop taking advantage of the advantage. Start adding to the circle. We is greater than me. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: When You Get Needy, You Get Cut From the Circle 00:01:29 Welcome and The Delta 360 Wake-Up Call 00:03:22 The Secret to Staying in the Circle: Come With Health 00:05:27 Cultural Programming: The Give Me Mentality vs The Creator Mindset 00:05:57 The Delta Story Breakdown: Using All Your Global Upgrades 00:12:00 The Porsche Pickup and When Advantages Become Expected 00:24:57 Shout Out to Rondell Black: The Art of Knowing How to Be 00:25:46 Equal Sacrifice, Not Equal Giving: The Real Secret to We 00:29:17 Teaching Your Kids to Hunt: The Giraffe vs Lion Lesson 00:35:21 The Jada Story: Leading Your Wife to Houston 00:38:15 The Five Pillars and Building Your Own Dynasty 00:39:48 We Is Greater Than Me: The Book and the Mission 00:40:32 Football Season Talk: Bears Moving to Indiana and Lions Hype 00:48:48 Forever Forward Marriage Retreat: Photo Shoots and White Party 00:50:55 Closing: 9 to 5 Millionaire Network and Real Estate Results PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available now. https://www.weisgreater.com FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT October 29th in Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of marriage with the S2S crew and their wives. https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.com JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15 FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast ABOUT THE PODCAST The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.

You know better. You can do better. But you haven't done better yet. And that's your 242: the place where you know what needs to change but haven't produced better yet. This week, the crew breaks down accountability that actually works. ET explores the difference between reputation and character. Reputation is a shadow. It's who you want people to think you are. Character is who you actually are. And when your character is on the line, you can't promote a health supplement at 242 pounds or talk about transformation while avoiding the area you know needs to change. Not because of vanity, but integrity. CJ gets real about being a true two man. Not a one in waiting looking for his moment, but someone whose light is connected to yours. He shares how he stepped aside at a speaking engagement so ET could go first. Someone accused him of dimming his light, but they couldn't understand that CJ and ET's destinies are tied together. Winning means doing whatever it takes, not whatever makes you look good. The crew unpacks why consistency without quality is rehearsed failure, why people want to win their way instead of simply winning, and why real accountability goes beyond someone saying you're getting big. It's someone asking for your blood pressure every day. The 52-day challenge isn't about weight loss. It's about the area where you know better, can do better, but haven't done better yet. ET also breaks down his home game versus away game strategy, how the Peloton app keeps him accountable on the road, and how CJ pushed him back to intermittent fasting. Nobody said a word when he was eating honey buns and Cheetos, but now that he's fasting, everybody's worried about his electrolytes. This episode will challenge how you think about accountability, partnership, and being a two man. Because you don't want to be a two man. You're a one in waiting. Until you deal with that, you'll keep doing 52 days alone. Stop trying to win your way. Do what it takes to win. Your 242 is waiting, and it starts with your heart. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Reputation is a Shadow, Character is Who You Are 00:01:38 Welcome and Airport Lotion Drama - The TSA Struggle is Real 00:04:11 The Sprinkler System Scam and Mr. Perfect's Lawn 00:07:09 Pool Equipment: The Money Pit That Never Stops Breaking 00:09:23 17 Years and 21 Years: Celebrating Partnership Milestones 00:10:37 The Speaking Engagement Story: When Your Light is Attached to Someone Else's 00:13:43 Consistency Without Quality is Rehearsed Failure 00:16:49 I Just Want to Win: The Philosophy That Built an Empire 00:17:18 You're Not a Two-Man, You're a One in Waiting 00:19:11 The Secret to Success Mission: Bringing Souls to Christ 00:20:23 White Men Can't Jump: Would You Rather Look Good and Lose? 00:24:44 Being a Two-Man in the 52-Day Challenge: What Accountability Really Looks Like 00:26:45 The Blood Pressure Metric: Why Accountability Needs to Be Tangible 00:27:56 The Jerk Chicken Confession: When You Eat Wrong and Your Numbers Show It 00:31:51 Reputation vs Character: The Connection That Changes Everything 00:41:53 The Dentist Analogy: Imagine If You Had to Go 52 Days Straight 00:45:12 You Know Better, Can Do Better, But Haven't Done Better Yet 00:46:27 Home Game vs Away Game: The Peloton App Solution for Travel 00:47:17 The 24-Hour Fast: When Accountability Pushes You Beyond Your Limits 00:49:15 Introducing the Build 52 Challenge: Your 52-Day Transformation Starts Now 00:49:57 Live Staff Meeting with Moose: Registration Deadlines and Pricing 00:53:07 Closing: Transformation Not Just Information JOIN THE BUILD 52 CHALLENGE Free registration ends soon. Transform the area you've been ignoring in 52 days. https://www.build52challenge.com JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available November 3rd. https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15 FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast ABOUT THE PODCAST The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.

