Most People Are Trapped Waiting for an Apology That's Never Coming | S2S 538

Most people who feel stuck, angry, or burned out are not dealing with what they think they are dealing with. That is the throughline of Episode 538, a conversation that starts with the aftermath of the 1% Conference in Chicago and goes somewhere much deeper. CJ's wife Candis Quinney walks in fresh off one of the most powerful 1% Conferences the S2S family has ever put together, and her presence immediately changes the energy in the room. Candis is not here as a plus one. She is building something, a movement for women who are done performing, done pretending, and done settling for a version of life that looks good on the outside and feels hollow on the inside. Her story, including a moment of sitting in a closet with everything she was supposed to want and still breaking down, is the kind of honesty that most people spend their whole lives avoiding. It is also exactly why we named this episode what we named it. Before the episode even gets rolling, Karl opens with a reframe that sets the tone for everything that follows: God does not always allow the pain. Sometimes it is just our decisions. What is remarkable is that He works through it anyway. ET's conference debrief becomes one of the most honest moments in recent S2S memory. He traces his lifelong anger back to its real source, being uprooted from Chicago as a kid, losing his cousin-brothers, resenting a stepfather he never asked for, and spending decades needing to control everything because nobody was ever in control for him. The breakthrough comes when he finally connects the dots and realizes the plan he spent years fighting against was actually the plan that made him who he is. The episode also goes deep on DeDe's gift, her ability to see what no one else sees, illustrated through the story of Donovan, a child in their church navigating an impossible situation while his younger brother fights kidney failure. It is a quiet masterclass in what it looks like to show up for people with your actual gifts, not just your checkbook. If you are a woman who has ever smiled through something that was breaking you, this one is going to meet you exactly where you are. And if you have ever chased a life that looked right on paper and still felt empty behind closed doors, pull up a chair. This conversation was made for you. In this episode: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: God's Plan Despite Our Decisions 00:00:55 Welcome and Team Introductions: Post-1% Conference Reflections 00:02:49 Conference Takeaways: Building Your Own Table With People You Trust 00:04:18 Behind the Scenes: The Real Work of Live Events That Nobody Sees 00:16:02 The Commonality of Humanity: We All Want the Five Pillars 00:17:17 Candice's Mission: The Off-Ramp for Women Who Have Everything But Aren't Enjoying It 00:05:18 DeDe's Role: The Eye That Catches What Everyone Else Misses 00:09:49 The Phone Detox Challenge: Too Much Access to Everything 00:21:58 Candis' Story: Forgiving Her Father and the Optical Illusion of Life 00:27:09 The Wedding Day Decision: Moving As If You Already Have the Relationship You Want 00:30:36 The Truth About Candice's Father: When the Answer Still Isn't What You Hoped For 00:36:58 Eric's Story: I Still Don't Have Good Parents 00:38:32 The Joseph Revelation: God Allowed This to Happen So You Could Save Others 00:39:15 The Bruce Banner Effect: When Unresolved Trauma Makes You Someone You Don't Like 00:43:13 The American Dream Versus the Divine Calling: Stop Comparing Your Life 00:53:25 Losing Control and Finding God: When DD Took Over the Conference 00:55:00 The Healing Begins When You Realize Your Parents Were Broken Too 00:57:49 Closing: You Don't Want to Be Me, You Want to Be on Stage Never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@SecretToSuccess?sub_confirmation=1 Join the S2S Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/s2spodcast IG: @s2spodcast Listen on Apple Podcasts: Search "Secret to Success" on Apple Podcasts Secret to Success is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King.

