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The Cheat Code: Going Off Script to Get More, Go Faster, and Shortcut Your Way to Success
Have you ever noticed that there are certain people who seem to get ahead just a bit faster than everyone else? You know, the types who always seem to be a bit ahead of the curve, to get noticed a bit more, and to achieve their goals a bit more quickly than the rest of the pack? And have you ever noticed how much this small edge can matter, and the outsized impact it can have on the trajectory of their careers?
24 year old entrepreneur Brian Wong is one of these people, having graduated from college by age 18, having raised $24 million in venture capital to start his own company before he turned 25, and having grown that company into a global mobile advertising giant in just 4 years. His secret? The Cheat Code.
Wong believes that most people -- even creative people -- have a tendency to follow a script; to do things the way others do them simply because that way works. But therein lies the secret at the heart of the Cheat Code: anyone can easily shortcut his or her way to success, simply by going slightly off script; by doing things just a little differently from everyone else. Here, Wong unlocks the power of the Cheat Code through 71 bite-sized and virtually effortless short-cuts to get a leg up on the competition, garner attention for ourselves and our ideas, and accelerate our success.
For example:
Cheat #7: Don't Ask – Announce
Cheat #16: Know Your Superpower!
Cheat #32: Make Boldness Your Genius
Cheat #47: Know Who's the Boss
Cheat #55: Focus on What Won't Change
Cheat #71: Imagine, What If?
Cheat #49: Get a Trademark Haircut
Cheat #51: Use Exclamation Points
No matter where you aspire to go in your life or career, The Cheat Code will help get you there - faster.
24 year old entrepreneur Brian Wong is one of these people, having graduated from college by age 18, having raised $24 million in venture capital to start his own company before he turned 25, and having grown that company into a global mobile advertising giant in just 4 years. His secret? The Cheat Code.
Wong believes that most people -- even creative people -- have a tendency to follow a script; to do things the way others do them simply because that way works. But therein lies the secret at the heart of the Cheat Code: anyone can easily shortcut his or her way to success, simply by going slightly off script; by doing things just a little differently from everyone else. Here, Wong unlocks the power of the Cheat Code through 71 bite-sized and virtually effortless short-cuts to get a leg up on the competition, garner attention for ourselves and our ideas, and accelerate our success.
For example:
Cheat #7: Don't Ask – Announce
Cheat #16: Know Your Superpower!
Cheat #32: Make Boldness Your Genius
Cheat #47: Know Who's the Boss
Cheat #55: Focus on What Won't Change
Cheat #71: Imagine, What If?
Cheat #49: Get a Trademark Haircut
Cheat #51: Use Exclamation Points
No matter where you aspire to go in your life or career, The Cheat Code will help get you there - faster.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published September 6, 2016
45 people are currently reading
686 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 8, 2017
I saw this book on the shelves at Barnes and Noble. My immediate reaction was negative and visceral, “Oh great, now we’re going to teach cheating to the masses.” I picked up a copy at my local library to learn more. To my relief, this isn’t a book about how to engage in questionable business practices. It is a prescription for success borne out of Silicon Valley—a culture characterized by aggressive, badass behavior.
Wong is a prototypical tech CEO: brilliant (he skipped four grades to go straight to college at 14), extremely confident, and insanely ambitious. Aware of the gender gap in tech and in Silicon Valley, and the underlying culture that perpetuates it, I really wanted to not like this writer or his book. But I can’t, this guy has brights and balls and, with boundaries, I love that.
The book is structured into four sections:
-Be Ballsy: Learn how to get to the bolder version of yourself.
-Be You: Remember: you are your greatest asset.
-Be Unforgettable: learn tips and tricks around PR, branding, and getting attention for yourself and ideas
-Be a Trailblazer: conventional wisdom is dead. There are better ways to get ahead.
Each section is comprised of a series of “cheats” – short, clever, tips for success. Collectively, they can overwhelm the senses (there’s a lot to digest) but taken singly, most are incredibly insightful, bold, and useful.
Like this one: “Know Your Superpower!” We all have at least one thing that we do better than everyone else. The best approach to fast track your success? Know and leverage that which makes you uniquely you, and differentiates you from all others.
