Why Most People Fail After They Start Winning #523

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

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

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

“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

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

Most people don’t fail because they lack talent— they fail because their ego keeps putting them in positions they’re not built for. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who keeps blowing opportunities, breaking alliances, sabotaging good teams, or confusing “control” with “calling.” We’re talking identity, roles, loyalty, humility, and the dangerous trend of chasing titles instead of mastering your assignment. If you’ve ever walked away from the people who built you… If you keep trying to lead when you’re meant to support… If you think you want the spotlight but can’t handle the responsibility… If you’re losing while insisting on being in charge… …this conversation is going to sting, but it will straighten out your whole approach to success. It’s time to tell the truth: You can’t win the game when your ego won’t let you play your position. And for the first time ever, we’re introducing two new segments designed to shift your mindset daily: 🔥 Kalm Down with Karl 🔥 Mal’s Millionaire Moment Powerful clarity. Tactical mindset shifts. Zero excuses. 🚨 FREE 8-DAY ENCORE WITH ET — STARTS DECEMBER 8TH Daily sessions. Real accountability. Serious breakthroughs. If you’re stuck, drifting, or overwhelmed, don’t miss this. 👉 Sign up free: https://www.et1percent.com 🔒 JOIN THE S2S PATREON FAMILY Watch the episodes LIVE, get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, bonus content, and connect with the community that grows WITH you. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/S2SPodcast120 📌 CONNECT WITH US Instagram: @s2spodcast YouTube: S2S Podcast Channel Website: s2spodcast.com

Life keeps bullying you because you keep handing over the power. Your habits, your phone, your job, your fears, your past — all of it is pushing you around while you stand there acting like you don’t have a choice. This episode breaks that cycle wide open. ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal dive into the truth nobody wants to admit: you’re either the bully… or you’re getting bullied. By your circumstances. By your imagination (or lack of it). By the systems built to turn you into a full-time consumer. Inside the episode, you’ll learn: • Why the picture in your head is more important than the reality in front of you • How to stop giving your power away to fear, bills, people, and your own patterns • Why consumers get exploited, and why producers win every single time • How social media turns you into a victim without you noticing • How intentionality separates the bullied from the unstoppable • Why your gift — not your job — is the real source of your freedom • How to bully the bully in your finances, marriage, career, and internal dialogue • Why one property, one skill, or one shift can flip your entire life trajectory This is one of those episodes you replay when you feel stuck. It’s raw. It’s practical. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s exactly what you need. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Show Intro 01:25 - ET on Bullying Awareness 05:09 - Bully the Bully Strategy 07:32 - Discovering Your Gifts 11:55 - Overcoming Inner Criticism 17:19 - The Reality of Fear 19:14 - Understanding Menopause 22:15 - The Nature of Bullying 25:29 - Utilizing Your Gifts 27:18 - Embrace Assertiveness 30:25 - Valuing Your Worth 33:25 - Work for Your Demands 35:55 - Embracing Change 38:30 - Be the Solution 44:10 - Next Level Conference Overview 46:16 - Future of EYL University 47:40 - Inside The Lab 49:45 - Join the BU Community 50:01 - Support This Podcast 👇 JOIN THE S2S PATREON (Exclusive content + BTS + Early access) https://www.patreon.com/S2SPodcast120 👇 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL Weekly episodes, clips, and access to the entire S2S ecosystem: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 👇 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @s2spodcast If this hit you, share it with someone still letting life push them around. The moment you stop being a consumer and start being a producer, everything changes.

You’re letting people with zero track record tell you how to run your life. And the wild part? Half of them couldn’t survive doing what YOU do for 24 hours. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys break down the “Bully the Bully” mindset—why the world pushes you around if you don’t push back, why people in survival mode try to hijack what you’ve built, and why letting the wrong voices guide you is the fastest way back to the bottom. ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal unpack: Why unqualified opinions keep you broke and stuck The mentality difference between survivors and winners Why you MUST protect what you’ve built How the world “bullies” you financially if you’re not intentional The exact mindset shift needed to take control of your life This one is raw, hilarious, and heavy with truth—perfect for anyone tired of being pushed around by people who haven’t done the work. Video Chapters 00:00 Opening: Don't Let Bullies Give You Advice 01:21 Welcome and Team Introductions 09:48 New York Trip and Expensive Breakfast Revelation 13:45 The $69 Breakfast: They're Bullying You 14:19 Introducing Bully the Bully Mentality 22:10 Mike Tyson and the Mental Game 28:29 Recognizing Opinion Boys vs. Authorities 43:15 Black Men and the Bully Dynamic 45:02 Stop Being a Consumer, Become a Producer 52:31 Your Gifts Shall Make Room for You 58:58 Closing: Concentrate on Your Opportunity 👇 JOIN THE S2S PATREON (BEHIND THE SCENES, EARLY ACCESS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT) ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/S2SPodcast120 👇 SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL Weekly episodes, clips, and exclusive drops: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 👇 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @S2SPodcast If this hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember: Stop letting people who can’t do what you do tell you how to do it. Bully the bully. Take back your power.

If your feelings keep driving your finances, you’re paying an invisible tax. In this episode we break down how to regulate emotions, demand receipts (real due diligence), and replace motivation with rules so you stop bleeding time and money. Action over anxiety. Rules over mood. Results over excuses. You’ll learn How to stop emotional decision-making before it costs you What real due diligence looks like (records over “trust me”) The mindset shift from motivation to non-negotiable rules Why KPIs and clear consequences end confusion and chaos How to do “the real work” (and why thinking about it is harder than doing it) Tap in with S2S Subscribe for weekly breakthroughs: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: @s2spodcast Website: https://s2spodcast.com Patreon (exclusive content & live recordings): https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 Do this next (CTAs) Comment: Drop “FIRE YOUR FEELINGS” if you’re done letting emotions run your money. Share: Send this to a friend who keeps “investing” without receipts. Review: If this helped, leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—tell us your #1 takeaway.

Whether your team is 1–5 or your home feels out of rhythm, this episode gives you the playbook: peace over moods, standards over scoreboard, purpose over procrastination. ET breaks down the same locker-room mentality he brings to pro teams—then we translate it to your marriage, money, and mindset. (And yes, we clown Jemal about the Bears some more 😅). In this episode you’ll learn: Serenity beats Happiness: why chasing “happy” keeps you stuck, and how to build steady peace you can stand on. Standards beat feelings: the non-negotiables that fix performance at work, at home, and on the field. The “fixer” trap: how to support your spouse without trying to control their journey. Imperfectly mindful: simple daily awareness habits that create momentum. From 1–5 to unstoppable: the mindset ET gives losing teams—and how to use it today. Next Steps Train with ET for 21 days (free registration): etonepercent.com (spell out “one”). Join the Patreon for bonus segments, lives, and behind-the-scenes access for only $10: patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120