This episode was never meant for the public. It was recorded exclusively for our Patreon community — the people who are already in the inner circle. But we're pulling the curtain back and letting you see what S2S really looks like when the pressure is off, the cameras are still rolling, and nobody is performing for anybody. This is the crew unfiltered. No script. No agenda. Just ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal being exactly who they are. From 80s hip-hop debates to the first game they ever ran, to ET getting real about why he stopped giving his expertise away for free — this episode has everything the highlight reel never shows you. And then Pops pulls up and drops the origin story of how ET and CJ found each other — the moment that started all of this. If you've ever wondered what S2S looks like behind closed doors — this is it. In This Episode: The 80s hip-hop playlist that shaped who they became — LL Cool J, Eric B & Rakim, Babyface and more The first piece of game they ever ran (ET's Babyface line on Dede is legendary) Why ET stopped giving his time and expertise away for free — and why you should too The "selfish vs. self-focused" conversation that will change how you think about your time and money A special visit from the Cooking with the Cooks family Pops pulls up and tells the untold origin story of how ET and CJ connected Timestamps: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Public Was Never Supposed to See This 00:03:39 Throwback Music Session: LL Cool J and the Golden Era of Hip-Hop 00:09:58 Baby Face and Early Game: The First Piece of Wisdom 00:15:00 The Football Team Get Naked Story: When Confidence Was King 00:17:18 The Michael Jordan Clip: Being Selfish Is How You Win 00:18:05 The Shift: How ET Stopped Giving Everything Away for Free 00:22:02 The Mastermind Testimony: When People Pay, They Apply 00:24:16 Valuing Your Time and Expertise: The CJ Partnership Model 00:32:59 The ETA Records Story: Giving What's Earned, Not What's Expected 00:37:35 Pops Enters the Building: The Man Who Started It All 00:41:04 The Origin Story: From Prison Visit to Twenty Years of Partnership 00:43:43 Closing: Behind the Scenes Access and What's Next Key Takeaways: The difference between being selfish and being self-focused — and why it matters for your money and your time Why giving your expertise away for free is a disservice to yourself and the people you're trying to help The unplanned moment that created one of the most influential mentoring relationships in the world What the S2S Patreon is really about — and why this content exists 🔒 This Is What Patreon Members Get Every Week 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 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. New episodes every Thursday. Patreon drops every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Somebody talked you out of your dream before it ever had a chance. Maybe it was a parent. Maybe a friend. Maybe someone you trusted. And the worst part? They didn't even know they were doing it. CJ takes his son Trey to a skateboard store and watches a 6-year-old fall twice in front of a crowd, get back up, and look at his dad like it was nothing — because CJ realized he was about to pass his own fear to his son. Fear of something he'd never even tried. ET traces his version, leaving comfort in Huntsville to chase something bigger when everyone said he already had enough. Jemal gives a raw testimony — real estate, the daycare, the businesses — every significant venture required blind, childlike faith. The one that didn't? Becoming a police officer. His whole family was already there. Everything else? Trust God with nothing upfront. And Karl brings the financial lens: your side hustle doesn't just need to make money. It needs to make sense. This one will make you think about who you've been taking advice from. And whether they've ever actually been on the skateboard. 📌 TIMESTAMPS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Karl's Multi-Million Dollar Real Estate Deal and the Five Pillars 00:01:44 Welcome and Team Introductions: One Week Until the Chicago Conference 00:05:47 The Skateboard Story: How Trey's Childlike Faith Teaches Us to Get Back Up 00:08:45 Most People Were Talked Out of Their Dream Before It Started 00:12:33 Who Is Your Skateboard Instructor? The Importance of the Right Mentors 00:35:59 Unless You Become Like Little Children: The Scripture That Changes Everything 00:40:15 Show Up to the Conference as a Child, Not as an Adult 00:44:03 ET's Stone Mountain Story: Choosing to Be a Shepherd, Not a Competitor 00:51:15 For I Know the Plans I Have for You: God's Spiritual 529 Plan 00:56:45 Why This Conference Is Different: Three-Exing for God's Work 01:02:33 Jamal's Testimony: From Audience Member to Keynote Speaker at His Own High School 01:07:17 Make Your Side Hustle Make Sense: The Million Dollar Uber Ride 01:09:24 Closing Prayer: Lazarus, Come Forth—Breaking Free from the Weeds 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS → The person who talked you out of your dream probably never tried it themselves → A child sees what's possible. An adult only sees what's impossible → You're not afraid of the risk, you're afraid of what people will think when you fall → Show up as a student, not a teacher → Your side hustle shouldn't just make money, it should make sense ⬇️ Kalm Down with Karl When something is coming at you, you slow down. But when you have something to run toward, you speed up. What are you running toward? 💰 Mal's Millionaire Moment Jemal breaks down every venture he's ever built and the one thing they all had in common. Zero evidence it would work when he started. Just blind, childlike faith. 🎟️ 1% CONFERENCE, CHICAGO APRIL 16-18, 2026 Eric Thomas and world-class speakers including - Sarah Jakes - Jameis Winston, - Inky Johnson, - Wallstreet Trapper, - Earn Your Leisure, and more. 3 days. 12,000 people. Total transformation. Day 1: Women's Day, Day 2: Men's Day, Day 3: VIP Family Day Tickets: https://etonepercent.com 🔔 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Instagram: @s2spodcast Patreon: Behind the scenes access, live recordings, exclusive Q&A, and ET speech streams. If you're serious about this, this is where you need to be: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST 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.

