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

You're changing. You're growing. You're stepping into who you were always meant to be. And the people closest to you don't recognize you anymore. They look at you funny. They treat you different. They make you feel like you're doing something wrong. But here's the truth: if they don't recognize the new you, you're doing it right. In Episode 544, the crew dives into one of the most uncomfortable truths about transformation. The people who knew you before your change are often the ones who resist it the most. Not because they don't love you. But because your growth exposes where they're still stuck. And instead of celebrating your elevation, they start acting awkward, distant, or downright hostile. ET breaks down the Harriet Tubman principle: she didn't carry a gun for her enemies. She carried it for the people she was trying to free. Because the ones closest to you are the ones most likely to snitch, sabotage, or talk you out of your destiny. Jemal opens up about how people who saw him build from the ground up didn't treat him differently until the world validated what he was doing. CJ shares how his wife is now experiencing what it's like to step into the light and have people who were once close suddenly act funny. Karl brings the perspective on why you can't stay around people who aren't building. And ET delivers the hard truth: you are supposed to change. People are not supposed to recognize you. That's not the problem. That's the proof. This episode will challenge everything you think about loyalty, relationships, and what it really means to transform. Because the higher you go, the more you expose where others are stuck. And if you're waiting for the people from your past to celebrate the person you're becoming, you'll be waiting forever. Stop dimming your light to make others comfortable. The new you is not for everyone. And that's exactly the point. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Vision Beyond the Demolition - Seeing What Others Can't 00:01:27 Welcome and Team Introductions 00:03:20 Fair or Foul: The Airplane Seat Swap Dilemma 00:08:15 The Tip Jar Philosophy: Making Sure They See You Bless Them 00:10:17 Harriet Tubman's Gun: Why She Carried It for Her Friends, Not Her Enemies 00:12:47 They Won't Recognize You Anymore: When Transformation Makes You Unfamiliar 00:14:40 The Proximity Problem: When Your Light Exposes Where Others Are At 00:17:20 The Prophet Is Not Recognized in His Hometown: Jesus, ET, and the Title World 00:21:30 The Four Stages People Go Through When You Change 00:26:48 Romans 12:2 - Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind 00:42:21 The X-Men Analogy: Stop Trying to Be Understood by Regular People 00:46:00 Closing: Concentrate on This Opportunity with All Your Might 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 NEXT LEVEL SPEAKERS CONFERENCE June 5 to 7, 2026, Atlanta, GA. Learn to start, grow, and monetize your speaking brand with ET, CJ, Jemal, Karl, Inky Johnson, Jeremy Anderson, and Marco Kino. nextlevelspeakersconference.com 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, the Hip Hop Preacher, 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.

She said no. You got down on one knee, opened the box, asked the question, and she said no. Not "I need time." Not "maybe later." She said no. So now what? In Episode 542, the crew tackles one of the most vulnerable questions a man can face: what do you do when your feelings are telling you one thing, but the data is telling you something completely different? A brother writes in after proposing to his girlfriend of several years, only to hear her say she's not ready. He's confused, hurt, and stuck between staying or walking away. ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal break down why feelings will lie to you every single time, and why the data never does. ET gets raw about the moment Dede told him she didn't feel safe, not physically, but emotionally and mentally. How his ego wanted to defend what he'd built, but the data told him something else entirely. He shares how he got off the road for four months, gave her predictability, and watched their marriage transform because he stopped going with his feelings and started going with the facts. Karl brings the "what by when" accountability framework that keeps you honest. Jemal drops the vision about getting in front of your future, how he started his daughters' 529 plans when they were toddlers, and why Yani just graduated from Michigan State debt free. CJ tells the Slim Thug story, the moment he reached out to a Houston legend to help an artist he was mentoring, got ghosted, and realized the most important lesson of his career: stop asking people to do for you what you need to learn how to do yourself. They also break down why Joe Jackson energy isn't just for parenting, it's for every area of life where you're trying to build something real. From book covers to corporate stages to marriage, this episode will challenge you to stop letting your feelings run your life and start letting the data lead. If you've ever been rejected, corrected, or redirected and didn't know what to do next, this conversation is for you. Because your feelings will tell you to quit. The data will tell you to adjust. And the difference between the two is the difference between staying stuck and leveling up. Timestamps: 🔒 This Is What Patreon Members Get... Unscripted conversations. Behind the scenes moments. Live Q&As. ET's speech streams. This is the version of S2S where nothing gets cut. If you want in: 👉 Join the S2S Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcast 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 🎤 Next Level Speakers Conference: June 5-7, Atlanta, Georgia. If you know you're supposed to be speaking, training, or elevating your personal brand, this is where you need to be. ET, CJ, Karl, Inky Johnson, Jeremy Anderson and more. Tickets on sale now: https://nextlevelspeakersconference.com About the Secret to Success Podcast The Secret to Success (S2S) Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over a decade, S2S has been one of the most authentic voices in personal development — not because of polished scripts, but because of real stories, real conversations, and real results. Every episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth, sustain relationships, grow businesses, and become who you were created to be. No hype. No filters. Just four men who've lived it, telling the truth about how they got there. Secret to Success is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King.

