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

Why Most People Fail After They Start Winning #523

Jan 8, 2026

Success isn't just about talent; it's about the truth from those around you. Accountability is crucial to prevent collapse after achieving success. Discover how 'yes-men' can quietly sabotage your future and why disciplined circles are essential. Appetite control, both in life and leadership, plays a significant role in self-destruction. The discussion highlights the need for honest relationships that challenge you. Protecting your environment is key to shaping a successful legacy—it's about real connections that keep you grounded.

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ADVICE

Control Your Appetite Early

Stop uncontrolled appetites early because they erode discipline and derail growth.
Set boundaries now so appetite-driven choices don't destroy your future.

INSIGHT

Systems Outlast Founders

Systems and identity sustain success when founders are absent.
Build a repeatable culture so your work survives leadership change.

ANECDOTE

Amazon, Alexa, And The Ruined Surprise

Eric shares a Christmas-era story where technology ruined surprise gifts and revealed deliveries.
His family heard Alexa announce every Amazon package, spoiling the presents.

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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

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🧠 Final Reminder

Transformation requires truth.
And truth only works when someone is brave enough to speak it.