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

LeBron or Jordan? It's the debate that never dies. And this week, the crew dove headfirst into it. Fresh off the mastermind weekend, they came in ready to talk personal development. Instead, they ended up in the most heated sports argument they've ever had on this podcast. Because LeBron just signed with the Sixers. And now the conversation is back on the table. Is he the GOAT? Or is Jordan still untouchable? The guys break down the stats, the rings, the eras, the dynasties, and the longevity. They argue about whether LeBron's four championships in 23 seasons stack up against Jordan's six in 15. They debate whether losing in the finals is worse than losing in the first round. They unpack whether the COVID championship counts the same. And they go back and forth on who had better help, who faced tougher competition, and whether switching teams makes you less of a legend or just smart. They also break down why the NBA has become the portal. Why player movement is out of control. Why LeBron might get a statue in Cleveland but probably not in LA or Miami. And why even Michael Jordan said it's disrespectful to call anyone the GOAT when there are legends who came before him. This episode is not about personal development. It's about passion. It's about what happens when four friends who love sports sit down and argue like they're on First Take. And it's hilarious, it's heated, and it's exactly they needed after three straight days of mastermind intensity. Plus, CJ shares the story of meeting Magic Johnson at 13 years old and riding around with Bill Russell for an entire day. ET opens up about why he thinks LeBron winning in Philly would be incredible for the culture. And they announce the big news: Forever Forward Marriage Retreat is officially happening in Cancun. Less than 50 couples. No breakout rooms. Just a celebration of love. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The LeBron vs Jordan Debate Heats Up Immediately 00:01:43 Welcome and Catching Up: Fresh Off the Mastermind Weekend 00:04:55 LeBron to the Sixers: Why This Move Changes Everything 00:07:38 The NBA Portal Problem: Why Player Movement Is Out of Control 00:11:21 The Statue Debate: Where Does LeBron Belong? 00:13:54 Is LeBron the Best Player We've Ever Seen? 00:16:32 Breaking Down the Stats: Scoring, Defense, and Longevity 00:19:27 The COVID Championship: Does It Count the Same? 00:21:10 Six for Six vs Four for Twenty-Three: The Finals Record Argument 00:23:28 Jordan Fan Logic: Why Only Talk About the Championship Years? 00:27:37 The Dynasty Question: Who Did They Beat and Who Beat Them? 00:31:03 Longevity vs Peak Dominance: What Matters More? 00:34:32 The Scottie Pippen Factor: Who Had Better Help? 00:41:40 The Generational Argument: Bill Russell, Magic, and Kareem Enter the Chat 00:45:52 The Final Verdict: Can They Agree on Anything? 00:50:00 Jordan's Answer: The Most Respectful Take on the GOAT Debate 00:53:50 Magic Johnson Stories: When ET Met a Legend at 13 Years Old 00:56:02 Can They Do a Sports Show? Testing the Chemistry 00:56:29 Detroit Lions Window: Is It Already Closing? 00:59:57 Forever Forward Marriage Retreat: Big Announcement 01:04:02 Behind the Scenes: Photo Shoot Prep and Patreon Love 01:06:06 Closing: LeBron the GOAT with Love - See You Next Week FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of love with the podcast 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 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 The Secret to Success Podcast, hosted by Dr. Eric Thomas (ET), CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips and Jemal King, is one of the most impactful personal development podcasts in the world. Each week the team breaks down real conversations around success, discipline, wealth, leadership, relationships, and entrepreneurship. If you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, this is the podcast for you.

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.