Your soft coaching is killing their future. And you think you're being kind. In Episode 540, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal pull up to the table after watching the Michael Jackson movie and what follows is one of the most honest, uncomfortable, and necessary conversations this crew has ever had. About Joe Jackson. About tough love. About why we've been Catherine-ing people when we should have been Joe Jackson-ing them. And why the people closest to greatness are usually the ones being held back by feelings, comfort, and lies we call love. CJ gets cavity searched while ET watches in the distance… Then the crew dives into the Michael Jackson movie and what most people missed. Joe Jackson got them out of Gary, Indiana. From the steel mill to the charts. Six kids. Multiple number ones. And we've been dogging him out for decades without asking the hard question: would there even be a Michael Jackson without Joe Jackson? ET breaks down why he's been doing it wrong as a leader. Why caring about people's feelings has actually been holding them back. Why his mom kicked him out at 16 and it was the greatest gift she ever gave him. This episode will make you rethink every soft conversation you've had. Every time you coddled someone instead of challenging them. Every time you let someone stay comfortable when you knew they were capable of more. Because real love isn't making people feel good. Real love is helping them become who God called them to be. Timestamps: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Airport Security Story - When ET Left CJ Behind 00:01:25 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Pastor's License 00:02:25 Fair or Foul: ET Goes Through Security While CJ Gets Searched 00:10:58 The Michael Jackson Movie: We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology 00:12:28 From Gary Indiana to Greatness: Joe Jackson's Vision 00:18:00 The Catherine vs Joe Jackson Debate: Love or Lies? 00:21:34 Stop Catherine-ing People: Why Feelings Are Holding You Back 00:19:37 The Candy Seller Revelation: When Compassion Becomes a Lie 00:25:25 Real Leadership Requires Losing People: The Mom Story 00:34:00 Joe Jackson Them: Holding People Accountable to Their Genius 00:40:12 The Real Estate Lesson: When Mom Made ET Buy the Right House 00:29:16 The Jalen and Jada Story: Taking Ownership of Your Part 00:37:45 I Don't Have Any More Care Left: The Superpower of Not Caring 00:28:30 The Trauma of Being Broke vs The Trauma of Success 00:44:52 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement: June 5-7 Atlanta 00:45:58 Why AI Can't Replace Joe Jackson: You Still Need Humans 00:46:50 Closing: Patreon Meetup and Final Thoughts on Tough Love 🔒 This Is What Patreon Members Get... Unscripted conversations. Behind the scenes moments. Live Q&As. ET's speech streams. This is the version of S2S where nothing gets cut. If you want in: 👉 Join the S2S Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 🎤 Next Level Speakers Conference | June 5-7, Atlanta If you know you're called to speak, train, or elevate your personal brand, this is where you need to be. ET, CJ, Karl, Inky Johnson, Jeremy Anderson, and more. Plus a Patreon meetup. Early bird tickets available now: 👉 nextlevelspeakersconference.com 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcast 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 About the Secret to Success Podcast The S2S Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over a decade, S2S has been one of the most authentic voices in personal development, not because of polished scripts, but because of real stories, real conversations, and real results. Every episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth, sustain relationships, grow businesses, and become who you were created to be. No hype. No filters. Just four men who've lived it, telling the truth about how they got there.

