The Crossroad

Which Path Will You Take?

A telltale sign that New Year's resolutions are starting to fizzle out? The gym floor isn't nearly as packed as it was in January. No shade, but it’s survival of the fittest out here.

We kick off the year, a new job, or a fresh relationship with all the enthusiasm in the world. Then reality sets in, and so do the excuses. It gets harder, and making excuses gets easier. Before you know it, those well-intended plans remain just that—intentions.

Lately, I’ve been helping people navigate what I call the "sticky second base." That phase where you started strong, but now the momentum has slowed. Science tells us it takes around 60 days for a habit to take root, so if you’re feeling stuck—keep going. Let’s get back on track.

Rethinking Time and Goals

One thing I’ve changed recently is how I manage my time—by chunking it up, I make my goals more manageable. I’ve been diving into The 12 Week Year, and while I’m still getting to grips with it, it’s already made me rethink my approach. The self-inflicted merry-go-round I wrote about last week keeps trying to pull me back in. This week, a few amazing opportunities came up—ones I couldn’t say no to—which also meant saying no to things I had already committed to. That led to some serious reprioritisation.

Being an entrepreneur means making decisions daily. It’s exhausting, but also a privilege. When making tough calls, I always ask myself: "Am I deciding from Current Patrice or Future Patrice?" This simple question changes everything.

System 1 vs. System 2 Thinking: How You Make Decisions

System 1: Fast, Instinctive Thinking - This is your autopilot—quick, automatic, effortless. It’s what you rely on when reacting to danger, recognising a face, or picking what to eat without much thought. Great for everyday decisions but also where biases creep in.

System 2: Slow, Strategic Thinking - This is where the heavy lifting happens—slower, deliberate, and effortful thinking. This kicks in when you’re planning long-term goals, problem-solving, or analyzing risk.

Why is it so powerful?

We default to System 1 because it’s easy, but life-changing decisions require System 2. Knowing when to switch between the two is the difference between being reactive and being intentional about your future.

Exercise for You: Take Your Future Self for a Coffee

There’s a trend about taking your younger self for a coffee, but let’s flip that. Take your future self for a coffee. Sit with the version of you that has already achieved what you’re working toward.

Ask:

• What decisions did you make that got you here?

• What did you stop wasting time on?

• Who did you surround yourself with?

I’d love to hear what your future self has to say—share it with me!

Final Thought: Invest Your Energy Wisely

This week, focus your time and energy on high-impact decisions. Ditch the low-level distractions and watch how much space it frees up in your mind.

When I first tried this my friends started to call me “Decision Dave” honestly it was so helpful, I felt like I had just opened up a new portal in my levels of productivity.

Additional Resources

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman – The psychology behind how we make decisions.

• The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran – How to accomplish more in less time.

• Atomic Habits by James Clear – The science behind building lasting habits.

• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – A guide to staying present and intentional.

With Peace, Love and Determination

P.S. If there is anything in particular you would like to hear about in these newsletters, please feel free to reach out and ask!

This week

I met Lesley Sackey, GB Boxer and Gold Medalist, Founder of Fight Forward and now founder of Pillow, a digital platform powering survivors to thrive. Her story is truly inspirational and I encourage you to check out what she is doing to support survivors of domestic abuse in the UK.