Resilient Leader & Visionary Coach — Full Testimonial

Jul 3

Executive Case Study: Patrick Smith Vision Miner

Visionary, CEO & Founder of Vision Miner

I first met Ray Johnston back in the early 2000s, when I was barely making $250 a week. At the time, I saw him coaching and mentoring others, some of whom were earning over $1,000 a week and I knew I had to learn from him. I approached Ray with hope, and after our first meeting, he gave me a simple but powerful promise:

“Patrick, I guarantee I can make you a success if you follow just two rules. Number one, you must stay positive at all times—no matter what. And number two, you cannot quit for the next 31 days.”

I agreed. It was commission-only work, and I was nervous, but as a Marine, I was no stranger to hard work. Ray coached me to ask better questions, not “What if I fail?” but instead, “What if I succeed? What if I sell 10? What if I make $1,000 this week?”

That mindset changed everything. I went all in. My first week, I didn’t sell a single thing. But I kept going. By the end of the month, I had set the office record for most money earned, it was over $12,000, more than I had ever imagined possible.

From there, Ray became my coach, my mentor, and one of the most pivotal people in my life. He taught me emotional mastery, goal-setting, how to overcome objections and adversity, how to stay focused, and, most importantly—how to manifest and live with intention.

Those lessons carried me through nearly the next two decades. I started and built multiple multimillion-dollar businesses, one of the first and largest drone companies in the U.S., followed by a manufacturing firm, both of which were born from the foundation Ray helped lay. I bought my dream cars, flew my own airplane and bought my own helicopter. Bought a yacht and traveled the world. I literally lived out all the dreams I once thought were impossible.

Years later, Ray and I reconnected, but this time, on a deeper level. As a personal coach, he guided me through internal blocks I didn’t even know were still affecting me: fear of loss from past failures, emotional pain I had buried for years, subconscious beliefs I had unknowingly let control my life.

Ray’s coaching helped me finally release those weights, the emotional baggage that had taken root in my body and mind. Together with Ray, he took me through work that no book, seminar, or motivational video could replicate. I experienced a freedom I didn’t even know I needed.

That internal breakthrough changed everything. I now lead with peace, clarity, and confidence. I teach what I’ve learned to my family, my team, and my friends, because helping others grow is now how I continue to grow.

Ray’s impact on my life has been nothing short of transformational. His ability to cut through the noise, get to the heart of an issue, and help you uncover your power is unmatched.

If you’re in business, in leadership, or simply in a place where you know there’s more inside of you waiting to be unlocked, I cannot recommend Ray Johnston enough. Even one session with him can change the trajectory of your life.

I am living proof.

Thank you, Ray for everything you’ve given me, and for the countless others whose lives you’ve changed. Your guidance gave me the tools I needed to achieve my dreams and now I get to pay it forward, just like you taught me.