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

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:

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🏠 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.