What if everything you've built so far — your career, your income, your wins — happened without you even really trying? That's exactly what Jemal King discovered in 2006. Four daycare centers. Real estate. A millionaire — completely by mistake. And the question that hit him harder than the money itself: if I could become a millionaire by mistake, what could I become on purpose? Jemal breaks down his full story — from building without a coach to discovering the value of community, to realizing most people quit the moment they start seeing results. ET closes with his challenge: stay 365 days. Then three years. Then five. Because the levels you haven't seen yet only unlock after the time is paid. Karl brings Kalm Down with Karl and Mal drops the Millionaire Moment — the rebar that holds everything together, and why your degrees and hustle aren't working without it. Most people have no idea what they're actually capable of. This episode is the proof. It's not about talent or luck. It's about going on purpose. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔥 IN THIS EPISODE ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ - Jemal's millionaire by mistake story — daycare centers, real estate, and the moment everything clicked - Why most people quit right when they start seeing results - Grinding alone vs. grinding with the right community - Kalm Down with Karl — Do you see what I see? - Mal's Millionaire Moment — you've been building without the rebar ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📍 CHAPTERS ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Character Chasing Over Clout Chasing 00:01:45 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Real Cost of Proximity 00:02:45 Most People Don't Want the Smoke: The Accountability Circle 00:04:44 The Five Pillars Aren't Easy: Why Character Beats Entertainment 00:06:13 Twenty Years Together: The Power of Longevity and Consistency 00:08:01 Managing Power: When You Were Little in Your Own Sight 00:14:29 The Tobe Story: When Accountability Feels Like Warfare 00:17:09 Tom Izzo and the Transfer Portal: Why Most Coaches Are Scared 00:17:54 The Responsibility of the Circle: Carrying Each Other's Names 00:20:00 Conference Reveal: Why This One Is Intentionally Different 00:26:06 The Jemal Story: From Millionaire by Mistake to Millionaire on Purpose 00:24:58 The Value of Information: Would You Come for a Thousand Dollars? 00:32:41 Community Over Solo Grind: The Dubai Yacht Energy 00:35:48 I Don't Go to Red Carpets: ET's Intentional Isolation 00:37:49 Character Chasing vs Clout Chasing: The Pillar vs Sand Analogy 00:52:52 Wall Street Trapper Joins Live: The One Percent Money Mindset 00:56:00 Kalm Down with Karl 00:57:53 The Rebar Principle: What's Missing From Your Foundation 01:00:45 Closing: ET1% Conference Final Call and Patreon Family Shoutout ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎟️ 1% CONFERENCE — CHICAGO ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 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 more. 3 days. 12,000 people. Total transformation. - Day 1: Women's Day - Day 2: Men's Day - Day 3: VIP Family Day Tickets: https://etonepercent.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔔 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Instagram: @s2spodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 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 can see exactly what you want. You probably always could. So what's actually stopping you? This episode opens with a story CJ wasn't sure he should tell. A 4-hour TSA line. Atlanta airport in complete chaos. And a woman with no badge, no uniform — just the nerve to say: get out of that line. What followed wasn't just a funny airport story. It cracked open one of the most honest conversations this crew has had about why people stay far from the rooms that could actually change them. Not because they don't have access. But because they know exactly what comes with it. The crew gets real about the price of true accountability — what it costs to be in this circle, what it felt like when ET was going in on CJ, and why that fire is exactly what separates the ones who last from the ones who fall off. ET closes Part 1 with a warning from the life of King Saul — when you forget where you came from, the power you worked so hard to get becomes the very thing that destroys you. You can see exactly what you want. The question this episode answers is why you still don't have it. Part 2 drops next week — Jemal reveals how he accidentally became a millionaire, Karl brings Kalm Down with Karl, and Ma drops the rebar moment. If you can see it but you still don't have it — this episode is your answer. 