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

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.
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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.
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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.