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

The wrong business partner will cost you everything. Here's how to know who to trust.

Most businesses fail not because of a bad idea, bad product, or bad timing. They fail because of bad PARTNERS. People who don't share your values. People who steal. People who see you as a paycheck instead of a partner. People who make "doggy bags" to take home instead of building the table with you.

In this raw conversation, Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal King break down the brutal truth about business partnerships
- what destroys them,
- what makes them work,
- Why starting small is the only path to building big,
- And real proof this approach works (six-figure real estate checks, zero student debt, generational wealth from $50/paycheck).

This is Part 2 of our two-part series. If you missed Part 1 (Episode 528), go watch the wife haircut debate now!

CHAPTERS:
Chapters

00:00:00 Opening: Be Faithful Over the Small Stuff - That's How God Knows You're Serious
00:01:20 Stop Looking for Permission - The CJ Partnership Model
00:02:28 Why Most People Want Savages But Won't Become One
00:12:00 The 115 Years of Committed Relationships at This Table
00:13:38 The Book Reveal: What We're Uniquely Qualified to Talk About
00:14:56 Building Your Table With Family vs Strangers - The Dinner Table Analogy
00:39:41 The Contract Story: When CJ Put ET First Without Being Asked
00:17:46 Leverage: The Tire Iron Principle and Why You Need Different Strengths
00:00:27 Stop Focusing on the Big Stuff - The Cam Newton Lesson
00:22:41 Warren Buffett at 94: Why Most Wealth Comes After 40
00:53:52 Yanni Graduates Debt-Free: How a 529 Plan Paid for Michigan State
00:35:53 The pizza story: Why Your People Won't Steal From You
00:47:29 The 1% Conference Announcement: April 16-17 in Chicago

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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:

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Employees at a pizza shop ordered 17 pizzas right before closing and took them all home for free - that's what happens when people don't care about your business like you do
- It's not about family vs strangers - it's about shared values vs survival mode
- People in survival mode will take from you; people who share your values will build with you
- Candis called Eric about the contract split to make sure it was fair - she protected the family before anyone even asked
- Stop focusing on the "main thing" - Eric didn't chase Cam Newton, he built relationships with Cam's parents and brother, which gave him better access
- Warren Buffett made 90% of his wealth after age 65 - compound interest and starting early matters more than you think
- Average American family has $2,000 in savings - that's the crisis most people don't talk about
- Jemal’s daughter will graduate Michigan State debt-free and is going to med school - and it all started with a $50 per paycheck investment, made consistently for 25 years
- Karl transformed from employee mindset to cashing six-figure real estate checks by applying these principles
- When you build with people who do, you can go to sleep knowing everyone has each other's back

🏠 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST:
Join Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal King - alongside their wives Dede, Candis, Tamesha, and Camile - 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.

💇‍♀️ She cut her hair SHORT without warning. He feels blindsided. Who's wrong?

When does a "personal decision" stop being personal in a marriage? A husband writes in after 13 years together: his wife cut her hair really short without mentioning it, and when he brought it up, she said it was a personal decision that didn't require his input. Fair or foul?

This question sparked the BIGGEST debate we've had in a while - and we didn't just debate it ourselves. We called THE WIVES in live on the podcast. Dede, Camile, Candis, and Tamesha weigh in with perspectives that might surprise you. Plus: Jemal & Camile's Bobby Brown and New Edition concert experience, why "becoming a savage" matters more than wanting one, Karl's six-figure real estate confidence shift, and a powerful conversation about God wanting more for you than you want for yourself.

