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

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