You're winning in some areas but losing in one. And you know it. Your marriage is strong. Your kids are thriving. Your career is on fire. Your faith is solid. But that one area? The one you keep avoiding? That's the one that's about to cost you everything. This week ET gets brutally honest about the conversation that changed everything on June 1st. The moment God rebuked him on the pulpit while he was preaching. The moment he realized he was about to be the weakest link. Because when CJ told him the supplement was finally ready, ET knew he couldn't come out with a health product at 242 pounds. Not because of vanity. Because of integrity. ET breaks down why he avoided the scale for years. Why he justified being strong in four out of five pillars. Why he told himself his blood work was good enough. And why God had to step in and say, you're not industry standard in this area, son. You're about to destroy what you said you wanted to build. The crew unpacks why most people resist the one area they need to fix the most. Why we justify being great in four areas while ignoring the fifth. Why embarrassment isn't about what other people see, it's about knowing you're better than this. And why the first step isn't exercise or diet, it's changing your heart. ET shares how he lost 17 pounds in 52 days without obsessing over food or workouts. How he put on the black suit jacket from 2012 that used to have tension and now fits perfectly. And how God said pre won't stay pre. Your body is a temple. And if you don't treat it like one, you won't be around to celebrate the legacy you're trying to build. This episode will challenge everything you think about success. Because you can be number one in four areas and still be losing. Stop justifying the one thing you know needs to change. What's your 242? The area you've been ignoring? The thing you know you're better than? It's time to fix it. And it starts with your heart. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: You're Winning in Four, Losing in One - And You Know It 00:01:32 Welcome and Happy 17th Anniversary - The Milestone Moment 00:04:46 June 1st: The Conversation That Changed Everything 00:05:47 The Scale You're Avoiding: Why We Don't Face Reality 00:07:53 God's Rebuke on the Pulpit: When Your Calling Exposes Your Weakness 00:10:07 Four Out of Five Strong: The Dangerous Justification 00:22:15 The Embarrassment of Needing Someone Else to Tell You 00:24:17 The Supplement Revelation: You Can't Be the Weakest Link 00:37:43 Changing Your Heart First: Why Exercise and Diet Come Second 00:42:01 Your Body Is a Temple: The Principle You Know But Don't Live 00:44:42 Pre Won't Stay Pre: The Wake-Up Call About Your Future 00:47:16 Introducing Build52Challenge.com: Your Free Transformation Starts Now 00:51:36 The Black Suit Jacket: From Tension to Triumph 00:53:50 17 Pounds Down, 52 Days to Build: The Quick Work God Promised 00:55:14 Closing: What's Your 242? The Area You've Been Ignoring JOIN THE BUILD 52 CHALLENGE Completely free. 52 days to transform the area you've been ignoring. https://www.build52challenge.com JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available November 3rd. https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15 FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast ABOUT THE PODCAST The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming the best version of yourself.

You don't want the advice. You want the reward. You want the championship without the discipline. You want the breakthrough without the breaking. You want the results without the process. And that's why you're stuck. Because the advice is free. The reward costs everything. This week the crew breaks down why most people reject the very thing that could save them. ET opens up about the difference between motivation and discipline. Why the dude who studied discipline and went through the military has the right to say motivation is whack. But most people aren't there yet. Most people need something to get them going. That's why he asks, what's your why? Because that part works. It worked for the Denver Nuggets when they won the championship. It worked for Texas A&M when they went undefeated. The first level is motivation. But you can't stay there. They also get into the LeBron versus Jordan debate. Not the stats, not the rings, just the question: who's better? And why that conversation never gets old. Plus, ET tells the story of breaking the law, getting caught on video, and still trying to argue it was racism. Spoiler: he lost in court. But the videotape don't lie. CJ shares why he went through the 10 items or less line with 17 items and had a full stare down with the grocery store clerk. Was he fair or foul? The crew weighs in. And ET admits he's a lawbreaker when it comes to waiting. Because the hip hop preacher ain't got time for lines. This episode is about the gap between wanting success and doing what it takes to get it. Because everybody wants the reward. But most people don't want the advice. They don't want the discipline. They don't want the process. And that's why they stay stuck. Stop asking for shortcuts. Start doing the work. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Discipline vs Motivation - The First Level You Need 00:01:16 Welcome and Team Introductions: Clark Atlanta Bound 00:02:57 LeBron vs Jordan: The Debate That Never Gets Old 00:03:22 Fair or Foul: The 10 Items or Less Grocery Store Standoff 00:03:48 The Grocery Shopping Philosophy: Why Delivery Isn't an Option 00:07:43 Breaking the Law When It Makes Sense: The Practical Approach 00:08:06 The Stop Sign Story: When ET Fought the Law and the Law Won 00:09:30 The California Stop Defense: Why Context Matters in Rule Breaking 00:09:56 Marriage Talk: The 30-Minute Conversation That Revealed Society's Problem JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15 FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast ABOUT THE PODCAST The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.