You're working hard for the wrong reason, and it's breaking you. Not because you're lazy. Not because you're not talented. But because what's driving you isn't God. It's trauma. It's fear. It's pride. And until you deal with that, all the work in the world won't save you. This week the crew brings their wives to the table. Candis and Dede join CJ, ET, and Karl for one of the most transparent conversations about faith, work, and what it really means to let go and let God. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: you can have the title Christian, but the devil can still be driving you. Candis opens up about working herself into the ground at GE. Senior management, six figures, the whole dream. But she was miserable, burnt out, crying in the closet. When CJ told her to quit, she was ready to walk. But ET stepped in with something that changed everything: your job isn't to influence her, it's to get her to talk to God. So Candis went to a hotel for two days. Just her and God. And God told her three things: be still, have peace, be humble. Everything shifted. Not because she quit, but because she stopped letting fear drive her. Dede gets real about thinking she had the backup plan. The insurance, the retirement, all of it figured out. Until God started breaking the stuff off of her that was keeping her from trusting him. Because brokenness isn't God trying to destroy you. It's God breaking the trauma, the pride, the self reliance off of you so he can multiply you. And the multiplication only comes after the breaking. They also unpack the AI love letter. A man sent his wife a heartfelt message using ChatGPT. She loved it, until he admitted he used AI. Now she's upset because it wasn't really from him. Dede's response is priceless. This episode will challenge everything you think about work, faith, and trust. Because faith without works is dead. But works without faith is empty. Stop letting your backup plan replace God. Stop letting your job be your security. And stop thinking brokenness means you're broken. God isn't breaking you. He's breaking that stuff off of you. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Which One Do You Want Sir - AI or the Real Thing 00:01:20 Welcome and Introducing the Queens: Candis and Dede Join the Pod 00:09:09 Fair or Foul: The ChatGPT Love Letter Debate 00:11:45 Computer Love: When Your Heart Message Comes From a Machine 00:17:29 The Real Question: Faith Without Works or Let Go and Let God 00:19:33 Before You Work With God You Got to Know God 00:22:26 Candis Revelation: The Only Work God Wants Is Belief 00:25:16 Be Still Doesn't Mean Stand Still: Redefining Stillness 00:29:03 How to Hear From God When You Don't Hear Audibly 00:32:11 The Cheat Code Confession: When Your Spouse Has a Deeper Walk 00:33:43 Don't Compare Storms: Your Hurricane Versus Someone Else's Rain 00:34:55 Candis GE Breakdown: Working Crazy Hours and Missing Peace 00:43:35 The Two-Day Hotel Revelation: When God Said Be Still, Be Humble, Have Peace 00:46:46 CJ's Obedience Test: When Quitting Would Have Been Easier 00:49:20 The Financial Security Idol: When Insurance Becomes Your God 00:50:35 Dede's Confession: I Will Burn the Bridge to Prove I Can Swim 00:54:01 The Mental Weight That's Breaking You: It's Not the Work, It's What's Driving It 00:54:20 What's Driving You: When Trauma Becomes Your God 00:55:27 The 3am Question: What's So Evil About You That You'd Rather Suffer 01:04:24 Does God Get Glory From What You Do: The Jealousy of God 01:06:00 Didi's MS Story: When God Has to Stop You From Your Disobedience 00:58:31 Brokenness Isn't Breaking You: It's Breaking Stuff Off of You 01:01:04 The Multiplication Comes After the Broken: Stop Running From It 01:08:21 Closing: Join A Place to Change Ministry and Get Community 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 A PLACE OF CHANGE MINISTRY Join the women's ministry with Candace and Dede. Follow @apocministry on Instagram or visit www.aplacetochangeministry.org 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're getting paid exactly what you're worth. Not what you think you deserve. Not based on your degrees, your loyalty, or how hard you work. You're getting paid exactly what you believe about yourself. And until you deal with that, nothing changes. This week the crew breaks down why most people resist coaching even when they're losing. ET opens up about why he had his kids leave his company to go work under someone else. Not because he didn't want them around, but because he refused to insulate them from the growth they needed. Karl gets transparent about working out with a trainer who pushed him 14 more reps than he thought he had left, just by watching his muscle instead of listening to his excuses. Jemal brings the NBA Finals breakdown and why the Spurs lost a 29 point lead in the second half. Not because they weren't talented, but because they didn't have sustainable systems. And CJ delivers the truth about Kobe and Mike: 11 championships between them, zero without Phil Jackson. They also unpack why people follow relationships instead of truth. Why your grandma's way of doing things might not be God's way. Why Diddy told ET at 16 that she wasn't trying to win mother of the year, and how that one conversation set him free from trying to be everything to everybody. And why some of you are 60 years old still struggling with the same issues you had at 30 because you never submitted to coaching. The crew gets real about marriage, parenting, and why CJ and Candace went to Australia when their daughter was five months old. Not because they're bad parents, but because coaching taught them that a strong marriage creates the foundation for strong kids. They break down why ET got two kids in 14 years with zero accidents, and why that's not luck, it's coaching. And why Jemal told people in his circle they can't be around him without owning real estate. This episode will challenge everything you think about accountability, growth, and what it really takes to win. Because you can have all the talent in the world, but without the right coach, you're the Spurs blowing a 29 point lead. You're Kobe and Mike with zero rings. Stop resisting the coaching that's trying to save your life. You don't need more information. You need to apply what you already know. And if you're getting paid what you're worth right now and you don't like it, the problem isn't the market. The problem is you. