We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology (Eric Thomas Goes Off) | S2S 540

We owe Joe Jackson an apology. And if you've ever been told you're too hard, too demanding, or too much, you might owe someone an apology too. The guyg have one of the most controversial conversations this crew has ever had. About Joe Jackson. About tough love. About the difference between coddling people and actually loving them. And why most of us will never become who we're capable of becoming because we've been Catherined our whole lives instead of Joe Jacksoned. CJ gets Cavity searched and ET keeps on walking But the real fire starts when the crew dives into the Michael Jackson movie and what it reveals about leadership, accountability, and the cost of greatness. ET breaks down why Joe Jackson got them out of Gary, Indiana when Catherine wanted to keep them comfortable. Why feelings are often just lies we're trying to justify. Why real love isn't making people feel good in the moment, it's holding them accountable to their genius. And why the trauma of being broke is just as real as the trauma of success, we just don't talk about it. Karl pushes back on the balance between accountability and compassion. And ET closes with the superpower he's discovered: he doesn't have any more care left. Not because he stopped loving people. But because caring about their feelings more than their future was killing them. If you've ever been called too tough, too demanding, or too much, this episode is your vindication. Because the people who changed your life didn't coddle you. They Joe Jacksoned you. And it's time we stop apologizing for holding people accountable to their greatness. Timestamps: Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The Airport Security Story - When ET Left CJ Behind 00:01:25 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Pastor's License 00:02:25 Fair or Foul: ET Goes Through Security While CJ Gets Searched 00:10:58 The Michael Jackson Movie: We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology 00:12:28 From Gary Indiana to Greatness: Joe Jackson's Vision 00:18:00 The Catherine vs Joe Jackson Debate: Love or Lies? 00:21:34 Stop Catherine-ing People: Why Feelings Are Holding You Back 00:19:37 The Candy Seller Revelation: When Compassion Becomes a Lie 00:25:25 Real Leadership Requires Losing People: The Mom Story 00:34:00 Joe Jackson Them: Holding People Accountable to Their Genius 00:40:12 The Real Estate Lesson: When Mom Made ET Buy the Right House 00:29:16 The Jalen and Jada Story: Taking Ownership of Your Part 00:37:45 I Don't Have Any More Care Left: The Superpower of Not Caring 00:28:30 The Trauma of Being Broke vs The Trauma of Success 00:44:52 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement: June 5-7 Atlanta 00:45:58 Why AI Can't Replace Joe Jackson: You Still Need Humans 00:46:50 Closing: Patreon Meetup and Final Thoughts on Tough Love 🔒 Join us on patreon Unscripted BTS moments. Live Q&As. ET's speech streams and more… 👉 Join the S2S Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcast 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 🎤 Next Level Speakers Conference: June 5 to 7, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Early bird tickets available now. 👉 https://nextlevelspeakersconference.com About the Secret to Success Podcast S2S Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over a decade, S2S has been one of the most authentic voices in personal development — not because of polished scripts, but because of real stories, real conversations, and real results. Every episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth, sustain relationships, grow businesses, and become who you were created to be. No hype. No filters. Just four men who've lived it, telling the truth about how they got there. Secret to Success is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King.