Advertise on podcast: The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas thought he was a people pleaser. Then he looked around his own company and noticed something. Nobody was pleased. Payroll was astronomical. Every month was a prayer just to cover it. Morale was low. And every time the money ran short, ET had the same answer: get back on the road and go make more. This conversation starts with one sentence. CJ told someone who wanted in, "I don't trust you in the we right now." Not with his wallet. With the mission. Because CJ had already watched a people pleasing spirit up close. He watched E people please his way into that payroll. So CJ turns to E and asks him to talk to the people pleasers. What comes next is ET at his most honest: "I lied to you about what we was." He tells you why he did it, and it goes all the way back to being a kid watching Roots. He tells you what one conversation with TJ about the NFL finally made him see. And he gives you the one question that exposes whether you are really people pleasing or just worried about what people think. Then it gets personal. ET grew up in the Serengeti, but he raised his kids in the safari, where the meat gets thrown out to you right on schedule. So he made a decision about his son Jalin that most parents will not make. Then Jalin got COVID, missed four days of work, and opened his check. What he said to his dad after that is the whole point of this episode. Also in this one: why ET says workers don't get paid in this country, what a fourth and inches call has to do with your life, what being "half and half" gave CJ that E never had, and the phone call ET made to the father who raised him to apologize for something that made him mad as a kid. So be honest. The people you keep taking care of. Are they actually pleased? 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 CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Cold Open: You Can't Say It's Bad When You're Part of What's Making It Bad 00:02:08 Welcome: AI, Water, and the End of the World 00:04:42 Chat GPT Turned E Into a Handyman 00:12:36 The AI Water Crisis: Chat vs Coca-Cola 00:18:06 Pre-Order We Is Greater Than Me 00:19:15 The People Pleasing Problem: When You're Really Self-Pleasing 00:22:08 The Payroll Crisis: When E Created a False World 00:23:39 Fourth and Inches: The Dan Campbell Philosophy 00:25:05 You're Not People Pleasing If They're Not Pleased 00:29:31 TJ and the NFL Reality Check 00:31:49 Workers Don't Get Paid: The Real World vs The Safari 00:34:07 If You Made Me, Make Another One: The Hov Principle 00:40:02 CJ's Half and Half Advantage: The Power of We 00:41:59 The Safari vs The Serengeti: Raising Kids in Reality 00:45:19 The Hidden Coke Story: Why Parents Hide Their Stuff 00:47:07 Jalin's COVID Check: When Reality Hits 00:48:32 Real People Pleasing: Standards That Set People Free PRE ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Help us hit the New York Times Best Seller list. Buy one for you and one for your squad. https://www.weisgreater.com WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 RATE AND REVIEW If this episode helped you, leave us a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people find the show. LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast

Eric Thomas and CJ break down leadership, team building and why you can't build it alone. The greatest wins in your life will never come from solo effort, and the thing that made you successful as an individual might be the very thing destroying your team. CJ said it at the 1% event. Your vision only has enough room for you. It is just CJ and Eric Thomas at the table this week, and E opens by saying he has never felt this good. The reason is not a new win. It is something he removed. E explains how the Flight Assessment showed him he was the opinionated flight attendant in his own house, and why the biggest thing he did for his family this season was stay out their business. His kids Jalin and Jayda left the “family we”, landed at the same company, and took off. From there the two get into money. E breaks down why money cannot buy happiness but it can buy options, the number he chased so Dede could retire, and why he stopped trying to fund everything on me income after a handful of kids came back from Dubai changed. Then CJ pushes E on the hard question. How do you know you are in the right we, and when do you leave one? E talks about God telling him to leave Huntsville, the day CJ told him he was a brand and made him keep the hat on, and why he picks people on character. CJ closes with the line that carries the episode. He and E did not find a finished table. They built one with a hammer and a nail, and you can build yours with the people already around you. So be honest. Are you building your own table, or waiting on a seat at somebody else's? Drop it in the comments. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Cold Open: CJ Almost Got Fired in His First Month 00:01:39 Welcome: Just CJ and E This Week 00:02:54 Pre-Order We Is Greater Than Me 00:04:22 Why E Has Never Felt This Good 00:05:42 Jalin and Jayda Outgrew the Family We 00:10:30 What E Had to Change on the Inside 00:12:44 The Flight Assessment and the Opinionated Flight Attendant 00:15:36 "Stay Out Their Business" 00:17:33 Sometimes Growth Is Removing Something 00:20:29 Coaching Grown Kids Without Controlling Them 00:25:22 Money Can't Buy Happiness, But It Buys Options 00:29:31 The Number That Let Dede Retire 00:31:09 Tithing, Giving and Who Really Carries the Church 00:34:18 Sending Kids to Dubai: When Me Income Runs Out 00:38:00 "Your Vision Only Has Enough Room for You" 00:42:19 A Vision Big Enough for a Thousand People 00:43:18 Dallas, the Hospital and the Van 00:48:45 How Do You Know You're in the Right We? 00:53:19 God Said Go: Why E Left Huntsville 00:54:30 From Anointed Speaker to a Brand: The Hat Story 00:57:14 Leave the We or Grow the We? 00:59:45 E Chooses People on Character 01:02:56 We Built Our Table 01:04:19 You Can Build It With Your People 01:06:35 Build Where Your Feet Are 01:09:10 Why CJ Only Wants His Own Table 01:10:37 What a 12 Year Old Taught the Pastor 01:14:15 Closing: Go to WeIsGreater.com PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Help us hit the New York Times Best Seller list. Buy one for you and one for your squad. https://www.weisgreater.com EXTREME EXECUTION CERTIFICATION Live, October 24 and 25. Only happens once a year. https://www.extremeexecution.com 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 SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast

Why do talented people keep losing? Eric Thomas says sometimes it is not the talent. It is the team. This week the crew breaks down the power of we. The Bears walk into Monday Night Football with their third string quarterback and still get the win. ET explains why that was not luck. It was the right me inside the right we, and it is the whole reason the new book is called We Is Greater Than Me. From Raider Nation to the Lakers, Dennis Rodman to Draymond Green, the conversation keeps landing on the same truth. It matters who drafts you. It matters who coaches you. And it matters whether you know your role. CJ tells the story of giving up his speaking slot so ET could take the whole stage, and what he said when someone told him to stop dimming his light. ET goes back to the Michigan State cubicle where he, CJ and Karl figured out who was the brain, the hands and the mouth. Then he drops a rule for your house and your business. If you are not the best at it, stop doing it just because you can. That is your ego in the we. Plus, Jemal on why your life is really a series of pivots, Karl on the funeral video that got a standing ovation, a fair or foul on a grown man with his own face on his phone screensaver, and the 45 dollar heart test everybody listening needs to ask their doctor about. So what is your role in your we? Are you playing it, or are you still trying to do everything yourself? Drop it in the comments. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Cold Open: The Third String QB and a Powerful We 00:01:32 Welcome: Blessed, Highly Favored, and the Calcium Score Test 00:04:13 God Put ET's Kids at the Same Company 00:08:48 Fair or Foul: A Grown Man With Himself on His Screensaver 00:10:56 Donuts, Breakfast Tacos, and When to Lock Back In 00:14:47 Jemal's Keynote: Your Life Is a Series of Pivots 00:18:34 You Don't Get What You Experience, You Get What You Focus On 00:19:37 Karl's Funeral Video That Got a Standing Ovation 00:22:29 NFC North: The Third String QB Who Won 00:24:19 Why the Book Is Called We Is Greater Than Me 00:29:45 Extreme Execution Certification, October 24 and 25 00:31:21 Raider Nation: Why We Gives You an Identity 00:33:51 The Brain, the Hands and the Mouth: How ET, CJ and Karl Found Their We 00:40:03 Rodman Never Wanted to Shoot 00:41:14 CJ Gave Up His Turn: "Stop Dimming Your Light" 00:43:30 Draymond Green and Finding Your Role 00:45:56 Your Ego Is in Your We: Roles in Marriage 00:49:37 I Only Do What I Do: Jordan and the Baseball Bat 00:53:21 Power Washers, Lasers and a Magnifying Glass 00:54:26 Closing: Go to WeIsGreater.com PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Help us hit the New York Times Best Seller list. Buy one for you and one for your squad. https://www.weisgreater.com EXTREME EXECUTION CERTIFICATION Live, October 24 and 25. Only happens once a year. http://www.ExtremeExecution.com 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 SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast ABOUT THE PODCAST The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and drive.

Should the coach change to fit the player, or should the player change to fit the coach? This week the crew opens up one of the oldest arguments in coaching, leadership, and life, and nobody fully agrees. CJ starts it off by admitting someone once told him his coaching style was too harsh, not wrong, not ineffective, just uncomfortable. That one comment turns into a debate that swings from brunch etiquette to Allen Iverson, from Navy SEAL hell week to the Mr. Miyagi principle to the exact moment you stop being valuable to a team. ET explains why he walked away from being a democratic coach. Giving everyone an equal voice sounded fair, until it produced a room full of preferences and no results. But does that mean every coach should run it that way? The Allen Iverson and Coach Larry Brown story becomes the test case, the only coach in history to win championships in both college and the pros, paired with one of the most talented players ever who never fully bought into the system. Was that on Iverson, or on the system? Jemal argues that if the coach is proven, the player adjusts, not the other way around. You don't get to skip wax on, wax off. ET goes further, crediting his hardest seasons of being coached, not coddled, for getting him from homeless to number one in the world. But where's the line between discipline and being broken down? The crew pushes into the screaming baby at brunch, why some kids need the paw paw, whether hell week coaching actually prepares you for real life, and why blessed kids might need a little manufactured hunger to grow. So which side are you on? Does the coach adjust to the player, or does the player adjust to the coach? Where's your line between hard coaching and harsh coaching? Drop your answer in the comments, the crew wants to hear it. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Stay Inside the Margins or You're Not You Anymore 00:01:35 Welcome and Fair or Foul: The Screaming Baby at Brunch 00:07:08 The Pow Pow Philosophy: When Kids Need Boundaries in Public 00:09:04 The Coaching Dilemma: Should the Coach Change or the Player? 00:12:16 The Mr. Miyagi Principle: You Don't Change the Winning Formula 00:14:29 The Allen Iverson and Coach Brown Story: When Talent Meets Discipline 00:17:43 Different Learning Styles vs. Taking Ownership: The Real Debate 00:21:55 From Homeless to Number One: Why ET Coaches the Way He Does 00:23:06 The Expectation Problem: Why ET Stopped Being Democratic 00:28:02 The 252 Moment: When You're Not Valuable Anymore 00:39:37 The Levels of Coaching: From Peewee to the Pros 00:45:11 The Letter With No You In It: Taking Responsibility for Your Story 00:46:58 Hell Week Coaching: Why We Came Up Different 00:53:04 Teaching Sons Not to Touch Women: The Non-Negotiable Standard 00:55:15 The Virtual Jungle: Creating Hunger in Blessed Kids 00:55:58 Closing: We Is Greater - Go Get the Book PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available now. https://www.weisgreater.com 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 SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142 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, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and drive.

