The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas – Details, episodes & analysis

Everyone’s talking about the Chicago Bears right now (or at least Jemal thinks so), and while a new coach matters, the real shift runs deeper. This episode breaks down a powerful truth about real turnarounds: the players didn’t change — the perspective did. Same roster. Same city. Same pressure. What changed was how the game was being seen, understood, and approached. And once that shifted, the results followed. Using the Bears as a real-world case study, this conversation explores why so many people stay stuck year after year. Not because they lack ability or effort, but because they keep trying to do more instead of learning to see differently. This isn’t about starting over. It’s about building on what’s already there. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why turnarounds don’t require new talent, just clearer perspective How guidance and coaching change what you notice and how you move The difference between repeating a year and actually creating a new one What happens when you stop chasing more and start maximizing what you already have Whether it’s your life, your career, your finances, or your faith — this message applies far beyond football. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: Can You See Me Now? The Chicago Bears Energy 00:01:26 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Helmet Comes Out 00:05:16 Bears Fever: From Last Place to First in the Division 00:08:45 The Ben Johnson Effect: Why Coaching Changes Everything 00:20:17 New Year or Another Year? The Choice Is Yours 00:26:56 Don't Start Over—Keep Building: The Skyscraper Mentality 00:32:00 The Coaching Conversation: Carl's Real Estate Transformation Begins 00:33:45 From Crisis to Clarity: Carl's COVID Real Estate Story 00:36:34 The Equity Revelation: Money in the Bricks 00:43:05 The Six-Figure Check: Carl's First Major Real Estate Win 00:46:00 Why We Talk About Money: ET's Passionate Defense 00:50:04 Stop Listening to Broke People: Reading the Coverage of Wealth 00:51:26 Outro and Call to Action 👉 Register for the ET One Percent Solution Summit (Chicago) Real perspective. Real tools. Real turnaround conversations. https://etonepercent.com 👉 Subscribe to the Secret to Success Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Follow us on Instagram for daily perspective shifts & behind-the-scenes moments https://www.instagram.com/s2spodcast 👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive episodes, live conversations, and deeper breakdowns https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120

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 “yes-men” quietly sabotage your future The role appetite plays in self-destruction Why unchecked power and money expose character How to build a circle that protects your purpose, not your ego This isn’t about cutting people off out of pride. It’s about protecting your life, your family, and your future. If no one in your life can correct you, challenge you, or stop you when you’re wrong—you’re not free. You’re exposed. 🎯 Takeaway You don’t need more motivation. You need one person who won’t let you lie to yourself. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Power of Accountability and Appetite Control 00:02:14 Welcome and Team Introductions 00:05:42 Building Legacy Through Systems, Not Just Hard Work 00:08:52 The Chick-fil-A Lesson: Identity Over Everything 00:12:00 Technology Went Too Far: The Amazon Christmas Story 00:16:28 The First Directive: Stop Having Sex 00:20:34 Why Most Successful Men Crash and Burn 00:24:18 Accountability Is Not Discipline - It's Your Circle 00:34:23 The Diddy Documentary and Complicit Silence 00:45:49 Second-Hand Smoke: Why Your Circle Determines Your Future 00:47:38 Praying for Your Tribe and Leaving to Level Up 00:52:44 Be, Do, Have: Getting the Order Right 00:53:27 Your 9-to-5 Should Fund Your Exit, Not Trap Your Future 00:52:01 Closing: Join Us at the 1% Solution Experience 00:55:28 Outro and Subscribe 🔗 Important Links & CTAs 🎟️ The One Percent Experience An immersive 3-day experience for leaders, families, and teams 📍 Chicago | April 16–18, 2026 👉 https://etonepercent.com 🎧 Subscribe to the Secret to Success Podcast New episodes every week—real conversations, real growth. https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 ⭐ Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts Your feedback helps us reach more people who need this message. 📤 Share This Episode Send this to someone who needs accountability—not applause. 👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 🧠 Final Reminder Transformation requires truth. And truth only works when someone is brave enough to speak it.

