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

You can't build the new you without tearing the old one down. That's the truth most people don't want to hear. Because demolition is uncomfortable. It's messy. It's loud. And it doesn't look like progress when you're standing in the middle of it. But here's what you need to understand: demo is the first sign of progress. The crew goes deep on transformation in this episode, and they're not talking about surface level change. They're talking about gutting out the old wiring, the old walls, the old mindset that's been holding you back for years. ET breaks down why God doesn't design you where He has to come back and rewire you later. You're already wired for everything you're supposed to do. The problem is you've only been using one hand your whole life. Jemal opens up about becoming a millionaire by mistake, and the question that changed everything: if I could become a millionaire by mistake, what could I become on purpose? Karl gets transparent about being in the demo phase right now, crying in bed, asking God for clarity, and realizing that the discomfort is the process. And CJ brings the perspective on why you can't skip demo and go straight to the finished product. They also unpack why most people quit right when they start seeing results. Why you can't do demo alone. Why your marriage, your parenting, your career all need to be renovated, not just maintained. And why the people who knew you before your transformation are the ones most likely to keep you stuck. Because they're still measuring you by titles, not outcomes. They're still seeing the shell of who you used to be, not the person you're becoming. This episode will challenge everything you think about change. Because transformation isn't about adding more to your life. It's about tearing down what's no longer working and building something new from the foundation up. And if you're waiting for it to feel comfortable, you'll be waiting forever. The new you doesn't come without demolition. And the demolition doesn't stop. You're supposed to keep renewing, keep renovating, keep transforming. That's not the problem. That's the process. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: You're Already Wired for Greatness 00:01:20 Stop Being Around People Who Won't Transform 00:03:24 The 20,000 Square Foot Reality: When Success Changes Everything 00:04:27 Jesus Said Who Is My Mother: Choosing Transformation Over Tradition 00:04:56 You Help More People By Leaving Them Alone 00:06:01 The Squad Car Story: When Your Partner Chooses Promotion Over Progress 00:07:52 Title vs Outcome: Why Most People Stay Stuck at Good 00:13:02 Demo Is the First Sign of Progress 00:15:21 Romans 12:2 - Be Transformed By Renewing Your Mind 00:19:49 The Uncomfortable Truth: You Will Be Unrecognizable 00:22:38 Success Is Sequential Not Simultaneous 00:41:10 You Don't Have to Demo Alone 00:49:07 You're Already Wired - Stop Focusing on What You're Not 00:54:45 Closing: God Is Willing and Able to Transform You 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.

Most people stay stuck for years on something that could be done in weeks. This week the crew breaks down the story of one man who rebuilt what a whole city left broken for 140 years, and finished it in 52 days. The difference was ownership and urgency, not money or talent. JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. This is where the real conversations keep going. 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 ENJOYING THE SHOW? If this episode hit you, take ten seconds to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find us. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15 CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: 140 Years vs 52 Days - The Wall That Changed Everything 00:02:33 Welcome and Team Introductions: Fresh Off the Plane Energy 00:05:01 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement: Your 52-Day Moment 00:11:33 Fair or Foul: The Elderly Server Dilemma 00:14:54 The Tipping Epidemic: From Drive-Throughs to 35 Percent Suggestions 00:09:14 The Knicks Talk and Sports Banter: When Franchises Finally Break Through 00:20:49 The Sermon Breakdown: Self-Accountability and the 52-Day Principle 00:26:21 The Math That Will Blow Your Mind: 983 Opportunities Wasted 00:28:41 ET's Bathroom Story: When Vision Meets Self-Accountability 00:28:25 The Broken Comb Philosophy: Why DeDeThrows Things Away Immediately 00:38:03 Vision, Urgency, and Miracle Territory: The Three Keys to 52 Days 00:40:27 The Michael Jackson Warning: If You Don't Move, God Gives It to Prince 00:44:19 Rachel's Transformation: From Basement to 1.3 Million in Softball 00:45:47 The Hot Seat Moment: How 5,000 Dollars Changed Rachel's Life Forever 00:48:03 Rachel Creates the Next Mastermind: When Students Become Teachers 00:46:39 The Tithing Conversation: When Your Wife Gives 40 Percent 01:06:14 Toby and Fat's 8,000 Square Foot Mansion: Real Estate Without the Degree 01:06:14 Exposure Changes Everything: Why Most People Stay Broke 01:04:41 The Callus Principle: Why the First Brick Hurts the Most 01:10:15 Final Challenge: 140 Years or 52 Days - You Choose KALM DOWN WITH KARL Karl on why the callus comes before the breakthrough. The first brick hurts, but there is a point where you stop feeling it and start building faster than everyone still waiting to begin. MAL'S MILLIONAIRE MOMENT FEATURING JEMAL KING Jemal on why most people are not broke because they are lazy. They are broke because they have not been exposed to more. Your level of exposure determines your level of success. NEXT LEVEL SPEAKERS CONFERENCE June 5 to 7, 2026, Atlanta, GA. Learn to start, grow, and monetize your speaking brand. nextlevelspeakersconference.com APOC VIRTUAL CHURCH Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.org FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 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.

