Install Day 4: The Cheat Code Of Life
Written By: Jason Phillips
Five Habits That Will Change Everything
I think a lot of people understand this deep down, but I’ve rarely seen it taught in a way that truly sticks. So here it is, plain and simple: the greatest 'cheat code' I’ve ever found in life. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t take talent, but it does demand humility, consistency, and sincerity. And if you can genuinely live out these five words and actions, I promise, the way the world responds to you will never be the same.
It starts with this truth I learned from my father at a young age:
“Success only comes to those consistently who are humble enough to bend down and pick it up.” — Jim Phillips
Why It Matters
If you’re a football player, wrestler, or anyone competing in a high-intensity sport, there’s a good chance you’ve been misunderstood. Most people have never experienced what it feels like to strap up and go full speed in a high-contact game. They see your size, your intensity, your energy, and sometimes they misinterpret it as aggression, arrogance, or even a threat.
You most likely don’t mean to intimidate anyone, but you do. The key is what you do with that perception. You can live up to the negative stereotypes that the media and movies can sometimes portray athletes as, or you can flip it.
Here’s how:
This ‘Cheat Code’ calls for you to make these 5 words and actions part of your character:
ALWAYS Say “Please”
ALWAYS Say “Thank you”
ALWAYS Use respectful responses:
Yes sir
No sir
Yes ma’am
No ma’am
ALWAYS Say “I’m Sorry” when you’re wrong
ALWAYS Be 15 Minutes Early...Not on time, EARLY.
Coach Patterson drilled this into us when I played at TCU: “To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. To be late is to be forgotten.”
Why They Work
Let me break it down with a real example:
When I played at TCU I was about 6’1, 245 pounds, and had a big, crooked nose after breaking it four times. Basically, I wasn’t the most approachable person on campus.
So, if I was walking into a restaurant and knew a woman was right behind me, but instead of holding the door, I let it close right behind me and kept moving. Disregarding her completely, showing zero courtesy, awareness, or respect for her at all.
In that one small moment, I confirmed every negative stereotype she may have had: “just another rude, selfish football player.” I became exactly what the media often shows, instead of who and what most of us actually are. Without saying a word, my actions gave her a reason to believe I was exactly like every unfair portrayal athletes are so often associated with.
But if I stopped, held the door, smiled, and said, “Yes ma’am, go ahead,” then let her order before me, I didn’t just change her perception. I may have made her rethink how she views athletes altogether. That one small act of respect sparked empathy, built connection, and turned a moment of respect and humility into a reason for her to root for me.
Respect doesn’t weaken who you are, it reinforces it. It doesn’t make you smaller; it makes you undeniable. When you live out these five principles with sincerity, not for show, not just when it’s easy, but because they’re part of who you are, people take notice. They’ll trust you, support you, and make a conscience effort to help you throughout life.
This Is the Difference
These five actions can be the difference between:
Getting a job or getting overlooked
Leading a team or losing the locker room
Being remembered or being ignored
The secret isn’t the actions themselves. The secret is consistency. It has to become part of who you are, not a script you turn on when someone’s watching.
Final Word
I graduated with two degrees, started 50 out of 51 games, became a TCU Hall of Famer, and had a 5-year NFL career, not because I was the smartest or most talented. I was simply the guy people wanted to help. And they helped because they respected who I was...on and off the field.
So here it is, again:
Please
Thank you
Yes sir / No sir / Yes ma’am / No ma’am
I’m sorry
Be early
Work at sincerely adding these ZTC’s to your daily mindset and you won’t just stand out, you’ll build a foundation strong enough for others to stand on too. You’ll develop a reputation rooted in humility, integrity, and resilience. The kind that makes people want to see you win, not because of your talent, but because you’ve shown them you want to work hard and help yourself.
In the end, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being real.
And when you show up consistently with respect, authenticity, and effort, people remember you, not for what you had, but for who you chose to become.
That’s the cheat code: Be real. Be M.A.D.E. Be Victorius!
