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

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 “...

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 ch...

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… the...

“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 mo...

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 o...

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 masterin...

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. B...

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...

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 loo...

The week the Ravens were 1–5 and about to face Chicago, ET walked into Baltimore’s locker room with a message—not hype, a standard. Jemal, a lifelong Bears fan, wants to know why ET had to deliver that talk right before they played his team. That friendly smoke sets the tone as we unpack the exact principles ET shared: why contracts beat feelings, how identity sets standards, standards drive behav...

Stop helping. Own the kill. For years, helping felt noble—but that was Level 1. In this episode, Karl opens up about his shift from approval-seeking supporter to hunter: taking ownership, moving first, and letting execution—not permission—set the pace. We break down how that mindset change is transforming his leadership, family life, business, and even real estate strategy. What you’ll get Karl’s...

Drop your North Star in one sentence below. If you can’t say it in a line, you can’t live it in a year! Are you doing everything and going nowhere? This episode is your wake-up call. We break down why scattered hustle kills credibility, how a single North Star changed our entire operation, and the exact mindset shift to align actions with the goals you keep talking about. The guys get surgical: gi...

Most people don’t lose because they’re not talented—they lose because they’re scattered. In this episode, the guys break down why doing nine things halfway will never beat doing one thing with ruthless focus. ET unpacks how people-pleasing drains your energy, CJ shows how a single North Star changed their whole brand, and Maul & Karl dive into legacy, parenting, and building skills that outlive yo...

In this powerful continuation of last week’s conversation, the S2S crew dives deep into the truth about circles, ego, and why so many people stay stuck. 💡ET, CJ, Karl, Jemal and Pastor TJ break down: - Why your circle can be the biggest ceiling on your future 🚫 - How comparison keeps you frustrated, broke, and unfulfilled - The hidden difference between a real anchor and a pseudo-anchor (ego) -...

Parents think the best gift they can give their kids is money. But the truth? Money alone isn’t enough. In this powerful episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl & TJ unpack the story of Vontrell — a star athlete whose NFL dream collapsed after repeated injuries. Lost and struggling, he fell into security jobs and uncertainty… until Marlon & Camille stepped in. Instead of letting him...

Chronic stress is silently killing your energy, focus, and health. In this episode, learn how to eliminate stress, gain mental clarity, and thrive. Stress isn’t about your job, marriage, or circumstances—it’s about your perception of them. In this powerful episode, the S2S crew sits down with Lisa Angel Smith to break down the difference between acute stress and chronic stress, why managing stress...

This week on the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys go deep on why most people stay stuck financially and personally. From Cracker Barrel’s branding mistakes to the truth about passive income, standards, and self-sabotage—this episode will challenge you to stop listening to the wrong voices and finally become the right person. 🚨 Topics covered: - Why Cracker Barrel got punked and what it teaches...

If you’re not intentional with money, marriage, or business, you’ll accidentally end up broke. 💥 In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys break down the 70/30 rule and why discipline beats feelings every time. They show how anchors—non-negotiable principles—keep you from drifting into bad deals, broken marriages, or wasted years. 👉 Why the 70/30 rule protects your finances 👉 H...

F* the Anchor. Yeah, we said it. But it’s not what you think. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal break down why so many people are drifting in life—financially, relationally, and spiritually—because they don’t have anchors holding them steady. The guys talk about: Why margin for error matters in your money, marriage, and health How real estate formulas apply...

You keep praying for a better life — more money, a better marriage, peace of mind — but nothing changes. Why? Because prayer won’t fix stupid habits. You can pray all day, but if you’re still eating like trash, still blaming everybody else, still out of order… don’t expect different results. In this episode, CJ, ET, and Pastor TJ break down why your sequence matters more than your intentions — and...

You think staying quiet is keeping the peace — but it’s killing your marriage, your friendships, and your opportunities. In this raw conversation from the S2S Podcast, the guys get brutally honest about the damage caused by holding things in for years, avoiding hard conversations, and expecting others to “just know” how you feel. Learn why unspoken frustrations become resentment, how your silence...

Why do people cut you off even after years of loyalty? In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jamal break down a truth most people don’t want to face: being loyal isn’t enough if you’re no longer an asset. From Dede’s emotional revelation about feeling unprotected, to the raw talk about marriages, business partnerships, and friendships—this episode will challenge how y...

In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys go all in on the mindset shift required to break out of survival mode. They challenge the traditional W2 mentality and expose why playing defense in life keeps you stuck. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not getting ahead—this episode is for you. Topics Discussed: Why the W2 mindset is keeping you broke How...

You’ve got more access to information than any generation in history — so why are most people still stuck? In this powerful episode, the guys break down the real reason proximity to greatness doesn’t automatically lead to results: you’re learning the moves but not adopting the mindset. From million-dollar real estate lessons to spiritual growth, relationships, and health — this one covers what it...

Dede is back — and she’s not holding back. In one of the rawest episodes we’ve ever recorded, Dede and Candis join CJ and Eric for an unfiltered conversation about walls, wounds, and the real reason trust is so hard to build — especially in marriage and sisterhood. Whether you're dating, married, or simply trying to grow in emotional maturity, this episode is your mirror. From communication breakd...