This is Part 1 of 2 - Part 2 (Episode 530) drops the most powerful generational wealth story we've ever shared. You don't want to miss it.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- "Fair for her own personal womanhood, but foul for the marriage"
- marriage requires consideration beyond individual rights
- After years of marriage, you should know what matters to your spouse
- it's not about permission, it's about partnership
- In order to attract a savage, you gotta become a savage
- stop waiting for someone to blow you up
- Iron sharpens iron - your growth elevates everyone around you
- God has already blessed you with jobs, relationships, opportunities - you lost them because you didn't become
- You can't be done with Michael Jordan - become irreplaceable in every area of your life
- The 1% Conference: One day for men, one day for women to build yourselves up, then one day together to build each other up

CHAPTERS:
Chapters

00:00:00 Opening: When Your Circle Is Killing at the Highest Level
00:00:59 Welcome and Team Introductions: Dr. King and the Barefoot Bruce Lee
00:03:00 The New Edition Concert Experience: Front Row With Your Bride
00:08:45 Concert Legends: From Maxwell to Celine Dion and the 3D Hologram
00:12:46 Fair or Foul: She Cut Her Hair Without Asking
00:14:10 The Men Weigh In: Permission, Communication, or Her Body Her Choice?
00:25:23 Calling the Wives: Candis, Camille, DeDe, and Tamesha Sound Off
00:35:50 The Marriage Blueprint: Know Your Person and Pick Your Battles
00:43:45 Don't Worship Silence: The Difference Between Peace and Avoiding Conflict
00:45:00 The One Percent Conference Vision: Men, Women, and Unity
00:49:00 The Two-Man Versus the One-in-Waiting: CJ's Platform Philosophy
00:51:15 Iron Sharpens Iron: Becoming a Savage to Attract Savages
00:52:23 Closing: The Conference Is About Becoming, Not Being Saved

🔴 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 much, much 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 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=1d80bc2eec934bef
🎧 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789

🏠 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST:
Join Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal 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
- CJ Quinney - Strategic Brand Architect
- Karl Phillips - Producer, Creative Director
- 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.

Most people don’t fail because they lack effort.
They fail because they follow rules and advice that were never designed for their real life.

In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the conversation challenges one of the most common traps in personal growth: living by general advice instead of personal strategy.

This episode breaks down why:

What works for others often fails for you

Generic advice ignores context, timing, and personal tendencies

High performers don’t just work hard — they study patterns

Rules, stats, and analytics are useful… but dangerous when followed blindly

Real growth requires a personal “scouting report” for your life, marriage, money, and leadership

Through stories from sports, business, relationships, and real life, this episode shows why winners don’t just follow instructions — they observe, adjust, and execute based on their specific situation.

If you’ve been doing “all the right things” but still feel stuck, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do differently.

Chapters

00:00:00 Opening: Stop Negotiating With Fear
00:00:52 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Q1 Focus Energy
00:01:28 Back in My Day: From Arcade Games to Roblox
00:08:31 Analytics vs The Scouting Report: Why One Size Doesn't Fit All
00:09:58 The Dan Campbell Effect: When to Go For It on Fourth Down
00:12:38 The Gazelle Mentality: How ET Learned to Observe and Survive
00:33:03 Brian Cox and the Film Room: The Cheat Code to Success
00:48:11 ET's Two-Home Challenge: Creating Unity in Unique Circumstances
00:50:20 The Mother-in-Law Revelation: Understanding What Really Matters
00:53:45 Millionaire Moments with Karl: Your Side Hustle Becomes Your Main Hustle
00:55:55 Closing: Hit Fear in the Mouth and Do Your Scouting Report

👇 Next steps:

Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, leadership, and performance

Share this episode with someone who keeps following the rules but isn’t getting results

Stop copying success. Start studying what actually works for you.

Transformation beats information — every time.

Most people don’t fail because they lack talent.
They fail because they can’t sustain excellence.

In this powerful episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the conversation goes far deeper than motivation—into parenting, accountability, discipline, and what it actually takes to become the best version of yourself every day, not just when you feel inspired.

You’ll hear:

A raw voice message from a father breaking generational cycles

Why most people only visit greatness instead of living there

The difference between talent and autopilot discipline

How accountability separates role players from legends

Why your children should inherit more than memories—they should inherit momentum

This episode isn’t comfortable.
But it’s necessary.