While there’s a lot of bravado going on (e.g., “Piss People Off,” “Do It Your Way,” “Fuck Luck,”) to Wong’s credit, there’s also a lot of humility in the tips such as “Don’t Try to Be Better Than Everybody Else” and “Know When to Let Go” and “Tie Yourself to a Greater Vision.”
Focusing on breadth over depth, the book reads like a series of soundbites but, make no mistake, there’s a lot to be learned.
Yup, Mr. Wong, you’ve expanded my view and shifted my perceptions. And for that, I give thanks.
Wong is a prototypical tech CEO: brilliant (he skipped four grades to go straight to college at 14), extremely confident, and insanely ambitious. Aware of the gender gap in tech and in Silicon Valley, and the underlying culture that perpetuates it, I really wanted to not like this writer or his book. But I can’t, this guy has brights and balls and, with boundaries, I love that.
The book is structured into four sections:
-Be Ballsy: Learn how to get to the bolder version of yourself.
-Be You: Remember: you are your greatest asset.
-Be Unforgettable: learn tips and tricks around PR, branding, and getting attention for yourself and ideas
-Be a Trailblazer: conventional wisdom is dead. There are better ways to get ahead.
Each section is comprised of a series of “cheats” – short, clever, tips for success. Collectively, they can overwhelm the senses (there’s a lot to digest) but taken singly, most are incredibly insightful, bold, and useful.
Like this one: “Know Your Superpower!” We all have at least one thing that we do better than everyone else. The best approach to fast track your success? Know and leverage that which makes you uniquely you, and differentiates you from all others.
While there’s a lot of bravado going on (e.g., “Piss People Off,” “Do It Your Way,” “Fuck Luck,”) to Wong’s credit, there’s also a lot of humility in the tips such as “Don’t Try to Be Better Than Everybody Else” and “Know When to Let Go” and “Tie Yourself to a Greater Vision.”
Focusing on breadth over depth, the book reads like a series of soundbites but, make no mistake, there’s a lot to be learned.
Yup, Mr. Wong, you’ve expanded my view and shifted my perceptions. And for that, I give thanks.
November 4, 2019
بصراحة لم أستطع أن أكمل الكتاب، تجاوزت النصف بصعوبة. ربما يكون المؤلف شخصية ناجحة لكن الكتاب كان سيئاً. شعرت أنه استعراض لشاب يافع جداً، اعتقد أنه نجح في الحياة - علماً أن عالم الأعمال خطر ومن الممكن أن يخسر كل شيء بقرار خاطئ، خصوصاً وأنه لا يزال في بداية مشواره - . ليس لدي شك أنه ذكي وناجح، لكني لا أرى أن تأليف الكتب أحد المهارات التي عليه أن يضيفها لما يستطيع عمله.
هذا الكتاب أوضح لي فكرة - كقارئة - أني أستمتع وأتعلم من "الرحلة" أكثر من النتيجة النهائية. الأخطاء والدروس والخيبات وكيفية التغلب عليها هي ما يجعلنا كقراء نتواصل مع الكتب، وليس اثباتات الكاتب المتكررة على نجاحة الذي قد يترك انطباعاً فوقياً وشوفينياً عند من يقرأ.
هذا الكتاب أوضح لي فكرة - كقارئة - أني أستمتع وأتعلم من "الرحلة" أكثر من النتيجة النهائية. الأخطاء والدروس والخيبات وكيفية التغلب عليها هي ما يجعلنا كقراء نتواصل مع الكتب، وليس اثباتات الكاتب المتكررة على نجاحة الذي قد يترك انطباعاً فوقياً وشوفينياً عند من يقرأ.
May 26, 2017
This book is a mix of good career advice (it's not about the degree you have, it's about the experience you develop and business school/MBA is not only unnecessary but may hinder your success), obnoxious career hacks (don't ask for permission, just announce what you're doing and do it - whether it's talking in a no cell phone zone at the airport or cutting in line in a slow coffee shop line) and just plain promotion of his company. The premise behind his company is repeated over and over again, and the name of the company is used every time he types the word keep. A lot of the book is also just him describing the events he attends and the speed of his life - and much of that could be cut out.