You're avoiding the scale. Not just the one in your bathroom, but the one in your marriage, your finances, your health, your life. You don't want to see the number because then you'd have to deal with it. You'd have to admit where you really are. And until you get back on the scale, you'll keep telling yourself stories that never get you back in alignment. This week the crew gets brutally honest about the scale. Not just weight, but every area of life where you're avoiding the truth. Jemal breaks down why he kept the scale in the kitchen, not the bathroom. Because the enemy isn't the number. The enemy is the cheeseburger. The cookies. The late night fries. The scale is just telling you what you already know. And when you run from it, you're saying you don't want to be successful. ET opens up about why he stopped getting on the scale after going out of town for Dede's birthday. How he told himself a story that if he got on and it wasn't where he wanted to be, all the work he did would feel like it was in vain. But the scale doesn't tell stories. It tells facts. And the story you tell yourself when you avoid it is the one keeping you stuck. Dr. King breaks down how he measures Camille's happiness. Low stress. Making sure everything is taken care of. The kids, the house, the business, the car. He knows her level of joy is directly connected to her peace. And the one thing he could do better? Travel more. Not five star Dubai trips. Just getting away. Because wherever they are together, that's home. Karl gets real about what he needs to work on with Tamisha. Cooking. She does 99 percent of it. And even though that's become their family dynamic, he knows taking one meal a day off her plate would relieve stress. Because the scale in your marriage isn't just communication. It's the small daily decisions that show you're paying attention. ET unpacks why he shifted his relationship with food. He used to be a taste bud junkie. Never thinking about vitamin D or vitamin C. Just grits and eggs with cheddar cheese. But God told him to shrink the goal. Stop treating fitness like faith. This is your Achilles heel. You can't go big here. You have to measure daily. Kale, supplements, resistance before cardio. There's an order to it. The crew also talks about why most people use prayer as a crutch. Praying for Peter to be released while Peter's at the door knocking. Why your bank account dashboard isn't your enemy. Why date night isn't your enemy. The enemy is not doing the things you know you're supposed to do. Get on the scale. Stop running. The truth is your friend. This episode will challenge how you measure success. Because you can't manage what you don't measure. And if you're avoiding the scale in any area of your life, you're saying you don't want to win. Get back on it. Face the number. Make the adjustment. We is greater than me. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Scale Tells You the Truth You're Running From 00:01:58 Welcome and The Margin Metaphor: Staying Inside the Lines 00:05:46 ET's Scale Confession: When You Make Truth Your Enemy 00:09:43 The Story You Tell Yourself Is the Problem 00:12:22 The Two-Year Investment Principle: What You Do Now Shows Up Later 00:14:49 Jamal and Camille's Cassette Tape Vision: Speaking Your Future Into Existence 00:22:15 Carl's Kitchen Scale Strategy: Put Your Help Where Your Enemy Lives 00:26:50 The 52-Day Journey: Shrinking the Goal and Changing Your God 00:32:01 The Order Matters: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally in Marriage 00:37:00 The Visa Victory: How Tamisha's Mom Finally Got to Come to America 00:40:32 Carl's No-Stress Marriage Philosophy: When Everything Is Taken Care Of 00:41:55 Carl's Biggest Area for Growth: Taking the Cooking Load Off Tamisha 00:43:58 Jamal's Travel Revelation: When You Stop Creating Experiences 00:45:33 Closing: We Is Greater Than Me - Pre-Order Available Now PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available now. https://www.weisgreater.com 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 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, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.

You want to be in the circle, but you're coming in needy. You want the access, the connections, the benefits. But you're not bringing health. You're not bringing value. You're coming in taking from the circle instead of adding to it. And until you fix that, you'll never stay. This week the crew gets raw about what it really means to be part of a team. CJ opens up about losing his Delta 360 status after two years. Not because he stopped flying. But because he started using too many of the benefits. The upgrades, the miles, the Sky Club access, the Porsche pickups. He was taking more from the circle than he was putting back in. And Delta kicked him out. ET breaks down why the same thing happens in relationships, marriages, and friendships. You can't keep pulling from the circle without adding to it. Because the moment you become a liability, the moment you start draining more than you're contributing, people start distancing themselves. Not because they don't love you. But because you're using all your credit. The crew unpacks why most people come into circles looking for what they can get instead of what they can give. Why generosity is a war, not a transaction. And why the healthiest people in the circle are the ones who never need anything. Shout out to Rondell, shout out to Will, shout out to Maul. They came in healthy. They came in ready to serve. And because of that, they're still here. ET gets real about teaching his son Jalin the difference between being fed and knowing how to hunt. Why wealth doesn't start with money, it starts with a mindset. And why you can tell the difference between a lion and a giraffe just by looking at their bodies. One hunts. One grazes. And your physique, your character, your future depends on which one you are. They also talk about why ET's daughter Jada called and asked what God said about her. How he told her everything she needs is about to come because she's finally in the Serengeti. And why being a COO at her brother's company is putting her in position to attract everything she's been praying for. This episode will challenge how you show up in your circle. Because if you're needy, people can feel it. If you're draining, people will distance themselves. Stop taking advantage of the advantage. Start adding to the circle. We is greater than me. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: When You Get Needy, You Get Cut From the Circle 00:01:29 Welcome and The Delta 360 Wake-Up Call 00:03:22 The Secret to Staying in the Circle: Come With Health 00:05:27 Cultural Programming: The Give Me Mentality vs The Creator Mindset 00:05:57 The Delta Story Breakdown: Using All Your Global Upgrades 00:12:00 The Porsche Pickup and When Advantages Become Expected 00:24:57 Shout Out to Rondell Black: The Art of Knowing How to Be 00:25:46 Equal Sacrifice, Not Equal Giving: The Real Secret to We 00:29:17 Teaching Your Kids to Hunt: The Giraffe vs Lion Lesson 00:35:21 The Jada Story: Leading Your Wife to Houston 00:38:15 The Five Pillars and Building Your Own Dynasty 00:39:48 We Is Greater Than Me: The Book and the Mission 00:40:32 Football Season Talk: Bears Moving to Indiana and Lions Hype 00:48:48 Forever Forward Marriage Retreat: Photo Shoots and White Party 00:50:55 Closing: 9 to 5 Millionaire Network and Real Estate Results PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available now. https://www.weisgreater.com FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT October 29th in Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of marriage with the S2S crew and their wives. https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.com 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 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, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.