💇‍♀️ She cut her hair SHORT without warning. He feels blindsided. Who's wrong? When does a "personal decision" stop being personal in a marriage? A husband writes in after 13 years together: his wife cut her hair really short without mentioning it, and when he brought it up, she said it was a personal decision that didn't require his input. Fair or foul? This question sparked the BIGGEST debate we've had in a while - and we didn't just debate it ourselves. We called THE WIVES in live on the podcast. Dede, Camile, Candis, and Tamesha weigh in with perspectives that might surprise you. Plus: Jemal & Camile's Bobby Brown and New Edition concert experience, why "becoming a savage" matters more than wanting one, Karl's six-figure real estate confidence shift, and a powerful conversation about God wanting more for you than you want for yourself. This is Part 1 of 2 - Part 2 (Episode 530) drops the most powerful generational wealth story we've ever shared. You don't want to miss it. 🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS: - "Fair for her own personal womanhood, but foul for the marriage" - marriage requires consideration beyond individual rights - After years of marriage, you should know what matters to your spouse - it's not about permission, it's about partnership - In order to attract a savage, you gotta become a savage - stop waiting for someone to blow you up - Iron sharpens iron - your growth elevates everyone around you - God has already blessed you with jobs, relationships, opportunities - you lost them because you didn't become - You can't be done with Michael Jordan - become irreplaceable in every area of your life - The 1% Conference: One day for men, one day for women to build yourselves up, then one day together to build each other up CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: When Your Circle Is Killing at the Highest Level 00:00:59 Welcome and Team Introductions: Dr. King and the Barefoot Bruce Lee 00:03:00 The New Edition Concert Experience: Front Row With Your Bride 00:08:45 Concert Legends: From Maxwell to Celine Dion and the 3D Hologram 00:12:46 Fair or Foul: She Cut Her Hair Without Asking 00:14:10 The Men Weigh In: Permission, Communication, or Her Body Her Choice? 00:25:23 Calling the Wives: Candis, Camille, DeDe, and Tamesha Sound Off 00:35:50 The Marriage Blueprint: Know Your Person and Pick Your Battles 00:43:45 Don't Worship Silence: The Difference Between Peace and Avoiding Conflict 00:45:00 The One Percent Conference Vision: Men, Women, and Unity 00:49:00 The Two-Man Versus the One-in-Waiting: CJ's Platform Philosophy 00:51:15 Iron Sharpens Iron: Becoming a Savage to Attract Savages 00:52:23 Closing: The Conference Is About Becoming, Not Being Saved 🔴 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOZGbbU9wctEV8z6-0SL7FQ?sub_confirmation=1 💎 JOIN THE S2S PATREON COMMUNITY Get behind-the-scenes access, live recordings, Q&A sessions, random pop-up dialogues, and exclusive content with ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal. Plus access to Eric's speeches as we go live. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 🎟️ THE 1% CONFERENCE - CHICAGO | APRIL 16-18, 2026 Don't just attend. Ascend. Eric Thomas & world-class speakers including: - Jameis Winston, - Inky Johnson, - Wallstreet Trapper, - Earn Your Leisure, and much, much more. 3 days. 12,000 people. Total transformation. - Day 1: Women's Day - Day 2: Men's Day - Day 3: VIP Family Day Tickets on sale now: https://etonepercent.com 📱 FOLLOW S2S ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/s2spodcast 🎧 LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=1d80bc2eec934bef 🎧 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 🏠 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST: Join Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal King as they share their real lives, real struggles, and real wins. This isn't just another motivational podcast - it's raw, unfiltered conversations showing you that if we can do it, you can too. From real estate to marriage, business to family, faith to finances - we're living it and sharing it all so you can learn with us and through us. The mission? To help you realize that YOU CAN DO IT. Life throws wrenches at all of us, but with vision, belief, and the right community, success is possible. Hosted by: - Eric Thomas (@etthehiphoppreacher) - #1 Motivational Speaker in the World - CJ Quinney - Strategic Brand Architect - Karl Phillips - Producer, Creative Director - Jemal King - Real Estate Investor, Entrepreneur New episodes every week. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. © 2026 Eric Thomas & Associates. All Rights Reserved.

