Being Almost Successful Is the Most Dangerous Place You Can Be | S2S Ep. 530

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

S2S podcast

Education, Business, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Entrepreneurship

4.9 • 6.6K Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Being close isn't the same as being there — and ET knows exactly what that feels like. In this episode, CJ and ET get raw about the "almost zone": why being talented, dedicated, and almost at the top might actually be harder than starting from zero. ET shares the real story of having the greatest motivational speech in the world and still not being able to get booked — and what finally changed everything. They break down why getting to the top and staying at the top are two completely different skill sets, the whispers of self-doubt that are quietly killing people's dreams, and why proximity to the right people matters more than talent ever will. 🔑 IN THIS EPISODE: Why the "almost zone" is more frustrating than starting from nothing The formula ET used to go from unknown to #1 motivational speaker in the world Getting to the top vs. staying at the top — why most people fail at both The whispers of self-doubt nobody talks about (and how to silence them) Why you can't build your dream with imaginary people — use your family The 1% Event: April 16–18 in Chicago | etonepercent.com Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: There's a Formula to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be 00:00:57 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Varsity Game Is Back 00:01:56 The Crown Jewel: Doing It Together for 20 Years 00:05:07 Why ET Came Back Outside: The 10% Who Are Almost There 00:07:02 The Almost Zone: Why the Red Zone Is Harder Than Being Homeless 00:10:40 It's Not More Talent, It's Proximity: The New York Times Bestseller Formula 00:16:15 Nobody Cares: The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Write Down 00:22:32 Becoming Before Attracting: Why You Met ET at the Right Time 00:23:48 The 1% Conference Lineup: Wall Street Trapper, Inky Johnson, Earn Your Leisure and More 00:32:09 How Wall Street Trapper Walked Through the Valley: From Solitary Confinement to Success 00:35:34 Field Goals Get You Beat: The Mental Battle of the Red Zone 00:36:42 Rashad and Troy from Earn Your Leisure: How Brothers Stay Together and Win Together 00:37:56 Stop Working With Imaginary People: Build With Your Family 00:40:07 The Family Reunion: Everyone's Going to Be in the Building 00:41:22 Closing: April 16-18 in Chicago—ET1Percent.com 🔴 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: 💎 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.👉 🎟️ 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 ABOUT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PODCAST The Secret to Success podcast is hosted by CJ, Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), and Karl Phillips — a team who've built something rare: a 20-year friendship, business partnership, and movement that has impacted millions of lives worldwide. Joined by Jemal King and their families, S2S goes beyond motivation to deliver real conversations about marriage, business, wealth building, and personal development. New episodes every Thursday on all platforms.

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's a formula in the system to get from where you are to where you want to be.
0:03.5	And if you would actually learn to apply that or be in the right place to get the information
0:07.7	or around the right people.
0:09.0	And it's just like every step of our journey, bro.
0:11.5	Something as specific as New York Times bestseller.
0:13.8	How many books have we written before that?
0:15.2	Four.
0:15.7	How many times did we get even honorable mention?
0:18.5	But we met somebody who was like, I know how to do New York Times bestseller. And there was literally a formula, a system, a strategy. It ain't what you think. So those of you who are feeling frustrated and you go, man, I'm good. I'm smart. That's a fiscity. I'm fast. I'm strong. I'm this. I'm dedicated. I'm committed. It's not that.
0:37.9	It's not more talent.
0:39.2	It's not more timing.
0:40.3	Like, you just need to get with the right people who are already one percenters.
0:45.2	And then once you get that resource, yeah, it's flying colors.
0:48.1	Yeah.
0:48.2	Yeah. Secret of Success Podcasts, Burti, Bucetka, Borg Podcast, baby.
1:18.9	What's going on, world?
1:19.9	Welcome to another edition of the Secret to Success podcast.
1:23.6	I'm your host, CJ, joined as always, young Douglas.
1:44.4	Oh, no, no, it's the, it's a varsity game. It's a varsity game. What's up, man? How you feeling? Bless, man. Bless, man. Super excited about, um, yeah, we back outside. Yeah, it's been a long. It's been a minute. It's been a minute, man.
1:54.2	We obviously have some exciting stuff going on that we'll get into and we'll touch on the 1% event coming up in Chicago.
1:56.9	I'm excited, man.
1:58.6	You know, people... I'm going to be honest with you, you like people have been asking me like with the 20
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