You're trapped by the very thing that made you successful. You've got the talent, the work ethic, the drive. You've built something. But the same high capacity leadership that got you here is now your Achilles heel. And until you deal with that, you'll never get to the next level. This week the crew gets raw about what it really means to be part of a team when you've been successful on your own. ET breaks down why he's always been a two man, never a one. Even when everyone assumed he was the leader, he was always the second. From elementary school track meets to McDonald's, he knew his high capacity came with smoke. He knew the thing that made him great could also destroy him. So he spent his whole life looking for the right ones to connect with. Mal opens up about why he joined the team in the first place. He had the real estate, the daycares, the security company, the money, the family. He wasn't looking for business. He was praying for brotherhood. He was praying for a circle of influence that was on the same level. Not financially, but spiritually. And when he connected with the crew, it wasn't about coaching or business deals. It was about friendship. It was about having an out. It was about being able to cook dinner with the wives and the kids without it always being mastermind time. Karl shares what it's like being the introvert on a team of extroverts. How he showed up to the office 20 years ago not knowing if he even fit in. How he was overthinking everything, trying not to mess it up. But deep down, he knew connecting with the right people would have an impact bigger than he could imagine. And now, two decades later, he's living down the street from E in a neighborhood he never dreamed of. Because together everyone accomplishes more. CJ unpacks the shift from being a lifelong one to becoming a two. How he was always the captain, always the leader, always the one. Until he met E. And for the first time in his life, he had to learn what it meant to be second. Not inferior. Not weaker. But connected. Because the one and the two together is the secret sauce. They also break down arranged marriages, why Avery and Jamal Jr. are already locked in, and why the divorce rate in arranged marriages is 94 to 96 percent success. Plus, ET's kids are both working at the same company in Houston with offices down the hall from each other, and God keeps his word. This episode will challenge everything you think about success, leadership, and what it means to be part of a team. Because you can be high capacity and still be trapped. Stop trying to do it alone. We is greater than me. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Kyrie Was a Banging Two - Understanding Your Role on the Team 00:01:35 Welcome and Happy Birthday to ET - Celebrating 56 Years Around the Sun 00:05:32 Jada's Office and Jalen's Success - When Your Kids Make You Proud 00:10:18 The Birthday Gift: We Is Greater Than Me Book Pre-Order Goes Live 00:14:28 Fair or Foul: The Arranged Marriage Conversation for Avery and Jamal Jr 00:36:12 Carl's Story: From Substitute Teacher to Essential Team Member 00:45:35 Maul's Brotherhood Prayer: Finding Your Circle of Influence 00:53:07 ET Was Always the Two: The Lifelong Journey of a High-Capacity Leader 00:56:18 The Secret Sauce: When a Lifelong One Meets a Lifelong Two 00:56:44 Trapped By What Made You Successful: The High-Capacity Leader's Dilemma PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available November 3rd. https://www.weisgreater.com FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT October 29th in Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of marriage with the S2S crew and their wives. https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.com 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 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, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.

You know better. You can do better. But you haven't done better yet. And that's your 242: the place where you know what needs to change but haven't produced better yet. This week, the crew breaks down accountability that actually works. ET explores the difference between reputation and character. Reputation is a shadow. It's who you want people to think you are. Character is who you actually are. And when your character is on the line, you can't promote a health supplement at 242 pounds or talk about transformation while avoiding the area you know needs to change. Not because of vanity, but integrity. CJ gets real about being a true two man. Not a one in waiting looking for his moment, but someone whose light is connected to yours. He shares how he stepped aside at a speaking engagement so ET could go first. Someone accused him of dimming his light, but they couldn't understand that CJ and ET's destinies are tied together. Winning means doing whatever it takes, not whatever makes you look good. The crew unpacks why consistency without quality is rehearsed failure, why people want to win their way instead of simply winning, and why real accountability goes beyond someone saying you're getting big. It's someone asking for your blood pressure every day. The 52-day challenge isn't about weight loss. It's about the area where you know better, can do better, but haven't done better yet. ET also breaks down his home game versus away game strategy, how the Peloton app keeps him accountable on the road, and how CJ pushed him back to intermittent fasting. Nobody said a word when he was eating honey buns and Cheetos, but now that he's fasting, everybody's worried about his electrolytes. This episode will challenge how you think about accountability, partnership, and being a two man. Because you don't want to be a two man. You're a one in waiting. Until you deal with that, you'll keep doing 52 days alone. Stop trying to win your way. Do what it takes to win. Your 242 is waiting, and it starts with your heart. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Reputation is a Shadow, Character is Who You Are 00:01:38 Welcome and Airport Lotion Drama - The TSA Struggle is Real 00:04:11 The Sprinkler System Scam and Mr. Perfect's Lawn 00:07:09 Pool Equipment: The Money Pit That Never Stops Breaking 00:09:23 17 Years and 21 Years: Celebrating Partnership Milestones 00:10:37 The Speaking Engagement Story: When Your Light is Attached to Someone Else's 00:13:43 Consistency Without Quality is Rehearsed Failure 00:16:49 I Just Want to Win: The Philosophy That Built an Empire 00:17:18 You're Not a Two-Man, You're a One in Waiting 00:19:11 The Secret to Success Mission: Bringing Souls to Christ 00:20:23 White Men Can't Jump: Would You Rather Look Good and Lose? 00:24:44 Being a Two-Man in the 52-Day Challenge: What Accountability Really Looks Like 00:26:45 The Blood Pressure Metric: Why Accountability Needs to Be Tangible 00:27:56 The Jerk Chicken Confession: When You Eat Wrong and Your Numbers Show It 00:31:51 Reputation vs Character: The Connection That Changes Everything 00:41:53 The Dentist Analogy: Imagine If You Had to Go 52 Days Straight 00:45:12 You Know Better, Can Do Better, But Haven't Done Better Yet 00:46:27 Home Game vs Away Game: The Peloton App Solution for Travel 00:47:17 The 24-Hour Fast: When Accountability Pushes You Beyond Your Limits 00:49:15 Introducing the Build 52 Challenge: Your 52-Day Transformation Starts Now 00:49:57 Live Staff Meeting with Moose: Registration Deadlines and Pricing 00:53:07 Closing: Transformation Not Just Information JOIN THE BUILD 52 CHALLENGE Free registration ends soon. Transform the area you've been ignoring in 52 days. https://www.build52challenge.com 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. Available November 3rd. 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 Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.

Want to learn more about Forever Forward? Join us live this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST for a Forever First Look - a special event preview. Register using the link below! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HIHEuTfrRGqd05VzP8FR1A You want to travel the world with your spouse. You want to be around other couples who actually like each other. You want to celebrate your marriage instead of fixing it. And that's exactly what Forever Forward is for. October 29th in Cancun, the crew is inviting less than 50 couples to a marriage bliss retreat. Not a conference. Not counseling. A celebration. This week CJ and Candis, Jemal and Camille get real about why this retreat isn't for the struggle marriage. It's for the couples who are already in love, already healthy, already doing the work. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: the healthy couples always end up being the source of strength for all the weak couples. And where do they go to get filled back up? Candis confesses she used to say no to vacationing with other couples. She wanted quality time with CJ, not group hangouts. But exposure changed everything. Not because they sat around doing marriage counseling, but because they observed. They watched how Jemal and Camille showed affection, how they communicated, how they celebrated anniversaries. And it challenged them to level up without anyone saying a word. The crew breaks down why iron sharpens iron applies to marriages too. Why being around other couples in bliss rejuvenates you. Why you need community, not just for business or faith, but for your marriage. And why this retreat is about building a tribe of couples who actually enjoy being together. Jemal drops the unk word about the attack on marriage nobody talks about. The quiet period. The phase after the baby showers and birthday parties where nobody invests in their marriage anymore. Life becomes about the kids, the job, the ladder. And years later, the divorce phase hits. Not by chance, but by neglect. Because divorce doesn't happen overnight. It's years of not working out, not investing, not putting anything back into the marriage. This episode is about the small foxes that destroy the vine and the small steps that build marriages. If you want to succeed in your marriage as bad as you want to breathe, this is your moment. Forever Forward. October 29th. Cancun. Let's celebrate love. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Traveling the World Together as Couples 00:01:29 Welcome and Forever Forward Announcement - October 29th in Cancun 00:04:29 This Ain't For the Struggle Marriage - Who Forever Forward Is Really For 00:05:32 Why Iron Sharpens Iron Applies to Marriages Too 00:08:26 The Exposure That Changes Everything - Why Community Matters for Couples 00:14:07 Candace's Confession: I Didn't Want to Vacation With Other Couples 00:15:49 It's Never Turned Into Marriage Counseling - The Power of Observation 00:17:13 The Forever Forward Experience - What to Expect in Cancun 00:18:44 Unk Jamal's Word: The Attack on Marriage Nobody Talks About 00:22:13 The Small Foxes That Destroy the Vine - Why Small Steps Build Marriages FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT October 29th in Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of marriage with the S2S crew and their wives. https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.com 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 Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.

