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Worksheet forEric Thomas SuccessSecrets of The Hip HopPreacher (Episode 297)Eric Thomas is a motivational speaker,YouTube personality, podcaster, pastor,director of Breathe University, andauthor of several books, including TheSecret to Success: When You Want toSucceed as Bad as You Want to Breathe.Known as The Hip Hop Preacher, Ericjoined us for episode 297 of The JordanHarbinger Show to explain how peoplewho grow up under limitedcircumstances can expand their horizonsand break free of the bubbles thatconfine them, why taking responsibilityfor our own actions is empowering, howhe’s stealing hip hop back, and lots more.jordanharbinger.com
Think Outside the BubbleIn Detroit especially, kids grow up believing theirfutures lie in working for the auto industrybecause Ford, GM, and Chrysler have formed apervasive bubble around the town over the pastcentury. It’s not unknown for generations of afamily to work for these companies almost fromthe cradle to the grave — whether or not theyactually find the work any more appealing thanjust having a steady paycheck.Eric Thomas believes that everyone has a choiceto break out of whatever bubbles surround them— they just need to know it exists as a possibility.What bubbles did you experience growing up?Are you still inside these bubbles, or have youbroken away from them? If you’ve broken freeof at least some of these bubbles, what helpedyou break them? If not, what might convinceyou to investigate the world beyond yourbubbles?jordanharbinger.com
Glory and ConsequencesWhen Eric left home as a teenager in anger, herealized immediately he would have to face theconsequences of his actions — it forced him toconsider what was next. It was scary, but alsoliberating.“The reason why I take responsibility is because Iown the power,” says Eric. “I choose if this thingchanges or if it stays the same. I choose if it getsbetter or it gets worse if I work hard, I want creditfor it. If I make a mistake, I want to take fullresponsibility for it.“Once you [blame others], you give away power.You give away how much money you can make.How much happiness you can have. I don’t wantto do that. I want to own my rights and get all therewards.”Try to be honest with yourself: do you tend totake responsibility for your actions, or do youpass the blame along to someone else?jordanharbinger.com
Think back to the last time you had theopportunity to take responsibility forsomething that didn’t go according to plan. Ifyou took ownership of the situation, what werethe consequences? If you didn’t, what were theconsequences for the person who did take theblame?The next time you have the chance to takeresponsibility for your actions, keep trackhere of what results from the choices youmake, whether positive or negative, andhow it makes you feel.jordanharbinger.com
What’s Your Calling?Though he admits he was never a fan of school,Eric still managed to earn a PhD in educationbecause he discovered he was naturally good atcaptivating attention and teaching a room full ofpeople.“Do what works, not what you want to work,” Ericsays.What skills or special talents seem to comenaturally to you? Do you enjoy putting them touse? If so, how might you apply them to youreveryday life?jordanharbinger.com
Lose the Cruise Control“I think that most people who don’t think aboutwhat they can become, they’re on cruise control,”Eric says. “I was on cruise control. My grandfatherdropped out. My father dropped out. I droppedout. I was on cruise control. Then one day I said tomyself, ‘Oh, losing doesn’t feel good. I want towin.’ So I think those individuals who don’t dowell, it’s not that they can’t do well, it’s that theynever reflect. They never think. They’re just like,‘Yo, this is the life that was given to me.'”Eric points out that being able to overcomeadversity and unlock this attitude of cruisecontrol gives the disadvantaged more leveragethan someone who’s used to winning all the time.“I hit rock bottom at 16,” says Eric, “so everythinghas been up for me.”Are you living a passive life on cruise control, orare you always reflecting on and trying tobetter your situation?jordanharbinger.com
Do you consider yourself disadvantaged in away that bars you from your ambitions? Whatwould dispel this disadvantage? What aboutyour current situation prevents you fromovercoming this disadvantage?Full show notes and resources for this episodecan be found here.jordanharbinger.com
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Eric Thomas is a motivational speaker, YouTube personality, podcaster, pastor, director of Breathe University, and author of several books, including The Secret to Success: When You Want to Succeed as Bad as You Want to Breathe. Known as The Hip Hop Preacher, Eric joined us for episode 297 of The Jordan Harbinger Show to explain how people