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Who Not How - The Tyranny of Trying to Figure Everything Out 00:00:59 Welcome and the Age Realization: When You're Older Than Everyone 00:06:37 The NBA Finals Lesson: How the Spurs Lost a 29-Point Lead 00:13:50 Zero Championships Without Phil Jackson: Why You Need Elite Coaching 00:15:04 Marriage Coaching Saved My Life: Chuck, Moni, Ian and Dede's Impact 00:22:53 The Coaching Tree: How Great Coaches Create Great Coaches 00:23:33 Australia at Five Months: Why We Left Our Baby for Two Weeks 00:19:17 God, Marriage, Kids: The Order That Saves Your Family 00:19:57 Separate the Piano From the Person: Stop Taking Feedback Personally 00:20:53 F Them Kids: Dede's Line That Changed ET's Parenting 00:22:11 Mike Brown vs Phil Jackson: Why Experience and Coaching Matters 00:36:06 Two Kids in 14 Years: The Power of Intentional Family Planning 00:27:28 Relationship Over Truth: Why You Follow Your Grandma Instead of God 00:27:58 Pastor Willis Spoke My Vision Before I Had One 00:46:07 Character Development Boot Camp: Why ET Made Us Pray All Day 00:55:45 You're Getting Paid Exactly What You're Worth Right Now 00:53:59 The Muscle Twitch Story: How Tommy Got 14 More Reps Out of CJ 00:56:37 Maul the Builder: He Doesn't Just Build Houses, He Builds People 00:51:52 The 12-Year Overnight Success: Maul's House Goes Viral Now 00:59:31 Closing: Get in the Mastermind and Stop Making Excuses 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 APOC VIRTUAL CHURCH Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.org 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're doing the work. You're showing up. You're praying. You're trying. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't what you think it is. This week the crew breaks down the difference between working hard and working with God. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: your faith is in your hands, not in God. You've been doing so much that you've made yourself an idol. And God is saying stop. Not because you're not capable. But because the work you're doing is getting in the way of what he's trying to do. ET opens up about why he's been telling 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. Karl gets transparent about 3 weeks of waking up at 5:09 every morning and making one commitment: don't ask God for anything. Just be in his presence. And how in those 3 weeks, every area of his business got uncomfortable. Every direction he thought was the answer, God closed. Because the answer wasn't more work. The answer was stop. Jemal brings the 100 year plan. What are you building that your great great grandkids will benefit from? What seed are you planting that you'll never taste the fruit of? Because the person who plants the seed doesn't get to taste the fruit. But they're satisfied knowing what's coming. And CJ breaks down why most people quit right when the breakthrough is about to happen. Because they're measuring in their own strength instead of letting God be the structural engineer. They also unpack why your problems aren't problems, they're preparation. Because if you can't handle one rental property stressing you out, you can't handle 10. If you can't handle one difficult conversation, you can't handle the next level. God isn't punishing you. He's preparing you. This episode will challenge everything you think about work, faith, and what it really means to let go. Because you can't build the next level version of yourself in your own strength. You've tried that. It didn't work. The 52 days don't start when you work harder. They start when you stop. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Get a Scale and Stop Wearing Jogging Pants 00:01:27 Before You Work With God, You Got to Know God 00:02:05 The Rodent Story: Calling the Right People to Fix Your Problems 00:04:52 Carl's Breakthrough: Stop Working, Start Walking With God 00:07:37 Your Problems Are Your Preparation 00:10:41 The Jesse Room Story: 52-Day Reframe in Action 00:12:55 There's No Limits in God: The Sky Analogy 00:14:11 The Tokyo Trip That Didn't Happen: When God Protects Your Plans 00:16:49 ET's Transformation: From Flight Attendant to All Four Quadrants 00:18:42 The Pace Ministry: Slowing Down to Reach More People 00:19:22 Christ Put Me Around Better People 00:20:44 Stop Praying Like Peter's at the Door 00:21:23 Jamal's Testimony: God Already Said Yes to Little J 00:25:31 Your Faith Is in Your Hands, Not in God 00:26:15 Prayer Can Be an Idol: Get Up and Open the Door 00:26:46 The Stress of Lying: Why Truth Sets You Free Immediately 00:27:29 I'd Rather Fight the Bear Right Now 00:29:40 The Pilot Wasn't in the Pilot Seat 00:31:23 Dede Goes Public: When Your Partner Activates Your Calling 00:33:38 Don't Bow Out, Level Up 00:36:26 Stop Treating Life Like a Hobby 00:39:20 The Economy Shift: Seven Streams of Income Aren't Optional 00:41:11 Get on the Scale Every Day: The One Thing That Changes Everything 00:43:07 Stop Wearing Jogging Pants in Your Real Life 00:44:17 What Changed at 46: Carl's Shift Wasn't New Information 00:47:25 It's Not God That Changed, It's Your Belief Level 00:50:15 Do You Believe? The Question Before Every Miracle 00:52:42 Write the Vision, Make It Plain: No More Emotional Conversations 01:02:14 The 100-Year Plan: Mall's Millionaire Moment at 49 01:04:31 Closing: Patreon, Bliss Conference, and Next Week 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 APOC VIRTUAL CHURCH Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.org 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 look at people who made it and you assume they started with something you didn't. A better childhood. More talent. Some edge you never got. ET spent his whole life proving that is a lie, and in this episode he takes the excuse away from you. The fellas get into what ET means when he says "I'm you." Not the polished version on the stage, the same flesh, the same doubts, the same fight. He breaks down why the only real difference between where you are and where you want to be is not talent or background, and why most people stay stuck holding onto an excuse that was never true. Jemal shares walking into the Obama Library opening, surrounded by billionaires and legends, and the question that hit him in that room about what he is actually building. CJ pushes on how you do the work and still get out of your own way. This one is a confrontation. The kind you need. JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON We record live every week with our Patreon family. Come be in the room. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 Watch the video version on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel RATE AND REVIEW If this one hit you, leave us a rating and review. It helps more people find the show. CHAPTERS PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME The new book from ET and CJ. https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D APOC VIRTUAL CHURCH Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.org ABOUT THE PODCAST The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, to help you believe in your own potential and build a life that matters.