🔥 IN THIS EPISODE - CJ's wild TSA story — and the stranger with no badge who changed everything - Why the people closest to greatness are usually the first ones to walk away from it - "You want the perks, not the accountability" — the hard truth about circles - Character chasing vs. cloud chasing — ET's 20 year philosophy - The Saul Warning — what the Bible says about power outgrowing character - Why the next level won't unlock no matter how hard you work - ET's surgical analogy — why God has to separate you from everyone you love first 📍 CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Become the Savage Before You Attract the Savage 00:01:30 Welcome and Team Introductions: The TSA Miracle Story 00:11:17 Ask ET: The Wandering Eye Dilemma 00:20:12 The Chicago Conference Reveal: Why We're Separating Men and Women 00:24:49 The Becoming Principle: Why Maul Is Sitting at This Table 00:36:09 Personal Development Is the Price of Admission 00:39:37 Don't Be a Two, Be a One-in-Waiting: The CJ Partnership Model 00:41:57 The Homework Assignment: Go Back and Watch the Growth 00:49:48 The Surgery Analogy: Why God Separates You Sometimes 00:52:44 The Hard Truth: Proximity Without Accountability Means Nothing 🎟️ 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 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 🔔 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE 📲 Subscribe to the YouTube channel for weekly episodes that transform, not just inform: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 🎧 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Follow on Instagram → @s2spodcast 🔥 Join our Patreon community for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 🎙️ ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST 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 and mindset podcasts in the world. Each week, the team breaks down real conversations around success, discipline, belief, financial growth, leadership, relationships, entrepreneurship, and personal development. If you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe — this is the podcast for you. New episodes drop weekly.

You’re not losing because you lack talent. You’re losing because you’re focused on the wrong thing. Most people obsess over results — the money, the body, the relationship, the success. But winners don’t worship outcomes. They build systems. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, we break down why focusing on the result keeps you stuck — and how shifting to solution thinking changes everything. If you’ve been: • Starting strong but falling off • Setting goals but not seeing progress • Working hard but not moving forward • Believing… but still stuck at the 6-yard line This conversation is for you. We dive into: • The difference between victim thinking and architect thinking • Why belief determines your level of commitment • How focusing on solutions restores power over your life • Why consistency without the right system is rehearsed failure • The mental shift that separates dreamers from disciplined winners You don’t rise to your goals. You rise to your systems. If you’re tired of chasing results and ready to start designing them, this episode will shift your focus. Chapters: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Evict the Thoughts That Aren't Paying Rent 00:01:27 Welcome and Team Introductions: Five Pillars Fitness Challenge 00:07:00 Fair or Foul: The Airplane Snoring Incident 00:20:52 The Conference Difference: Solutions Over Information 00:25:20 The Three Types of People: Which One Are You? 00:24:41 From Victim to Architect: The Power of Solutions 00:33:32 The Intentionality Factor: Accidentally Broke vs Intentionally Wealthy 00:37:49 The Middle Part: Why Commitment Is Everything 00:39:49 Chemistry Class: The Solution Formula 00:41:24 Focused on the Answer Instead of the Solution: The Math Lesson 00:52:22 Belief Comes Before Action: Do You Really Believe? 01:01:55 Leverage: Knowing Who You Are Opens Every Door 01:04:49 The 1% Conference: Invest in Yourself 🎟️ TAKE ACTION 🚨 Get your ticket to the 1% Conference: 👉 https://etonepercent.com Join us live and learn how to build the systems that produce lasting results. 🔥 Join our Patreon community for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 📲 Subscribe to the YouTube channel for weekly episodes that transform, not just inform: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 🎙️ ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST 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 and mindset podcasts in the world. Each week, the team breaks down real conversations around success, discipline, belief, financial growth, leadership, relationships, entrepreneurship, and personal development. If you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe — this is the podcast for you. New episodes drop weekly.