Ready to revolutionize your life and mindset for explosive growth? Join Eric Thomas, the master motivator behind YOUOWEYOU, in "The Ultimate Investment: Transforming Mindset for Growth". This isn't just another pep talk; it's a groundbreaking journey to ignite your Power, Purpose, & Why. Unlock your potential and discover the transformative power of shifting your mindset. Eric doesn't just talk about change; he challenges you to FUEL YOUR PURPOSE, MASTER YOUR CRAFT & UNLEASH YOUR SUPERPOWERS.  Patreon To check out exclusives and more behind the scenes interactions, head over to Patreon.com/S2Spodcast120 to become a Secret To Success Patreon! Listener Perks This episode is sponsored by Better Help, your partner along your personal journey to self improvement. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SUCCESS to receive 10% off your first month and get on your way to being your best self. HelloFresh Skip trips to the grocery store and count on Hello Fresh to make home cooking easy, fun, AND affordable – that’s why it’s America’s #1 meal kit! Go to HelloFresh.com/successfree to receive one FREE breakfast item for life as long as you have a subscription. Be sure to use code SUCCESSFREE. Fabric offers life insurance that protects your family with high quality policies. Fabric was designed by parents to obtain insurance within your budget in less than 10 minutes, with no health exam required. Head over to Meetfabric.com/SUCCESS to take a 60 second quiz and learn more about life insurance policies that fits your families needs. Rocket Money helps track all of your expenses when it comes to monthly subscriptions. Their purpose is to make you aware of your subscriptions that you may or may not be using. Save money an avoid possibly being double charged by heading over RocketMoney.com/S2S

Ready to turn your life around and ignite the power of the sun into a lucrative side hustle? Join the S2S crew and Justin Owens, Mr. "Run The Play," as they unveil the secret solar side hustle that's transforming lives! Dive into a world where your purpose fuels your success, and your daily grind turns into daily gains. "Turn Sunlight into Income: The Solar Side Hustle You Need!" isn't just a video; it's your first step towards financial freedom and environmental stewardship. 🌞💰 Listener Perks Organifi Is giving our listeners up to 20% off of their order! Just go to www.organifi.com/success. Support your journey from sunrise to sunset with fan-favorite superfoods backed by science to replenish micronutrients, support energy and balance hormones from am to pm with our customer favorites. Shopify is the place to get your business started! Shopify is a complete commerce platform that lets you start, grow, and manage your business online. Has multiple templates available to design your store. Shopify can also integrate with existing software you currently use. Head over to Shopify.com/SecretToSuccess for a $1 per month for three months on select plans. Factor is prepared to supply delicious and nutritious meals to your door. They have Chef prepared and dietitian approved breakfast, lunch and dinner meals! Factor offers snacks, lunch to go, juices and smoothies. Head over to www.Factormeals.com/S2S50 to receive 50% off your order.

Are you tired of feeling stuck and watching life pass you by? It's time to STOP following your fleeting feelings and START living by principles that pave the path to real success. Join Eric Thomas, the master motivator and voice behind the game-changing s2s podcast, as he unravels the truth on NEVER Follow Your Feelings: The Principle Path to Success. Dive deep into this explosive dialogue that will ignite your power, your purpose, and your WHY.  Don't let inconsistency dictate your destiny. It's time for transformation. It's time to build a life of success, not on the shaky ground of feelings, but on the solid foundation of principles. Are you ready to challenge the norm? Are you prepared to embrace the principles that promise real and lasting change?  You owe it to yourself to be more, do more, and achieve more. #EricThomas #Motivation #YOUOWEYOU #LifeChangingMessages #Empowerment  Listener Perks: Organifi Is giving our listeners up to 20% off of their order! Just go to www.organifi.com/success. Support your journey from sunrise to sunset with fan-favorite superfoods backed by science to replenish micronutrients, support energy and balance hormones from am to pm with our customer favorites. LMNT drink packets replenish the sodium an electrolytes we lose from sweating during workouts! Science backed nutrient ratios, you’ll receive salt the body needs versus sugar. LMNT is trusted by the Olympic team and other major league sports. Head over to DrinkLMNT.com/SUCCESS to receive a free drink packet with any order.

