Southlake, TX - Goutam Datta, financial advisor and co-founder of Adson Wealth Partners, is advocating for a personal standard he believes individuals can adopt to improve decision-making across careers, finances, relationships, and learning. The standard is simple: slow down, write it down, and ask one better question before acting.
Datta says the idea grew out of decades of experience across engineering, entrepreneurship, and wealth management. “I’ve learned that speed doesn’t equal progress,” he says. “The moments when I slowed down and questioned my assumptions were the moments when breakthroughs happened.”
Why the Basics Matter More Than Ever
In a world built for speed and constant input, Datta argues that people are skipping foundational habits that protect judgment and long-term well-being.
Consider the cost of ignoring the basics:
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76% of adults say they regularly make important decisions while stressed or distracted (American Psychological Association).
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Decision fatigue can reduce productivity by up to 40%, leading to poor judgment late in the day (University of Minnesota).
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67% of professionals report regret over major career or financial decisions made too quickly (Harvard Business Review).
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People who do not practice regular reflection are twice as likely to repeat avoidable mistakes, according to behavioral research published in the Journal of Decision Making.
“Most mistakes aren’t caused by lack of intelligence,” Datta says. “They’re caused by lack of pause.”
The Personal Standard: Pause, Record, Clarify
Datta’s proposed standard is not a program or system. It is a personal discipline that can be used anywhere.
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Pause before acting
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Record your thinking in writing
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Clarify values by asking one deeper question
“I don’t believe people need complicated frameworks,” Datta says. “They need space. Writing things down forces honesty. Asking one better question changes the entire direction of a decision.”
He credits this approach with helping him earn a U.S. patent early in his career, recover from early entrepreneurial mistakes, and later guide complex life decisions with clients. “You don’t solve everything at once,” he says. “You solve one defined problem at a time.”
A 30-Day Implementation Plan
Datta encourages people to test the standard for 30 days, treating it like a personal experiment.
Week 1: Create Space
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Start each day with 10 quiet minutes. No phone. No email.
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Write one page by hand about what’s on your mind.
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Do not aim for solutions. Aim for clarity.
Week 2: Start a Decision Journal
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For any meaningful decision, write:
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Why am I choosing this?
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What do I expect to happen?
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What could go wrong?
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Review entries at the end of the week.
“Patterns show up quickly,” Datta says. “And patterns teach you more than advice ever will.”
Week 3: Ask One Better Question
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In conversations and decisions, ask:
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What matters most right now?
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Use it with colleagues, family, or yourself.
“Most conversations change when values enter the room,” he explains.
Week 4: Reflect and Adjust
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Review your notes.
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Identify repeated assumptions or emotional triggers.
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Decide which habits to keep going forward.
“I believe boredom and stillness are useful,” Datta says. “Stillness creates space for ideas.”
Datta recommends keeping the checklist visible. “Clarity improves judgment,” he says. “But only if you return to it.”
A Call to Action
Datta is encouraging individuals, families, and professionals to adopt this personal standard for 30 days and share the checklist with others.
“Good decisions aren’t about being perfect,” he says. “They’re about being present. If people slow down just enough to think clearly, outcomes improve almost everywhere.”
He adds, “You don’t need permission to do this. You just need to start.”
About Goutam Datta
Goutam Datta is a financial advisor and co-founder of Adson Wealth Partners LLC, based in Southlake, Texas. Raised in Kolkata, India, he began his career as a chemical engineer, earning a U.S. patent before transitioning into entrepreneurship and wealth management. He is also a published poet and playwright and believes thoughtful reflection is the foundation of sound decision-making.
Contact: garydatta@emaildn.com
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