Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Stitt spoke about his ideas for an "Oklahoma Turnaround" at Northwestern Technology Center in Alva on Jan. 4.

Stitt is a successful entrepreneur whose company, Gateway Mortgage Group, has seen revenue growth of 191 percent in the past three years. Stitt wants to use the skills he's learned during his 18 years in business to make Oklahoma what he calls "a Top 10 state."

Stitt's life so far seems characterized by setting concrete – often numeric – goals and charging full steam ahead to accomplish them. For 18 years, he's been growing his business. Now he...