Join us as we explore the power of a forward-thinking mindset, and how it influences each decision we make and action we take. Many of us are looking for God to do something for us but consider this question, If God does more for you, would you do more for Him? Join us in exploring how our unique visions can change everything in our reality… Success Takeaways Get ahead of the potential problems you’ll experience with great vision. Count the cost of what you’re working towards in order to stay prepared.  Exposure helps you grow mentally, physically & spiritually. Hang with people who have similar faith as you. The journey becomes less burdensome when you have counterparts who are believing & expecting great results.  “Your future dictates your present, not vice versa.” Your current actions should reflect where you ultimately want to be. Remain patient and keep working towards your goal step by step.  “Confidence comes from preparation & consistency.” Questions 1) Do you understand the importance of your process that’s needed for growth? 2) Are you afraid to give up the good in your life to transition to great? Patreon To check out exclusives and more behind the scenes interactions, head over to Patreon.com/S2Spodcast120 to become a Secret To Success Patreon! To learn more about Grounds Crew coaching, head over to TheGCguide.com for more information.  Listener Perks Organifi Is giving our listeners up to 20% off of their order! Just go to www.organifi.com/success. Support your journey from sunrise to sunset with fan-favorite superfoods backed by science to replenish micronutrients, support energy and balance hormones from am to pm with our customer favorites. Shopify is the place to get your business started! Shopify is a complete commerce platform that lets you start, grow, and manage your business online. Has multiple templates available to design your store. Shopify can also integrate with existing software you currently use. Head over to Shopify.com/SecretToSuccess for a $1 per month for three months on select plans. Fabric offers life insurance that protects your family with high quality policies. Fabric was designed by parents to obtain insurance within your budget in less than 10 minutes, with no health exam required. Head over to Meetfabric.com/SUCCESS to take a 60 second quiz and learn more about life insurance policies that fits your families needs. Song Finch transforms your special moments into unforgettable tunes with personalized songwriting services. SongFinch takes your unique story & creates a one-of-a-kind melody, creating a soundtrack that resonates with your emotions. Head over to www.SongFinch.com/S2S to get started! You’ll also be able to upload song to Spotify for FREE.  Rocket Money helps track all of your expenses when it comes to monthly subscriptions. Their purpose is to make you aware of your subscriptions that you may or may not be using. Save money an avoid possibly being double charged by heading over RocketMoney.com/S2S

This week CJ and Eric and CJ did an emergency podcast to celebrate the first playoff win for the DETROIT LIONS in over 32 years. They dive deep into the concept of winning and losing and how we can learn so much from the process that the Lions have gone through... Success Takeaways  Keep showing up! Even if things aren’t going right, you can learn lessons that’ll serve you moving forward. Romans 8:28 Gain control in areas of your life that need developing. Be honest about your self assessment. Knowing what needs improvement is the first step of development.  Focus on what could be going well in your life. Feed your mind with positive thoughts! Always do your part in making sure you’ll be successful. Faith without works is dead.  What Makes Individuals Successful A Great System The Right Coach Winners Mentality Positive Community  Questions 1) Does your coach embody your value system? 2) Are you pressing forward towards what will develop your character? Patreon To check out exclusives and more behind the scenes interactions, head over to Patreon.com/S2Spodcast120 to become a Secret To Success Patreon! To learn more about Grounds Crew coaching, head over to TheGCguide.com for more information.  Listener Perks Organifi Is giving our listeners up to 20% off of their order! Just go to www.organifi.com/success. Support your journey from sunrise to sunset with fan-favorite superfoods backed by science to replenish micronutrients, support energy and balance hormones from am to pm with our customer favorites. This episode is sponsored by Better Help, your partner along your personal journey to self improvement. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SUCCESS to receive 10% off your first month and get on your way to being your best self. Skip trips to the grocery store and count on Hello Fresh to make home cooking easy, fun, AND affordable – that’s why it’s America’s #1 meal kit! Go to HelloFresh.com/successfree to receive one FREE breakfast item for life as long as you have a subscription. Be sure to use code SUCCESSFREE.