You prayed about it. You asked God for direction. You're waiting. You're believing. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't because God didn't answer. It's because you're not listening. Or worse, you're listening but you're not moving. This week ET and CJ break down why prayer without action is just noise. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: God's voice is clear. His directions are clear. The problem is your filters are messed up. You're so stuck in your own way of doing things, so locked into what you know, that you can't hear what God is trying to tell you. And even when you do hear it, you come back the next day asking the same question like y'all didn't just have that conversation yesterday. ET opens up about why he told people to stop praying. Not because prayer doesn't work, but because some people use prayer as a crutch. They pray for Peter to be released from jail while Peter is at the door knocking. They're so busy praying they can't see the answer is already here. He breaks down the formula of prayer, the one he learned when he was homeless. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us as we forgive others. With thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. It's not just about asking. It's about listening. It's about doing what God tells you to do. What do you do when you feel like you didn't hear God clearly? What do you do when your mind is so cluttered with anxiety, stress, and worry that you can't process what God is saying? You can't get directions when you're moving. You have to stop. And once God gives you the directions, don't come back asking for the same directions again. Move. They also unpack why most people only see God as a provider instead of a relationship. Why your prayer life should be you and God just kicking it, reminiscing on the good old days, talking about what you're grateful for. Not just showing up with a list of demands. And why the people who get closest to God, like Enoch and Moses, are the ones who walked and talked with God until they literally glowed with his presence. This episode will challenge everything you think about prayer. Because prayer is not just talking. It's listening. It's doing. Stop asking God to bless the mess. Start doing what he told you to do. The pit stop only works if you stay in the car and let God do what only he can do. But you still got to drive. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: God's Got a Thousand Ways You Know Nothing About 00:01:45 Welcome and the Prayer Controversy: Did ET Really Say Stop Praying? 00:03:52 Prayer Is Not Your Only Tool: The Hammer and Wrench Analogy 00:05:42 The Cell Phone Confession: Why Being Homeless Made ET's Prayer Life Stronger 00:06:43 Prayer Is a GPS System: You Can't Get Directions While Moving 00:07:53 Stop Coming Back to God Without Doing What He Told You 00:09:48 You Know God's Voice Because You Talk Every Day 00:11:24 It's Not That God Isn't Clear, Your Filters Are Messed Up 00:13:19 The 3 AM Walk: Why ET Changed His Prayer Time to Avoid Distractions 00:16:39 Reminisce With God: Talk About the Good Old Days 00:19:42 Stop Putting God on Hold: Let Him Talk Back to You 00:21:27 The Formula of Prayer: What ET Learned While Homeless 00:23:47 Give Thanks Before You Get What You Want 00:25:03 Moses, Jonah, and Ruth: Listen and Follow the Instructions 00:25:48 Some Things You Have to Change, Not God 00:26:31 Tithes and Offerings: The Windows of Heaven Principle 00:28:02 Walking and Talking With God Is Not Just Religious Tradition 00:29:25 Moses Spent 30 Days With God and Came Back Glowing 00:31:47 I Never Came to Michigan to Stay: The Master's Degree Plan 00:34:43 Prayer Is Your GPS System: You Have No Clue Where You're Going 00:35:12 The NASCAR Pit Stop Revelation: Don't Wait Till the Wheels Fall Off 00:37:12 God Tells You When to Pull Over Before You Even Know You Need It 00:38:20 You Don't Have to Get Out the Car: Stay in and Let God Handle It 00:38:42 Moses Died at 120 at Peak, Enoch Left Earth at Peak 00:39:10 How a Small Group From Lansing Changed the World 00:40:05 Closing: Going at Peak Is 52 Days, Not 52 Years JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15 FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast ABOUT THE PODCAST S2S is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.