Chapters

00:00:00 Opening: The Walmart Adventure and Living on the Wild Side
00:01:54 Welcome and Team Introductions - What ET learned from Ben Johnson
00:09:00 The Village is Broken: When You Can't Intervene Anymore
00:21:42 Jayda's Breakthrough: When Your Daughter Becomes Your Therapist
00:31:00 What Does Your Best Self Actually Look Like?
00:39:15 Know Thyself: Being the Best Version of YOU, Not Someone Else
00:40:50 The Jayda Thomas Reveal: Hidden Dialogues Podcast Launch
00:48:00 The Chris Paul Lesson: Why People Reject Accountability
00:53:30 Hall of Fame Mentality: When Your Practice is Harder Than the Game
01:05:57 Closing: Kalm Downwith Karl, Millionaire Moments and Building Generational Momentum

👇 Take action:

👉 Register for the ET One Percent Solution Conference https://etonepercent.com

👉 Subscribe to the Secret to Success Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1

👉 Follow S2S on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/s2spodcast

👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive content & live conversations - https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120

Because transformation matters more than information.

Most people think belief is a feeling.
This episode makes a different case.

Your beliefs are visible — not in what you say, but in the results you keep producing.

In this continuation of last week’s conversation, we break down why people can have information, opportunity, and effort — yet still see the same outcomes year after year. The issue isn’t hustle or knowledge. It’s what you truly believe is possible, allowed, or worth fully committing to.

This episode explores how partial belief leads to partial commitment — and how that shows up everywhere: finances, relationships, faith, confidence, leadership, and decision-making.

We talk about:

Why belief always leaves evidence

How effort without full belief creates cycles, not progress

The difference between participating and fully stepping in

Why your environment reinforces what you believe

How results quietly reveal where commitment stops

This isn’t motivation.
It’s a mirror.

If you’ve been doing the right things but still seeing the same results, this episode may explain why.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

Chapters

00:00:00 Opening: The Practice Squad Mentality - You Don't Have to Be Perfect
00:01:50 Caleb Williams and the Ben Johnson Effect: Learning to See the Field
00:02:38 Stop Sleeping With the Enemy: Why Your Circle Is Keeping You Broke
00:03:09 It Burns My Heart: The Real Reason We Talk About Money
00:04:37 Let It Burn: When Your Credit Score Controls Your Destiny
00:07:42 God Said You Should Lend, Not Borrow: The Biblical Case for Wealth
00:09:46 Vengeance Is Mine: When People Owe You and God Is Teaching You
00:10:51 The Conference Invitation: Why You Need to Be in the Room
00:13:43 The $15 Million House Story: How Carl Made It With $30K and Good Credit
00:14:47 They Don't Want You in That Neighborhood: The Truth About Real Estate Gatekeeping
00:19:02 The Wizard of Oz Revelation: Everything You Need Is Already Inside You
00:21:27 Karl's Six-Figure Check Moment: When Belief Became Reality
00:23:51 The Dynasty Trust Attorney: When Doors Only Open at Certain Net Worth Levels
00:24:24 DeDe Said This Was the Best Christmas: When Communication Transforms Marriage
00:29:11 The Briefing to His Daughter: How Money Changed Karl's Family Language
00:31:01 Putting Money in Her Account: The Wisdom Jamal Gave Karl About His Wife
00:44:21 Just Believe: The Song, The Message, The Breakthrough
00:38:13 Every Result Has a Belief Behind It: Karl's Transformation Explained
00:49:56 Paycheck to Prosperity: The New System Mall and Karl Are Building
00:58:59 Work Your Work in the Morning, Evening Let Not Your Hands Be Idle
00:58:05 Turn the Light Switch Off: Carl's Million Dollar Moment
00:40:04 April 16-18 in Chicago: The 1% Solutions Gathering Announcement
01:06:15 Closing: Focus on This Opportunity With All Your Might

👉 Register for the ET One Percent Solution Conference
https://etonepercent.com

👉 Subscribe to the Secret to Success Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1

👉 Follow S2S on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/s2spodcast

👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive content & live conversations
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120