You're winning in some areas but losing in one. And you know it. Your marriage is strong. Your kids are thriving. Your career is on fire. Your faith is solid. But that one area? The one you keep avoiding? That's the one that's about to cost you everything. This week ET gets brutally honest about the conversation that changed everything on June 1st. The moment God rebuked him on the pulpit while he was preaching. The moment he realized he was about to be the weakest link. Because when CJ told him the supplement was finally ready, ET knew he couldn't come out with a health product at 242 pounds. Not because of vanity. Because of integrity. ET breaks down why he avoided the scale for years. Why he justified being strong in four out of five pillars. Why he told himself his blood work was good enough. And why God had to step in and say, you're not industry standard in this area, son. You're about to destroy what you said you wanted to build. The crew unpacks why most people resist the one area they need to fix the most. Why we justify being great in four areas while ignoring the fifth. Why embarrassment isn't about what other people see, it's about knowing you're better than this. And why the first step isn't exercise or diet, it's changing your heart. ET shares how he lost 17 pounds in 52 days without obsessing over food or workouts. How he put on the black suit jacket from 2012 that used to have tension and now fits perfectly. And how God said pre won't stay pre. Your body is a temple. And if you don't treat it like one, you won't be around to celebrate the legacy you're trying to build. This episode will challenge everything you think about success. Because you can be number one in four areas and still be losing. Stop justifying the one thing you know needs to change. What's your 242? The area you've been ignoring? The thing you know you're better than? It's time to fix it. And it starts with your heart. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: You're Winning in Four, Losing in One - And You Know It 00:01:32 Welcome and Happy 17th Anniversary - The Milestone Moment 00:04:46 June 1st: The Conversation That Changed Everything 00:05:47 The Scale You're Avoiding: Why We Don't Face Reality 00:07:53 God's Rebuke on the Pulpit: When Your Calling Exposes Your Weakness 00:10:07 Four Out of Five Strong: The Dangerous Justification 00:22:15 The Embarrassment of Needing Someone Else to Tell You 00:24:17 The Supplement Revelation: You Can't Be the Weakest Link 00:37:43 Changing Your Heart First: Why Exercise and Diet Come Second 00:42:01 Your Body Is a Temple: The Principle You Know But Don't Live 00:44:42 Pre Won't Stay Pre: The Wake-Up Call About Your Future 00:47:16 Introducing Build52Challenge.com: Your Free Transformation Starts Now 00:51:36 The Black Suit Jacket: From Tension to Triumph 00:53:50 17 Pounds Down, 52 Days to Build: The Quick Work God Promised 00:55:14 Closing: What's Your 242? The Area You've Been Ignoring JOIN THE BUILD 52 CHALLENGE Completely free. 52 days to transform the area you've been ignoring. https://www.build52challenge.com 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. Available November 3rd. 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 Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming the best version of yourself.

You want the reward without the relationship. You want the breakthrough without the process. You want the book without knowing the author. And that may be exactly why you're stuck. This week, the S2S crew breaks down why so many people chase information, access, and outcomes without building the relationships, discipline, humility, and belief required to sustain them. ET explains why motivation still matters, even if discipline is the goal. Most people need something to get them moving before discipline can take over. The crew also unpacks what it means to have a contrite spirit, become truly coachable, stop defending your way, and become a student again. ET reads his Day 50 journal entry from the 52-Day Challenge and shares how discipline helped him improve his fitness while staying present with his faith and family. The guys break down the five pillars: faith, family, finance, fitness, and freedom, and how to work on all five without giving each one equal time. They also revisit Nehemiah rebuilding in 52 days what had been broken for 140 years, why what bothers you may be pointing toward your calling, and why belief matters when there is still no visible evidence. The bottom line: stop chasing the reward. Build the relationship. Get coachable. Stay connected. The fruit will follow. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: You Want the Reward But Not the Relationship 00:01:21 Welcome and The Motivation vs Discipline Debate 00:05:08 The Contrite Spirit: Broken and Humiliated 00:05:35 Give Up Everything and Become a Student 00:06:17 The Real Estate Lesson: When You Ignore the Coach 00:06:55 Carl's Smile and The Community Person Revelation 00:08:09 Being Coachable: The Film Room Mentality 00:09:37 The Five Pillars: Faith Family Finance Fitness Freedom 00:10:38 Nehemiah's 52 Days: What 140 Years Couldn't Do 00:12:03 What's Bothering You: The First Sign of Your Calling 00:19:45 Working All Five Pillars Daily Without Equal Time 00:21:30 ET's Fitness Journey: Combining Pillars While Running 00:22:31 The Imbalance Confession: When Marriage Affected Fitness 00:24:03 Day 50 Journal Entry: ET Reads His Transformation 00:29:30 Blood Pressure Results and The AARP Podcast Joke 00:30:18 The Pace Pillar: Why ET Started Journaling 00:32:16 Carl's Walking Commitment: No Alarm Clock Needed 00:43:25 Belief Over Feelings: The Real Application 00:36:58 Relationship Over Reward: The Book and The Author 00:47:47 The Vision Keeper: Seeing It When There's No Evidence 00:52:38 Designed to Win: The Final Word 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 Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, relationships, and becoming the best version of yourself.

You don't want the advice. You want the reward. You want the championship without the discipline. You want the breakthrough without the breaking. You want the results without the process. And that's why you're stuck. Because the advice is free. The reward costs everything. This week the crew breaks down why most people reject the very thing that could save them. ET opens up about the difference between motivation and discipline. Why the dude who studied discipline and went through the military has the right to say motivation is whack. But most people aren't there yet. Most people need something to get them going. That's why he asks, what's your why? Because that part works. It worked for the Denver Nuggets when they won the championship. It worked for Texas A&M when they went undefeated. The first level is motivation. But you can't stay there. They also get into the LeBron versus Jordan debate. Not the stats, not the rings, just the question: who's better? And why that conversation never gets old. Plus, ET tells the story of breaking the law, getting caught on video, and still trying to argue it was racism. Spoiler: he lost in court. But the videotape don't lie. CJ shares why he went through the 10 items or less line with 17 items and had a full stare down with the grocery store clerk. Was he fair or foul? The crew weighs in. And ET admits he's a lawbreaker when it comes to waiting. Because the hip hop preacher ain't got time for lines. This episode is about the gap between wanting success and doing what it takes to get it. Because everybody wants the reward. But most people don't want the advice. They don't want the discipline. They don't want the process. And that's why they stay stuck. Stop asking for shortcuts. Start doing the work. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Discipline vs Motivation - The First Level You Need 00:01:16 Welcome and Team Introductions: Clark Atlanta Bound 00:02:57 LeBron vs Jordan: The Debate That Never Gets Old 00:03:22 Fair or Foul: The 10 Items or Less Grocery Store Standoff 00:03:48 The Grocery Shopping Philosophy: Why Delivery Isn't an Option 00:07:43 Breaking the Law When It Makes Sense: The Practical Approach 00:08:06 The Stop Sign Story: When ET Fought the Law and the Law Won 00:09:30 The California Stop Defense: Why Context Matters in Rule Breaking 00:09:56 Marriage Talk: The 30-Minute Conversation That Revealed Society's Problem 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.