In this special episode, we pay tribute to a remarkable mentor, Mr. B - Leon Burnette. With decades of experience, Mr. B has been a guiding force, offering invaluable insights, our first real equipment, and most importantly exposure and mentorship that has shaped our journeys. As a testament to his extraordinary expertise, we're thrilled to reveal that E, provided security for none other than Bill Clinton! Yes, you heard it right - Bill Clinton! Tune in as we dive into the lessons learned from Mr. B, explore the secrets of navigating life's twists and turns, and share strategies to stay one step ahead of your problems. Join the conversation, laugh with us, and learn how to face challenges head-on. Subscribe now and let's get ahead of your problems together! Success Takeaways  “If you aren’t intentional about fixing your problems, they will continue to linger in your life.” “Don’t get bullied into things you don’t want to do. Don’t get bullied out of things you need to be doing.” Develop a plan for your life and remain focused on it. Consistent actions will take you further than you imagined.  Exposure is needed for inspiring thought processes that sparks change. Positive & successful people can create different perspectives for you.  Work to maintain a healthy work life balance to ensure your emotional & physical health remains in great standing.  Stop allowing your past to affect your present. Use lessons from your past that can better your future.  Questions 1) What’s the most important task at hand? Challenge yourself to process information differently when multiple things are happening at once.  2) Are you worrying about what other people think about your decisions or actions? Patreon To check out exclusives and more behind the scenes interactions, head over to Patreon.com/S2Spodcast120 to become a Secret To Success Patreon! To learn more about Grounds Crew coaching, head over to TheGCguide.com for more information.  Listener Perks Organifi Is giving our listeners up to 20% off of their order! Just go to www.organifi.com/success. Support your journey from sunrise to sunset with fan-favorite superfoods backed by science to replenish micronutrients, support energy and balance hormones from am to pm with our customer favorites. Shopify is the place to get your business started! Shopify is a complete commerce platform that lets you start, grow, and manage your business online. Has multiple templates available to design your store. Shopify can also integrate with existing software you currently use. Head over to Shopify.com/SecretToSuccess for a $1 per month for three months on select plans. Factor is prepared to supply delicious and nutritious meals to your door. They have Chef prepared and dietitian approved breakfast, lunch and dinner meals! Factor offers snacks, lunch to go, juices and smoothies. Head over to www.Factormeals.com/S2S50 to receive 50% off your order.

Patreon To check out exclusives and more behind the scenes interactions, head over to Patreon.com/S2Spodcast120 to become a Secret To Success Patreon! To learn more about Grounds Crew coaching, head over to TheGCguide.com for more information.  Listener Perks Organifi Is giving our listeners up to 20% off of their order! Just go to www.organifi.com/success. Support your journey from sunrise to sunset with fan-favorite superfoods backed by science to replenish micronutrients, support energy and balance hormones from am to pm with our customer favorites. Shopify is the place to get your business started! Shopify is a complete commerce platform that lets you start, grow, and manage your business online. Has multiple templates available to design your store. Shopify can also integrate with existing software you currently use. Head over to Shopify.com/SecretToSuccess for a $1 per month for three months on select plans. Fabric offers life insurance that protects your family with high quality policies. Fabric was designed by parents to obtain insurance within your budget in less than 10 minutes, with no health exam required. Head over to Meetfabric.com/SUCCESS to take a 60 second quiz and learn more about life insurance policies that fits your families needs. Song Finch transforms your special moments into unforgettable tunes with personalized songwriting services. SongFinch takes your unique story & creates a one-of-a-kind melody, creating a soundtrack that resonates with your emotions. Head over to www.SongFinch.com/S2S to get started! You’ll also be able to upload song to Spotify for FREE.  Rocket Money helps track all of your expenses when it comes to monthly subscriptions. Their purpose is to make you aware of your subscriptions that you may or may not be using. Save money an avoid possibly being double charged by heading over RocketMoney.com/S2S

Are you ready to Move Past Your Potential? Join the guys in this episode as they encourage you to execute & dominate the purpose for your life.  Success Takeaways Don’t be afraid to start! Surround yourself with like minded individuals who refuse to quit.  “Nothing can stop you from what God has called you to do, except your mindset.” Protect what God has deposited into you. Protect it with obedience to his word.  Don’t let loved ones dilute your mindset that will inherit greatness for your life. Remain confident, courageous & consistent in your journey.  Get victory over situations that have caused pain in life! Find people with similar experiences that have the formula for success.  When self assessing, be honest about what you’re dealing with. It is only then that healing and victory will begin.   Self Reflection Evaluation  1) Is your thinking contrary to the success steps needed for elevation? 2) Will you change your thinking to experience life in different ways? 3) Why haven’t you done things you’re capable of doing yet? 4) Are you taking ownership for the things in your life? Listener Perks LMNT drink packets replenish the sodium an electrolytes we lose from sweating during workouts! Science backed nutrient ratios, you’ll receive salt the body needs versus sugar. LMNT is trusted by the Olympic team and other major league sports. Head over to DrinkLMNT.com/SUCCESS to receive a free drink packet with any order. Rocket Money helps track all of your expenses when it comes to monthly subscriptions. Their purpose is to make you aware of your subscriptions that you may or may not be using. Save money an avoid possibly being double charged by heading over RocketMoney.com/S2S