Most people say they want the truth, but the moment it shows up, they call the messenger a villain. This episode picks up where the Joe Jackson conversation left off and turns the mirror around. The real question isn't whether Joe was too hard on Michael. It's why we keep demonizing every coach, mentor, and visionary with the gift to push us toward what we say we want. DISCLAIMER: Our focus in this episode is not the Jackson family, and we are not endorsing or excusing abuse of any kind. Our focus is what happens when people push us because they see we are capable of more, and get demonized for it. The Jackson story is a starting point, not the subject.The guys dig into why visionaries always get villainized, why our relationship with trauma is broken, and the difference between feedback and validation. Karl shares the "Carlos" moment that changed how he receives criticism. ET tells the Mr. Gene swim instructor story that put this entire philosophy to the test with his own son. If you've ever fired the person trying to save you, this one is for you. In this episode: Why every visionary, from Moses to Joe Jackson, gets demonized during the process Why you can't receive help unless it comes wrapped exactly the way you want it The difference between looking for feedback and looking for validation How ET almost fired the swim instructor who taught his entire family to swim How to narrate your own story without playing the victim CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Karl OS - The New Operating System 00:01:39 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Michael Jackson Movie Discussion 00:03:24 Did Michael Jackson Play the Victim His Whole Life? 00:04:15 Joe Jackson: Visionary or Villain? 00:23:06 The Gary, Indiana Reality Check 00:25:01 Feelings vs. Goals: Why Most People Stay Stuck 00:28:35 The Mr. Jean Swimming Lesson Story 00:37:12 Stop Looking for Validation, Start Looking for Feedback 00:44:20 Karl's Transformation: From Soft to Strategic 00:43:17 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement 01:01:02 Kalm Down with Karl: Stop Living Your Life Like a Question 01:01:50 Mal's Millionaire Moment: Your Pension is Dead 01:04:02 The Secret Project Reveal: What Karl and Mal Are Building KALM DOWN WITH KARL: Stop living your life like a question and live like the answer that you are. God saw a problem on the planet and created you as the solution. Stop walking around uncertain. You are the answer. MAL'S MILLIONAIRE MOMENT: One pension is too close to no pension. Jemal breaks down how the average career span matches the average mortgage span, meaning you can have a property fully paid off by the time you retire from your day job. That's your second pension. He also shares how he turned his daughter's graduation gift into a down payment on her first property at 22. RATE AND REVIEW: If this episode hit you, take 30 seconds to rate and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the biggest way you help us reach the next person who needs to hear this. JOIN THE S2S PATREON: Early access, live recordings, behind-the-scenes content, Q&A, and ET speech streams. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" by Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney: https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D NEXT LEVEL SPEAKERS CONFERENCE: June 5-7, 2026 in Atlanta, GA. Featuring ET, CJ, Jemal, Karl, Inky Johnson, Jeremy Anderson, and Marco Kino. Early bird tickets active now. www.nextlevelspeakersconference.com APOC VIRTUAL CHURCH: Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.org WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 CONNECT WITH S2S: Instagram: @s2spodcast ABOUT THE PODCAST: The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Jemal King, and Karl "The Bajan Sensation" Phillips. The mission: show the authentic side of four men building businesses, marriages, wealth, and legacies in real time. No hype, no filters, just real conversations to help you believe in your own potential.