LeBron or Jordan? It's the debate that never dies. And this week, the crew dove headfirst into it. Fresh off the mastermind weekend, they came in ready to talk personal development. Instead, they ended up in the most heated sports argument they've ever had on this podcast. Because LeBron just signed with the Sixers. And now the conversation is back on the table. Is he the GOAT? Or is Jordan still untouchable? The guys break down the stats, the rings, the eras, the dynasties, and the longevity. They argue about whether LeBron's four championships in 23 seasons stack up against Jordan's six in 15. They debate whether losing in the finals is worse than losing in the first round. They unpack whether the COVID championship counts the same. And they go back and forth on who had better help, who faced tougher competition, and whether switching teams makes you less of a legend or just smart. They also break down why the NBA has become the portal. Why player movement is out of control. Why LeBron might get a statue in Cleveland but probably not in LA or Miami. And why even Michael Jordan said it's disrespectful to call anyone the GOAT when there are legends who came before him. This episode is not about personal development. It's about passion. It's about what happens when four friends who love sports sit down and argue like they're on First Take. And it's hilarious, it's heated, and it's exactly they needed after three straight days of mastermind intensity. Plus, CJ shares the story of meeting Magic Johnson at 13 years old and riding around with Bill Russell for an entire day. ET opens up about why he thinks LeBron winning in Philly would be incredible for the culture. And they announce the big news: Forever Forward Marriage Retreat is officially happening in Cancun. Less than 50 couples. No breakout rooms. Just a celebration of love. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The LeBron vs Jordan Debate Heats Up Immediately 00:01:43 Welcome and Catching Up: Fresh Off the Mastermind Weekend 00:04:55 LeBron to the Sixers: Why This Move Changes Everything 00:07:38 The NBA Portal Problem: Why Player Movement Is Out of Control 00:11:21 The Statue Debate: Where Does LeBron Belong? 00:13:54 Is LeBron the Best Player We've Ever Seen? 00:16:32 Breaking Down the Stats: Scoring, Defense, and Longevity 00:19:27 The COVID Championship: Does It Count the Same? 00:21:10 Six for Six vs Four for Twenty-Three: The Finals Record Argument 00:23:28 Jordan Fan Logic: Why Only Talk About the Championship Years? 00:27:37 The Dynasty Question: Who Did They Beat and Who Beat Them? 00:31:03 Longevity vs Peak Dominance: What Matters More? 00:34:32 The Scottie Pippen Factor: Who Had Better Help? 00:41:40 The Generational Argument: Bill Russell, Magic, and Kareem Enter the Chat 00:45:52 The Final Verdict: Can They Agree on Anything? 00:50:00 Jordan's Answer: The Most Respectful Take on the GOAT Debate 00:53:50 Magic Johnson Stories: When ET Met a Legend at 13 Years Old 00:56:02 Can They Do a Sports Show? Testing the Chemistry 00:56:29 Detroit Lions Window: Is It Already Closing? 00:59:57 Forever Forward Marriage Retreat: Big Announcement 01:04:02 Behind the Scenes: Photo Shoot Prep and Patreon Love 01:06:06 Closing: LeBron the GOAT with Love - See You Next Week FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of love with the podcast crew and their wives https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.com 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 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 podcasts in the world. Each week the team breaks down real conversations around success, discipline, wealth, leadership, relationships, and entrepreneurship. If you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, this is the podcast for you.

You prayed about it. You asked God for direction. You're waiting. You're believing. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't because God didn't answer. It's because you're not listening. Or worse, you're listening but you're not moving. This week ET and CJ break down why prayer without action is just noise. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: God's voice is clear. His directions are clear. The problem is your filters are messed up. You're so stuck in your own way of doing things, so locked into what you know, that you can't hear what God is trying to tell you. And even when you do hear it, you come back the next day asking the same question like y'all didn't just have that conversation yesterday. ET opens up about why he told people to stop praying. Not because prayer doesn't work, but because some people use prayer as a crutch. They pray for Peter to be released from jail while Peter is at the door knocking. They're so busy praying they can't see the answer is already here. He breaks down the formula of prayer, the one he learned when he was homeless. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us as we forgive others. With thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. It's not just about asking. It's about listening. It's about doing what God tells you to do. What do you do when you feel like you didn't hear God clearly? What do you do when your mind is so cluttered with anxiety, stress, and worry that you can't process what God is saying? You can't get directions when you're moving. You have to stop. And once God gives you the directions, don't come back asking for the same directions again. Move. They also unpack why most people only see God as a provider instead of a relationship. Why your prayer life should be you and God just kicking it, reminiscing on the good old days, talking about what you're grateful for. Not just showing up with a list of demands. And why the people who get closest to God, like Enoch and Moses, are the ones who walked and talked with God until they literally glowed with his presence. This episode will challenge everything you think about prayer. Because prayer is not just talking. It's listening. It's doing. Stop asking God to bless the mess. Start doing what he told you to do. The pit stop only works if you stay in the car and let God do what only he can do. But you still got to drive. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: God's Got a Thousand Ways You Know Nothing About 00:01:45 Welcome and the Prayer Controversy: Did ET Really Say Stop Praying? 00:03:52 Prayer Is Not Your Only Tool: The Hammer and Wrench Analogy 00:05:42 The Cell Phone Confession: Why Being Homeless Made ET's Prayer Life Stronger 00:06:43 Prayer Is a GPS System: You Can't Get Directions While Moving 00:07:53 Stop Coming Back to God Without Doing What He Told You 00:09:48 You Know God's Voice Because You Talk Every Day 00:11:24 It's Not That God Isn't Clear, Your Filters Are Messed Up 00:13:19 The 3 AM Walk: Why ET Changed His Prayer Time to Avoid Distractions 00:16:39 Reminisce With God: Talk About the Good Old Days 00:19:42 Stop Putting God on Hold: Let Him Talk Back to You 00:21:27 The Formula of Prayer: What ET Learned While Homeless 00:23:47 Give Thanks Before You Get What You Want 00:25:03 Moses, Jonah, and Ruth: Listen and Follow the Instructions 00:25:48 Some Things You Have to Change, Not God 00:26:31 Tithes and Offerings: The Windows of Heaven Principle 00:28:02 Walking and Talking With God Is Not Just Religious Tradition 00:29:25 Moses Spent 30 Days With God and Came Back Glowing 00:31:47 I Never Came to Michigan to Stay: The Master's Degree Plan 00:34:43 Prayer Is Your GPS System: You Have No Clue Where You're Going 00:35:12 The NASCAR Pit Stop Revelation: Don't Wait Till the Wheels Fall Off 00:37:12 God Tells You When to Pull Over Before You Even Know You Need It 00:38:20 You Don't Have to Get Out the Car: Stay in and Let God Handle It 00:38:42 Moses Died at 120 at Peak, Enoch Left Earth at Peak 00:39:10 How a Small Group From Lansing Changed the World 00:40:05 Closing: Going at Peak Is 52 Days, Not 52 Years 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 S2S is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, 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 working hard for the wrong reason, and it's breaking you. Not because you're lazy. Not because you're not talented. But because what's driving you isn't God. It's trauma. It's fear. It's pride. And until you deal with that, all the work in the world won't save you. This week the crew brings their wives to the table. Candis and Dede join CJ, ET, and Karl for one of the most transparent conversations about faith, work, and what it really means to let go and let God. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: you can have the title Christian, but the devil can still be driving you. Candis opens up about working herself into the ground at GE. Senior management, six figures, the whole dream. But she was miserable, burnt out, crying in the closet. When CJ told her to quit, she was ready to walk. But ET stepped in with something that changed everything: your job isn't to influence her, it's to get her to talk to God. So Candis went to a hotel for two days. Just her and God. And God told her three things: be still, have peace, be humble. Everything shifted. Not because she quit, but because she stopped letting fear drive her. Dede gets real about thinking she had the backup plan. The insurance, the retirement, all of it figured out. Until God started breaking the stuff off of her that was keeping her from trusting him. Because brokenness isn't God trying to destroy you. It's God breaking the trauma, the pride, the self reliance off of you so he can multiply you. And the multiplication only comes after the breaking. They also unpack the AI love letter. A man sent his wife a heartfelt message using ChatGPT. She loved it, until he admitted he used AI. Now she's upset because it wasn't really from him. Dede's response is priceless. This episode will challenge everything you think about work, faith, and trust. Because faith without works is dead. But works without faith is empty. Stop letting your backup plan replace God. Stop letting your job be your security. And stop thinking brokenness means you're broken. God isn't breaking you. He's breaking that stuff off of you. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Which One Do You Want Sir - AI or the Real Thing 00:01:20 Welcome and Introducing the Queens: Candis and Dede Join the Pod 00:09:09 Fair or Foul: The ChatGPT Love Letter Debate 00:11:45 Computer Love: When Your Heart Message Comes From a Machine 00:17:29 The Real Question: Faith Without Works or Let Go and Let God 00:19:33 Before You Work With God You Got to Know God 00:22:26 Candis Revelation: The Only Work God Wants Is Belief 00:25:16 Be Still Doesn't Mean Stand Still: Redefining Stillness 00:29:03 How to Hear From God When You Don't Hear Audibly 00:32:11 The Cheat Code Confession: When Your Spouse Has a Deeper Walk 00:33:43 Don't Compare Storms: Your Hurricane Versus Someone Else's Rain 00:34:55 Candis GE Breakdown: Working Crazy Hours and Missing Peace 00:43:35 The Two-Day Hotel Revelation: When God Said Be Still, Be Humble, Have Peace 00:46:46 CJ's Obedience Test: When Quitting Would Have Been Easier 00:49:20 The Financial Security Idol: When Insurance Becomes Your God 00:50:35 Dede's Confession: I Will Burn the Bridge to Prove I Can Swim 00:54:01 The Mental Weight That's Breaking You: It's Not the Work, It's What's Driving It 00:54:20 What's Driving You: When Trauma Becomes Your God 00:55:27 The 3am Question: What's So Evil About You That You'd Rather Suffer 01:04:24 Does God Get Glory From What You Do: The Jealousy of God 01:06:00 Didi's MS Story: When God Has to Stop You From Your Disobedience 00:58:31 Brokenness Isn't Breaking You: It's Breaking Stuff Off of You 01:01:04 The Multiplication Comes After the Broken: Stop Running From It 01:08:21 Closing: Join A Place to Change Ministry and Get Community 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 A PLACE OF CHANGE MINISTRY Join the women's ministry with Candace and Dede. Follow @apocministry on Instagram or visit www.aplacetochangeministry.org 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.