CJ and David sat down with Jemal King and Wall Street Trapper right after the One Percent stage, and what came out was bigger than money. Jemal spent his early years as a cop, putting on a vest every day. Trap came up on the corner. Two men who once lived on opposite sides of the law, now face to face, breaking down how they ended up with the exact same mindset about risk, discipline, and building wealth. Trap explains how the streets prepared him for capitalism. Jemal breaks down the seven streams of income and why you don't chase all seven at once. And the whole room gets honest about buffer room, the equity that decides whether one bad week wrecks you or barely moves you. This one is raw, it is real, and it might change how you look at every dollar you spend. LISTEN, FOLLOW, AND SHARE If this episode hit, do three things. Follow the show so you never miss a drop. Rate and review us, it is the single biggest thing you can do to help more people find S2S. And share this one with someone who needs to hear it. Want the video version and the live recordings with the Patreon fam in the room? Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 Watch the video version on YouTube and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15 MORE FROM THE FAM Pre-order "We Is Greater Than Me" by Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D Join us for APOC Virtual Church, Saturdays at 11am EST: www.apocministry.org CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Behind the Scenes Post-Stage Energy 00:03:05 The Five Pillars: Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, Freedom 00:03:58 The Seven Streams of Income: Your Financial Blueprint 00:08:41 Why Black Men Stay Behind Financially Despite Wanting Success 00:09:45 Stop Eating, Start Walking: The Simple Truth About Losing Weight 00:11:59 The Streets Prepared Me for Capitalism 00:19:59 The Runaway Slave Mentality: Hustlers Are Chasing Freedom 00:24:18 Control Risk vs Uncontrolled Risk: The Real Estate Formula 00:44:20 The Police Mindset: Always Prepare for Worst Case Scenario 00:45:56 Control Paper vs Uncontrolled Paper: The Passive Income Revelation 00:48:27 Non-Negotiables: How to Make Discipline Automatic 00:51:22 Simple Not Easy: Why Most People Can't Do What They Know They Should 00:52:18 Buffer Room: The Real Secret to Handling Life's Curveballs 00:58:21 When Your Father Has a Stroke: The Power of Being Prepared 01:00:29 Closing: You Don't Look Like What You've Been Through 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, to help you discover the secret to YOUR success. Real conversations on marriage, business, wealth-building, and personal development, with the radical transparency that built this show. New episodes every week.

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.

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.

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.