When a man sets a vision and puts his stake firmly in the ground, he must reverse engineer the exact actions he takes daily, weekly, and monthly to turn his goals into reality. It is also crucial that he understands the consequences of not reaching his goals, and how his life will play out if he chooses a reality that differs from the reality of his grandest vision.

Stephen Johnston, a 29-year-old entrepreneur, performance coach and business mentor, takes a fierce stance on exactly how to create success through goal setting. Stephen is the founder and CEO of Digital Ox, a multiple 7-figure per year healthcare marketing agency. Employing a team of 25, Digital Ox currently serves hundreds of clients in the United States.

Be motivated by the pain of not achieving your goals.

Many men today lack discipline and the ability to produce an end result amidst the challenges and obstacles that inevitably land in their path. 

Stephen writes down his daily goals and shares,”Get a goal, create a roadmap, understand why you want it and the consequences if you don’t make it happen. I also coach my team on these same principles.” To Stephen, success is about setting goals and achieving them, stating, “We have to earn success every day. Success could be setting a goal to shoot in the ’70s in golf and accomplishing that goal. Working towards a goal and seeing progress is rewarding.”

His burning desire for change helped him to overcome mild depression.

Stephen’s biggest life challenge was when he was working in a kitchen for $15 per hour because he had zero skills. He felt stuck, as though he had no way out, and as a result he suffered mild depression. Most obstacles are created purely from thought and the chatter in our minds. Stephen realized this and consequently went on to build his first successful business, carrying a burning desire to set a vision and dive headfirst into it with an all-in attitude.

Now Stephen chooses thoughts that shift him towards his future, sharing, “I aspire to be wise, wealthy, healthy, and influential. I can share wisdom and create a bigger impact with wealth. Also, without good health, you have nothing.”

Removing distractions and mastering single focus.

We are constantly surrounded by distractions and temptations, whether technology, unhealthy food choices or giving our energy to people who leave us feeling drained and depleted. Stephen isolated himself for a brief period and worked every day to learn the business skills that helped him replace his income, and become independent. He shares, “I removed all distractions around me and created a “burn the ships” mentality. I learned that the secrets to success lie both in your ability to focus and learn.” 

Stephen emphasizes that the pain of quitting, and the feeling of regret, are far greater than the pain of failure. A man who can resist urges and temptations that surround him every day, is a powerful and focused man. In the process, he becomes highly respected and trusted by many.