Basically you could read the table of contents of this book and get largely the same information, minus the swearing that is used in the book.
Basically you could read the table of contents of this book and get largely the same information, minus the swearing that is used in the book.
March 3, 2021
The aggressive strategies explained in this book is good for a bussiness that is independent of other stakeholders as these tips makes people angry. And good for a startup but not after it gets matured. So if you are looking to achieve fast by pissing off people and planning to follow a proper strategy later this is a good book. But there are better books.
December 27, 2016
I'd rather call it a notebook...
May 25, 2024
This book is about one idea. If you want to be successful in life and business you need to have balls. You need to take chances, be an extrovert, and sell yourself. The author demonstrates this by providing over 70 short snippets, or “cheat codes” from his personal experiences. He made it very clear that he had balls, really big balls, which is why he became such a successful interpreneaur at such young age.
May 5, 2017
This book is entertaining especially if you want to know life of startup guys. However this experience is hard to generalize since it all depends on individual life style. Still I would recommend you to read this book, since it provides new perspective of how to live your life.
September 30, 2020
Don’t take the title literally!
The cheat code is not a book that educates you own how to cheat! No! It’s a book that gives you tips and rewires your brain to accomplish business goals and teach you the ins and out of business and social connections on that area.
The cheat code is not a book that educates you own how to cheat! No! It’s a book that gives you tips and rewires your brain to accomplish business goals and teach you the ins and out of business and social connections on that area.
June 8, 2019
Business advice based on anecdotal evidence for an unclear audience.
Brian gives a few real 'cheats':
1. Cold email decision makers by guessing their email addresses in the form of their name @ their company domain.
2. Sit beside someone in a meeting instead of opposite to them to avoid constant eye contact.
3. Buy airplane tickets on Wednesdays because they are cheaper and search for flight times where you can take a rest.
But also a lot of generic advice that any average joe could give:
1 Face-to-face interviews are more effective than phone or email
2 Be confident and bluff as much as you can without outright lying
3 Sell yourself, not your business (unless you're in a pitch situation, then you should not talk about yourself)
He also talks about finding your 'superpower', which seems to be aimed at people starting out, although he does not reveal any cheat to this. He himself found it because he claims he taught himself design by online tutorials. Then he jumps around and talks about relationship with investors which is obviously farfetched for anyone starting out, but at the same time so generic that anyone at the stage of looking for investors in their business won't benefit from his advice.
I'm sure Brian is passionate about sharing advice that had helped him launch his business, but there is no psychological explanation or scientific evidence to back it up. Every piece of advice is motivated by the rationale 'it worked for me, so it should work for you'.
Brian gives a few real 'cheats':
1. Cold email decision makers by guessing their email addresses in the form of their name @ their company domain.
2. Sit beside someone in a meeting instead of opposite to them to avoid constant eye contact.
3. Buy airplane tickets on Wednesdays because they are cheaper and search for flight times where you can take a rest.
But also a lot of generic advice that any average joe could give:
1 Face-to-face interviews are more effective than phone or email
2 Be confident and bluff as much as you can without outright lying
3 Sell yourself, not your business (unless you're in a pitch situation, then you should not talk about yourself)
He also talks about finding your 'superpower', which seems to be aimed at people starting out, although he does not reveal any cheat to this. He himself found it because he claims he taught himself design by online tutorials. Then he jumps around and talks about relationship with investors which is obviously farfetched for anyone starting out, but at the same time so generic that anyone at the stage of looking for investors in their business won't benefit from his advice.
I'm sure Brian is passionate about sharing advice that had helped him launch his business, but there is no psychological explanation or scientific evidence to back it up. Every piece of advice is motivated by the rationale 'it worked for me, so it should work for you'.
November 6, 2016
Brian Wong, author of The Cheat Code: Going Off Script to Get More, Go Faster, and Shortcut your Way to Success is a young entrepreneurial genius. He graduated college at age 18 and started Kiip, his current company at age 19. Not only has his company revolutionized mobile advertising, but he was one of the youngest to receive VC funding.
