Having a personal code means some decisions are made before temptation even shows up.

Deciding in the moment means deciding at the worst possible time, when you are tired, outnumbered and want to be liked. A code moves the choice earlier, to a calm afternoon when nothing is at stake, so the hard part is already done by the time the car pulls up. It is less about being good than about not having to argue with yourself in a loud room.

Name two or three of your own lines in your own words, and keep them somewhere you will see them. Make them few enough to remember under pressure. One about money, one about drinking and one about loyalty is plenty to start.