Your gift already opened the door. The question is: did you get lazy and let it close? In this episode, ET ( The Hip Hop Preacher), and the guys break down the truth about God-given gifts and why most people never reach their potential. They reveal: ✅ How to identify YOUR specific superpower (it's not what you think) ✅ Why people get complacent once their gift produces results ✅ The difference between using your gift for yourself vs. God's purpose ✅ How Karl discovered his gift of SUPPORT ✅ Why Mal's gift of VISION has made him successful in real estate and every other area of his life ✅ The "Get a Backbone" morning routine that sets up your day for success KEY MOMENTS: - E reveals his superpower: calling people back within 24 hours and showing love - Karl explains why he finally embraced being a "supporter" - Mal shares how VISION allows him to see 20-100 years into the future - The fig tree parable: Why God curses gifts that don't produce fruit - Why trying to use someone else's gift will never work for you - The Meridian Mall story: How one vendor outlasted Dick's, Barnes & Noble, and Sbarro BOTTOM LINE: Your gift will make room for you, but only if you keep using it. Stop comparing. Stop getting lazy. Stop trying to be someone else. This is YOUR year to go all in on what God gave YOU. KALM DOWN WITH KARL - "Get a Backbone": Karl breaks down how to build your life on non-negotiables. Your backbone isn't rigid—it's the structure that supports everything. He shares his morning routine: personal worship, family worship, hydration, and workout. When your backbone is together, you don't slump halfway through the day. Mal's Millionaire Moment: Stop letting your money sleep! If you're still using a basic savings account earning 0.001% interest, you're getting bamboozled. Mal breaks down high-yield savings accounts paying 3.5-4.9% that you can set up TODAY. 🔴 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 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 APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: --- 🏠 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST: Join Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jamal 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 - Karl Phillips - Producer, Creative Director - CJ Quinney - Strategic Brand Architect - 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.

What do you REALLY want? Not what society tells you to want. Not what you think you should want. What does YOUR heart actually desire? In this raw conversation, Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips and Jemal King get real about goals, dreams, and the difference between chasing material things vs. living with purpose. ET shares a powerful parenting moment that changed how he sees his son, Jamal breaks down why your next promotion might be in your next property, and the crew discusses why the "unseen" matters more than what you can see. Plus: The story behind Jamal's viral house tour (millions of views), why ET doesn't want what you think he wants, and a challenge that'll make you rethink everything you're chasing. 🔴 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 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 APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: What Do You REALLY Want? 00:01:14 Welcome and Team Introductions: The House That God Built 00:04:50 The Viral House Tour: Why Mal Finally Decided to Show the World 00:08:20 What's Your Next Big Goal? 00:11:38 Mal's Vision: A House in Another Country and Stretching Belief 00:23:00 The Rolls-Royce Story: How ET Honors His Wife and Sets an Example 00:25:20 Stop Parenting From What YOU Wanted: The Shoe Store Revelation 00:28:12 Know Your Own Multiples: Stop Following Rules That Weren't Made for You 00:39:10 Real Estate is Your Promotion: Your Next Property Holds Your Breakthrough 00:43:33 God Fixed It All: Communication, Marriage, and Answered Prayers 00:36:00 Chicago Conference Announcement: Bring Your Pack to Mal's Crib 00:48:00 Closing: Growth is the Only Goal—The Unseen Changes the Seen 🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Stop chasing what you see others have - know what YOU actually want - Your next promotion might be in your next property (real estate = multiple paychecks) - The unseen is realer than the seen - Don't parent from what you wanted at their age - "With God, all things are possible" isn't just a phrase - it's a lifestyle --- 🏠 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST: Join Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jamal 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 - Karl Phillips - Producer, Creative Director - CJ Quinney - Strategic Brand Architect - 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.

Being close isn't the same as being there — and ET knows exactly what that feels like. In this episode, CJ and ET get raw about the "almost zone": why being talented, dedicated, and almost at the top might actually be harder than starting from zero. ET shares the real story of having the greatest motivational speech in the world and still not being able to get booked — and what finally changed everything. They break down why getting to the top and staying at the top are two completely different skill sets, the whispers of self-doubt that are quietly killing people's dreams, and why proximity to the right people matters more than talent ever will. 🔑 IN THIS EPISODE: Why the "almost zone" is more frustrating than starting from nothing The formula ET used to go from unknown to #1 motivational speaker in the world Getting to the top vs. staying at the top — why most people fail at both The whispers of self-doubt nobody talks about (and how to silence them) Why you can't build your dream with imaginary people — use your family The 1% Event: April 16–18 in Chicago | etonepercent.com Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: There's a Formula to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be 00:00:57 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Varsity Game Is Back 00:01:56 The Crown Jewel: Doing It Together for 20 Years 00:05:07 Why ET Came Back Outside: The 10% Who Are Almost There 00:07:02 The Almost Zone: Why the Red Zone Is Harder Than Being Homeless 00:10:40 It's Not More Talent, It's Proximity: The New York Times Bestseller Formula 00:16:15 Nobody Cares: The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Write Down 00:22:32 Becoming Before Attracting: Why You Met ET at the Right Time 00:23:48 The 1% Conference Lineup: Wall Street Trapper, Inky Johnson, Earn Your Leisure and More 00:32:09 How Wall Street Trapper Walked Through the Valley: From Solitary Confinement to Success 00:35:34 Field Goals Get You Beat: The Mental Battle of the Red Zone 00:36:42 Rashad and Troy from Earn Your Leisure: How Brothers Stay Together and Win Together 00:37:56 Stop Working With Imaginary People: Build With Your Family 00:40:07 The Family Reunion: Everyone's Going to Be in the Building 00:41:22 Closing: April 16-18 in Chicago—ET1Percent.com 🔴 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: 💎 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.👉 🎟️ 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 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 APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST The Secret to Success podcast is hosted by CJ, Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), and Karl Phillips — a team who've built something rare: a 20-year friendship, business partnership, and movement that has impacted millions of lives worldwide. Joined by Jemal King and their families, S2S goes beyond motivation to deliver real conversations about marriage, business, wealth building, and personal development. New episodes every Thursday on all platforms.

The wrong business partner will cost you everything. Here's how to know who to trust. Most businesses fail not because of a bad idea, bad product, or bad timing. They fail because of bad PARTNERS. People who don't share your values. People who steal. People who see you as a paycheck instead of a partner. People who make "doggy bags" to take home instead of building the table with you. In this raw conversation, Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal King break down the brutal truth about business partnerships - what destroys them, - what makes them work, - Why starting small is the only path to building big, - And real proof this approach works (six-figure real estate checks, zero student debt, generational wealth from $50/paycheck). This is Part 2 of our two-part series. If you missed Part 1 (Episode 528), go watch the wife haircut debate now! CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Be Faithful Over the Small Stuff - That's How God Knows You're Serious 00:01:20 Stop Looking for Permission - The CJ Partnership Model 00:02:28 Why Most People Want Savages But Won't Become One 00:12:00 The 115 Years of Committed Relationships at This Table 00:13:38 The Book Reveal: What We're Uniquely Qualified to Talk About 00:14:56 Building Your Table With Family vs Strangers - The Dinner Table Analogy 00:39:41 The Contract Story: When CJ Put ET First Without Being Asked 00:17:46 Leverage: The Tire Iron Principle and Why You Need Different Strengths 00:00:27 Stop Focusing on the Big Stuff - The Cam Newton Lesson 00:22:41 Warren Buffett at 94: Why Most Wealth Comes After 40 00:53:52 Yanni Graduates Debt-Free: How a 529 Plan Paid for Michigan State 00:35:53 The pizza story: Why Your People Won't Steal From You 00:47:29 The 1% Conference Announcement: April 16-17 in Chicago 🔴 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: 💎 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 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 APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Employees at a pizza shop ordered 17 pizzas right before closing and took them all home for free - that's what happens when people don't care about your business like you do - It's not about family vs strangers - it's about shared values vs survival mode - People in survival mode will take from you; people who share your values will build with you - Candis called Eric about the contract split to make sure it was fair - she protected the family before anyone even asked - Stop focusing on the "main thing" - Eric didn't chase Cam Newton, he built relationships with Cam's parents and brother, which gave him better access - Warren Buffett made 90% of his wealth after age 65 - compound interest and starting early matters more than you think - Average American family has $2,000 in savings - that's the crisis most people don't talk about - Jemal’s daughter will graduate Michigan State debt-free and is going to med school - and it all started with a $50 per paycheck investment, made consistently for 25 years - Karl transformed from employee mindset to cashing six-figure real estate checks by applying these principles - When you build with people who do, you can go to sleep knowing everyone has each other's back 🏠 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST: Join Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal King - alongside their wives Dede, Candis, Tamesha, and Camile - 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 - Karl Phillips - Producer, Creative Director - CJ Quinney - Strategic Brand Architect - 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.