Most people think belief is a feeling. This episode makes a different case. Your beliefs are visible — not in what you say, but in the results you keep producing. In this continuation of last week’s conversation, we break down why people can have information, opportunity, and effort — yet still see the same outcomes year after year. The issue isn’t hustle or knowledge. It’s what you truly believe is possible, allowed, or worth fully committing to. This episode explores how partial belief leads to partial commitment — and how that shows up everywhere: finances, relationships, faith, confidence, leadership, and decision-making. We talk about: Why belief always leaves evidence How effort without full belief creates cycles, not progress The difference between participating and fully stepping in Why your environment reinforces what you believe How results quietly reveal where commitment stops This isn’t motivation. It’s a mirror. If you’ve been doing the right things but still seeing the same results, this episode may explain why. EPISODE CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Practice Squad Mentality - You Don't Have to Be Perfect 00:01:50 Caleb Williams and the Ben Johnson Effect: Learning to See the Field 00:02:38 Stop Sleeping With the Enemy: Why Your Circle Is Keeping You Broke 00:03:09 It Burns My Heart: The Real Reason We Talk About Money 00:04:37 Let It Burn: When Your Credit Score Controls Your Destiny 00:07:42 God Said You Should Lend, Not Borrow: The Biblical Case for Wealth 00:09:46 Vengeance Is Mine: When People Owe You and God Is Teaching You 00:10:51 The Conference Invitation: Why You Need to Be in the Room 00:13:43 The $15 Million House Story: How Carl Made It With $30K and Good Credit 00:14:47 They Don't Want You in That Neighborhood: The Truth About Real Estate Gatekeeping 00:19:02 The Wizard of Oz Revelation: Everything You Need Is Already Inside You 00:21:27 Karl's Six-Figure Check Moment: When Belief Became Reality 00:23:51 The Dynasty Trust Attorney: When Doors Only Open at Certain Net Worth Levels 00:24:24 DeDe Said This Was the Best Christmas: When Communication Transforms Marriage 00:29:11 The Briefing to His Daughter: How Money Changed Karl's Family Language 00:31:01 Putting Money in Her Account: The Wisdom Jamal Gave Karl About His Wife 00:44:21 Just Believe: The Song, The Message, The Breakthrough 00:38:13 Every Result Has a Belief Behind It: Karl's Transformation Explained 00:49:56 Paycheck to Prosperity: The New System Mall and Karl Are Building 00:58:59 Work Your Work in the Morning, Evening Let Not Your Hands Be Idle 00:58:05 Turn the Light Switch Off: Carl's Million Dollar Moment 00:40:04 April 16-18 in Chicago: The 1% Solutions Gathering Announcement 01:06:15 Closing: Focus on This Opportunity With All Your Might 👉 Register for the ET One Percent Solution Conference https://etonepercent.com 👉 Subscribe to the Secret to Success Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Follow S2S on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/s2spodcast 👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive content & live conversations https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120

Most people don’t fail because they lack talent, intelligence, or opportunity. They fail because no one around them tells the truth. In this episode of the Secret to Success, Eric Thomas, CJ, and Karl break down why success becomes dangerous when accountability disappears—and why many people collapse after they start winning. This conversation hits hard: Why discipline alone eventually fails How “yes-men” quietly sabotage your future The role appetite plays in self-destruction Why unchecked power and money expose character How to build a circle that protects your purpose, not your ego This isn’t about cutting people off out of pride. It’s about protecting your life, your family, and your future. If no one in your life can correct you, challenge you, or stop you when you’re wrong—you’re not free. You’re exposed. 🎯 Takeaway You don’t need more motivation. You need one person who won’t let you lie to yourself. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Power of Accountability and Appetite Control 00:02:14 Welcome and Team Introductions 00:05:42 Building Legacy Through Systems, Not Just Hard Work 00:08:52 The Chick-fil-A Lesson: Identity Over Everything 00:12:00 Technology Went Too Far: The Amazon Christmas Story 00:16:28 The First Directive: Stop Having Sex 00:20:34 Why Most Successful Men Crash and Burn 00:24:18 Accountability Is Not Discipline - It's Your Circle 00:34:23 The Diddy Documentary and Complicit Silence 00:45:49 Second-Hand Smoke: Why Your Circle Determines Your Future 00:47:38 Praying for Your Tribe and Leaving to Level Up 00:52:44 Be, Do, Have: Getting the Order Right 00:53:27 Your 9-to-5 Should Fund Your Exit, Not Trap Your Future 00:52:01 Closing: Join Us at the 1% Solution Experience 00:55:28 Outro and Subscribe 🔗 Important Links & CTAs 🎟️ The One Percent Experience An immersive 3-day experience for leaders, families, and teams 📍 Chicago | April 16–18, 2026 👉 https://etonepercent.com 🎧 Subscribe to the Secret to Success Podcast New episodes every week—real conversations, real growth. https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 ⭐ Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts Your feedback helps us reach more people who need this message. 📤 Share This Episode Send this to someone who needs accountability—not applause. 👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 🧠 Final Reminder Transformation requires truth. And truth only works when someone is brave enough to speak it.

As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to look back. This episode is a collection of some of our favorite moments from the Secret to Success Podcast this year — real conversations, honest questions, unexpected laughs, and truth-filled discussions that stayed with us long after the microphones were off. From relationships and communication… to mindset, reality, and self-awareness… these clips capture the heart of what S2S has always been about: growth through real talk. Whether a moment makes you laugh, reflect, or pause for a second longer than expected, our hope is that it reminds you how powerful honest conversations can be. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of the journey with us in 2025. We’re grateful for you — and excited for what’s ahead.

If life feels heavy, confusing, or just stuck… you’re not broken. You’re not cursed. You’re not “falling behind.” You’re in a phase nobody teaches you how to navigate: the dark season. In today’s episode, the guys break down why your hardest moments keep repeating, why running from discomfort actually makes it worse, and the one shift that finally moves you forward. ET explains how every version of success he’s had was formed in moments nobody saw. Jamal talks about the darkness that exposed the real picture of his life and pushed him toward real estate. Karl breaks down how creativity, identity, and resilience are all born in the dark—never in comfort. This conversation will change how you interpret struggle, setbacks, disappointment, and pressure. Because the truth is simple: You don’t grow in the light. You grow in the hard stuff. And once you know how to face it, everything changes. 🔥 In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why God prepares your table in the presence of your enemies—and why you keep praying them away How darkness is not Satan's domain—it's where God forms everything The difference between light (what's already formed) and dark (where you're being formed) Why the Buffalo runs into the storm while everyone else gets stuck in it longer Jamal's real story: sitting in that squad car at midnight, feeling like a failure—and how that darkness exposed the picture God was developing How to do dark different: prepare before it comes, embrace it when it's here, and let it form you instead of break you Why your prayers in the light are different than your prayers in the dark—and how that's costing you your breakthrough 🚀 JOIN THE 1% CHALLENGE Surround yourself with people who won’t let you settle. 👉 ETOnePercent.com 🎥 JOIN THE PATREON FAMILY (LIVE RECORDINGS + EXCLUSIVE CONTENT) Don’t just watch the podcast—experience it with us. 👉 Patreon.com/S2SPodcast120 📘 READ KARL’S BOOK — “Moving Past Potential” A blueprint for breaking through fear, hesitation, and overthinking. 👉 MovingPastPotential.com