Most people spend their whole lives chasing a version of success that looks right on paper and still leaves them empty. That is the conversation at the center of Episode 539, and it is one of the most honest hours this table has produced. Candis Quinney is back and she brings the moment that started everything. She was in her closet, stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out, with everything she had worked hard for, and still broke down. The house was there. The marriage was there. The kids were there. The pool was there. And none of it was enough. That moment did not break her. It built a movement. Candis is done watching women settle for a version of life that looks good from the outside and feels hollow on the inside, and she is calling everyone to a higher standard. ET picks up where Episode 538 left off, going deeper into what it actually felt like to release the need for control and what changed in his life and his marriage when he finally did. He also brings one of the most tender moments in recent S2S history, talking about going back to heal his mother and realizing she went through everything he blamed her for carrying. Karl's Kalm Down segment delivers one of the most practical frameworks this show has produced. Access and alignment are not the same thing. Just because something good comes to you does not mean it is yours. Make your decisions on alignment, not access. With Jemal away, CJ steps in with a sanctified session and does not hold back. God wants more for you than you want for yourself. Everything you do not have is because you are still operating below the level God designed for you. Stop shrinking. The episode also includes the announcement of ET and CJ's debut book "We Is Greater Than Me," now available for preorder on Amazon, and ET pulls out his GED on camera for the first time, earned February 9th, 1989, out of Lansing, Michigan. The certificate that started everything. If you are a woman who has ever smiled through something that was breaking you, Candis is building something for you. If you have ever felt like your life looks right but something is still off, this table sees you. In this Episode: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Access Is Not the Same as Alignment 00:00:57 The Shift: Letting Go of Control and Trusting God's Plan 00:05:22 Breaking Generational Cycles: Understanding Your Parents' Pain 00:07:54 The Yoke Up Revelation: What It Really Means to Partner with Christ 00:12:33 Your Best Self Is for Hard Times, Not Good Times 00:10:27 Letting Go of Titles and Traditions That Kill Us 00:28:07 The Jada Story: When DD's Leadership Changed Everything 00:19:55 From the East Side to Bliss: Candace's Transformation Journey 00:21:47 Parenting Without Living Through Your Kids 00:33:12 Book Reveal: We Is Greater Than Me 00:43:17 Candace's Movement: From Crying in the Closet to Leading Women 00:48:32 Closing Word: Grow Up and Open Your Packages Connect with Candis: @justcandisquinney on Instagram APOC Ministry virtual church, Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET on YouTube Subscribe so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@SecretToSuccess?sub_confirmation=1 Join the S2S Patreon for early access every week: https://www.patreon.com/s2spodcast Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcast Listen on Apple Podcasts: Search "Secret to Success" on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Secret to Success is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. About the Secret to Success Podcast The Secret to Success podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over two decades ET has been one of the most recognizable voices in personal development, motivation, and leadership. The Secret to Success podcast goes beyond the highlight reel to show the real conversations happening behind the work, covering marriage, business, wealth building, faith, and what it actually takes to build a life worth living. New episodes every Thursday on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Most people don’t fail because they lack effort. They fail because they follow rules and advice that were never designed for their real life. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the conversation challenges one of the most common traps in personal growth: living by general advice instead of personal strategy. This episode breaks down why: What works for others often fails for you Generic advice ignores context, timing, and personal tendencies High performers don’t just work hard — they study patterns Rules, stats, and analytics are useful… but dangerous when followed blindly Real growth requires a personal “scouting report” for your life, marriage, money, and leadership Through stories from sports, business, relationships, and real life, this episode shows why winners don’t just follow instructions — they observe, adjust, and execute based on their specific situation. If you’ve been doing “all the right things” but still feel stuck, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do differently. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Stop Negotiating With Fear 00:00:52 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Q1 Focus Energy 00:01:28 Back in My Day: From Arcade Games to Roblox 00:08:31 Analytics vs The Scouting Report: Why One Size Doesn't Fit All 00:09:58 The Dan Campbell Effect: When to Go For It on Fourth Down 00:12:38 The Gazelle Mentality: How ET Learned to Observe and Survive 00:33:03 Brian Cox and the Film Room: The Cheat Code to Success 00:48:11 ET's Two-Home Challenge: Creating Unity in Unique Circumstances 00:50:20 The Mother-in-Law Revelation: Understanding What Really Matters 00:53:45 Millionaire Moments with Karl: Your Side Hustle Becomes Your Main Hustle 00:55:55 Closing: Hit Fear in the Mouth and Do Your Scouting Report 👇 Next steps: Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, leadership, and performance Share this episode with someone who keeps following the rules but isn’t getting results Stop copying success. Start studying what actually works for you. Transformation beats information — every time.

Everyone’s talking about the Chicago Bears right now (or at least Jemal thinks so), and while a new coach matters, the real shift runs deeper. This episode breaks down a powerful truth about real turnarounds: the players didn’t change — the perspective did. Same roster. Same city. Same pressure. What changed was how the game was being seen, understood, and approached. And once that shifted, the results followed. Using the Bears as a real-world case study, this conversation explores why so many people stay stuck year after year. Not because they lack ability or effort, but because they keep trying to do more instead of learning to see differently. This isn’t about starting over. It’s about building on what’s already there. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why turnarounds don’t require new talent, just clearer perspective How guidance and coaching change what you notice and how you move The difference between repeating a year and actually creating a new one What happens when you stop chasing more and start maximizing what you already have Whether it’s your life, your career, your finances, or your faith — this message applies far beyond football. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Can You See Me Now? The Chicago Bears Energy 00:01:26 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Helmet Comes Out 00:05:16 Bears Fever: From Last Place to First in the Division 00:08:45 The Ben Johnson Effect: Why Coaching Changes Everything 00:20:17 New Year or Another Year? The Choice Is Yours 00:26:56 Don't Start Over—Keep Building: The Skyscraper Mentality 00:32:00 The Coaching Conversation: Carl's Real Estate Transformation Begins 00:33:45 From Crisis to Clarity: Carl's COVID Real Estate Story 00:36:34 The Equity Revelation: Money in the Bricks 00:43:05 The Six-Figure Check: Carl's First Major Real Estate Win 00:46:00 Why We Talk About Money: ET's Passionate Defense 00:50:04 Stop Listening to Broke People: Reading the Coverage of Wealth 00:51:26 Outro and Call to Action 👉 Register for the ET One Percent Solution Summit (Chicago) Real perspective. Real tools. Real turnaround conversations. https://etonepercent.com 👉 Subscribe to the Secret to Success Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Follow us on Instagram for daily perspective shifts & behind-the-scenes moments https://www.instagram.com/s2spodcast 👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive episodes, live conversations, and deeper breakdowns https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120

This year doesn’t need more motivation. It needs clarity, discipline, and intention. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, Eric Thomas breaks down 7 rules that actually matter if you want to win this year — not just stay busy, not just feel inspired, but make real progress. These aren’t trends. They’re principles. You’ll learn: Why delusion keeps people stuck longer than failure How choosing what’s good beats choosing what feels good Why boredom is a requirement for mastery How to become unreplaceable in any environment The difference between playing defense and playing offense Why responsibility beats loyalty How to decide the meaning of whatever this year brings No hype. No shortcuts. Just truth you can build on. Happy New Year. Let’s work. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: This Is What They're Not Telling You 00:00:52 Rule 1: Get Out of Delusion and Into Reality 00:08:05 Rule 2: Choose What's Good, Not What Feels Good 00:16:05 Rule 3: Boredom Builds Champions 00:24:45 Rule 4: Become Unreplaceable Through Diversification 00:30:44 Rule 5: Stop Playing Defense and Learn to Play Offense 00:39:32 Rule 6: Responsibility Beats Loyalty 00:48:06 Rule 7: Do Dark Different 00:54:01 Closing: Decisions Define You, Not the New Year 00:55:07 Outro and Call to Action If this episode challenged you, make sure you subscribe and share it with someone who needs clarity this year. 👉 Subscribe to S2S: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120

“Be honest — what’s something you’ve been consistent at… but haven’t seen results from yet?” You can do the right things and still be headed in the wrong direction. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the conversation goes straight at a frustration many disciplined people quietly carry: “I followed the rules. I showed up. I stayed consistent… so why isn’t it working?” This isn’t a motivational episode. It’s an examination. The team breaks down why effort alone doesn’t produce growth, how consistency without measurement becomes rehearsed failure, and why isolation — not laziness — is often the real reason progress stalls. You’ll hear why pain is often proof of progress, why feedback is essential (even when it hurts), and how following the wrong formula can keep smart, hardworking people stuck for years. If you’ve been doing the work but questioning the results, this episode will help you identify what needs to change — without throwing away everything you’ve built. This conversation is about alignment, correction, and building with intention — not just grinding harder. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Consistency Isn't Enough 00:01:26 Welcome and Team Introductions 00:06:55 How Do You Know When God Is Telling You to Move? 00:11:33 The Power of Making Decisions Over Waiting 00:13:23 Patterns Over Decisions: Learning God's Ways 00:15:57 Excellence Is God: Moving in the Spirit of Excellence 00:16:46 Consistency Without Quality Is Rehearsed Failure 00:21:37 The Sandpaper People: Why You Need Correction 00:24:18 Stop Working in Isolation: The Cage Mentality 00:34:39 Measuring Progress: Pain Equals Progress 00:38:04 Quick Evaluation: The Secret to Accelerated Growth 00:40:15 Being Coachable: ET's Jordan Brand Adjustment 00:43:09 Real Numbers, Real Accountability 00:57:52 Breaking Free from Your Cage: Changing Your Circle 01:02:07 Closing: Merry Christmas and Final Encouragement Subscribe If you’re serious about growth — not just motivation — subscribe to the channel. New conversations drop weekly, focused on discipline, clarity, and building a life that actually works. Join Our Patreon Community If you want to go deeper than the podcast, join our Patreon community. Patreon members get: - Behind-the-scenes conversations - Extended discussions and bonus content - Direct access to the community shaping these ideas in real time patreon.com/s2spodcast120 Share This Episode If this episode made you uncomfortable — it’ll probably help someone you care about. Share it with a friend who’s doing everything right but feels stuck. Share this with someone who’s doing everything right but feels stuck