This book--told in a fun and irreverant tone--is Brian's attempt to share his "cheat code" to success. It includes tips like:
get in over your head
find the action
don't ask--announce
screw the mba
never learn the rules
know when to let go
get a trademark haircut
focus on what won't change
And many more.
One of my favorites is "know your superpower." Brian defines this as something you're so good at and enjoy doing, that you can't help yourself but do it. For him, it's getting others excited about his passions. His point is that it's important to know your superpower and use this as often as possible at work and otherwise. First off, why not since it's what you do best and enjoy; and second, it will only get better as you practice. Apparently he asks every new prospective employee what their superpower is.
A great read with lots of food for thought and highly recommended, whether you have entrepreneurial aspirations or not.
This book--told in a fun and irreverant tone--is Brian's attempt to share his "cheat code" to success. It includes tips like:
get in over your head
find the action
don't ask--announce
screw the mba
never learn the rules
know when to let go
get a trademark haircut
focus on what won't change
And many more.
One of my favorites is "know your superpower." Brian defines this as something you're so good at and enjoy doing, that you can't help yourself but do it. For him, it's getting others excited about his passions. His point is that it's important to know your superpower and use this as often as possible at work and otherwise. First off, why not since it's what you do best and enjoy; and second, it will only get better as you practice. Apparently he asks every new prospective employee what their superpower is.
A great read with lots of food for thought and highly recommended, whether you have entrepreneurial aspirations or not.
February 3, 2018
The ideas are interesting up to a point where you start to feel that there is nothing more to learn from it. Unfortunately for me this point was reached after reading around one third of the book.
The author would have been better off with a shorter book. Also building and maintaining interest should be reconsidered as the most captivating stories were crowded in the beginning, after which the book becomes less and less entertaining and the novelty factor disappears.
The author would have been better off with a shorter book. Also building and maintaining interest should be reconsidered as the most captivating stories were crowded in the beginning, after which the book becomes less and less entertaining and the novelty factor disappears.
February 19, 2017
That's a book you can finish on a flight. It's packed with good advice. I really admire Brian, he is Super smart, is charismatic and is rich - and he's only 25. Good to get his perspective on how to be successful. Some of my favourites: make your luck, invest in yourself and get the TOP boss' number.
June 1, 2018
This book offers a handful of useful tips and trick, or cheats, packed with humor and tone of Brian's charisma. These cheats range from business and marketing to health, productivity and even education. This book is a very good read for every aspiring entrepreneur wanting to build his or her own startup. Bonus: you can read this book in one sitting.
January 2, 2020
The book gets better as you read on. There are 71 'cheats'-- most of them good and some are obvious (eg mind your manners). It won't change your life but it may inspire you to be bold and excited about your next endeavour.
August 28, 2018
Idk what this guys OBSESSION with "balls" his but I've never seen a book so obssesed with the word. Really took away from what he was trying to get at. Every cheat had some referenceing to "grab life by the balls" , "gotta have some balls"
We get it be bold ......
We get it be bold ......
May 7, 2019
Didn’t resonate and would not recommend a read. There are some nuggets of wisdom, the writing style is superfluous and may send the wrong messages to readers. The writer is to be admired for his success and his drive. The book can be missed.
November 5, 2016
An enjoyable short read with some guaranteed nuggets you'll put into action - that's a rare combination these days.
November 15, 2016
very very light read and somewhat original suggestions. I do not think the title quite conveys the book meaning. The book is just a long list of suggestions for personal branding.
December 24, 2016
Self improvement chapter that are short and easy to read. Just a lot of "kiip" and "serendipity" pound into your brain in almost every pages you flip.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2017
fantastic read, extremely inspiring if you're looking to do a start-up one day, with lots of well-crafted humour and good advice.
July 19, 2017
Fantastic read for entrepreneurs
September 4, 2019
A study of startup "fake it till you make it" culture and machismo, written by an alleged rapist.
September 7, 2019
A guide to getting ahead in business.
Some useful points, but overall I didn't warm to the author or this book.
Reading time around two hours.
Some useful points, but overall I didn't warm to the author or this book.
Reading time around two hours.
February 12, 2019
Definitely a good read. Lots of tips and tricks to learn from this book. the author makes is very interesting to read as well.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews