In this powerful episode of The Fix, we dive deep into the human side of business. Host Derek Maines is joined by David Giannetto of Felix Construction and Daniel & Renee Mercado of Resource Employee Care to discuss a critical but often overlooked aspect of leadership: proactive employee care.

Discover how providing on-site, confidential support for personal crises—from marital issues and financial stress to suicide prevention—is not just "fluffy people stuff," but a crucial risk management and retention strategy. Learn why the standard 1-800 EAP number often fails and how having a trusted, familiar face on the job site can save lives, improve safety, and transform your company culture.

In this episode, you'll learn:

-Why personal crises are a business problem that directly impact safety and productivity.

-The sobering statistic: with 400 employees, you likely have 20 people in crisis on any given morning.

-Real-world stories of intervention, including marital restoration and responding to a workplace suicide.

-How confidential, on-site care serves as an extension of leadership, building trust and a caring culture.

-The tangible ROI of employee care in dangerous industries like construction, where a distracted worker can be a fatal risk.

-Practical steps for implementing a care program that goes beyond a benefits pamphlet.

If you are a leader, HR professional, or business owner in construction, manufacturing, or any high-stakes industry, this conversation is a wake-up call to the power of human-centric leadership.

Mentioned in this episode:

Resource Employee Care: RECArizona.com

Connect with Us:

Subscribe to The Fix for more conversations on building better businesses.

Have you implemented a similar program? Share your story in the comments below!

Chapters:

0:00 - Introducing a New Model for Employee Care

1:20 - Daniel's Inspiration: Serving People in Construction

3:25 - How On-Site "Rounds" Build Trust

5:10 - Being an Extension of Leadership's Care

8:59 - Scaling Culture from 20 to 400 Employees

10:22 - The Failure of the 1-800 Number

13:42 - Powerful Testimonials: Saving Marriages & Lives

19:13 - The Business Case for Proactive Care

24:56 - Confidentiality and Integration into Leadership

27:04 - The Final Word: Supporting Your Calling

Keywords:

Employee Care, Mental Health in Construction, Employee Retention, Company Culture, Leadership, HR Strategy, Risk Management, Workplace Safety, Suicide Prevention, Crisis Counseling, Proactive Support, David Giannetto, Daniel Mercado, Renee Mercado, Felix Construction, Resource Employee Care, The Fix Podcast, Derek Maines, Human Resources, Employee Assistance Program, EAP, People Operations, Caring Culture, Workforce Management, Phoenix Construction, Spanish Speaking Support.

Is your business—and your mind—running too many apps at once? In this mind-expanding episode of The Fix, host Derek Maines sits down with systems thinker and integration specialist Camille Cortina. They dive deep into why modern businesses are broken and how systems thinking is the critical skill needed to fix them.

Camille shares her journey from fintech client retention to leadership, sales, and building entire business processes from the ground up. But the conversation doesn't stop there. We explore the frontiers of high performance, including the transformative power of darkness retreats as a tool for executive nervous system regulation and self-mastery.

This episode also tackles the controversial rise of executive psychedelics (microdosing, ayahuasca, DMT) on the West Coast. We ask the critical question: are these substances a shortcut to enlightenment, and what is the missing piece of integration? Discover how to achieve a "psychedelic" expansion of consciousness without drugs and why your personal baggage is directly linked to your business bottlenecks.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What "systems thinking" really means and why it's a superpower in the age of AI and remote work.
• How the concept of "defragging" your computer applies directly to your business and your mind.
• An inside look at darkness retreats: what happens when you sit in complete silence and darkness for days, and how it can reboot your nervous system.
• The truth about the psychedelics movement in executive circles (psilocybin, DMT, LSD) and the critical importance of post-experience integration.
• Why personal development and self-mastery are non-negotiable for effective leadership and building a successful business.
• How Source Code and other modalities can help you resolve subconscious patterns and self-sabotage.

If you're a leader, entrepreneur, or visionary feeling the friction of a misaligned business or a cluttered mind, this conversation is your first step toward clarity, expansion, and creating a better world.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Camille's Company: Rooted Viz (https://www.rootedviz.com)
• Inner Bloom Dark Retreat: The only darkness retreat in Prescott, Arizona.

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe to The Fix for more conversations on fixing broken systems.
• Leave a comment below! What are your thoughts on executive psychedelics or darkness retreats?

Chapters:

0:00 - Meet a Young Systems Thinker

1:29 - Camille's Career Journey

4:10 - Inboxes, Outboxes, & Managing by Wandering Around

6:28 - The Enlightenment: Quitting Your Job

9:26 - Self-Mastery as a System

11:04 - Source Code & The Subconscious

12:36 - Inside a Darkness Retreat

17:00 - Defragging Your Human Operating System

20:12 - Psychedelics in the Boardroom

25:09 - Redefining the "Psychedelic Experience"

30:59 - The Systemic Taboo of Consciousness

34:10 - How to Work with Camille

Keywords:

Systems Thinking, Business Systems, Process Mapping, The Fix Podcast, Derek Maines, Camille Cortina, Rooted Viz, Darkness Retreat, Sensory Deprivation, Nervous System Regulation, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Psychedelics, Microdosing, Ayahuasca, DMT, Psilocybin, Executive Psychedelics, Integration, Source Code, Subconscious Mind, Self-Mastery, Personal Development, High Performance, Business Bottlenecks, Remote Work, Defrag, Mental Clarity, Inner Work, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Training, Fintech, Sales Leadership.

What if the secret to turning around a failing business wasn't a complex strategy, but simply asking the right questions? In this episode of The Fix, host Derrick Mains sits down with his longtime friend and fellow entrepreneur, Paul Sim, for a masterclass in practical leadership and operational wisdom.

Paul shares the incredible story of how, with no operations experience, he saved a firetruck manufacturing plant from closure just by going to the shop floor and asking the workers, "How do we make this better?" This conversation is a goldmine for any leader feeling disconnected from their team or trapped by corporate bureaucracy.

You'll Discover:

The "Lead-duship" Principle: Why the best ideas often come from the people doing the work, not the C-suite.

Paul's 3 Core Business Sciences: A simple framework (Revenue, System, and Guidance Science) to diagnose any company's health.

How to Justify Major Investments: The art of presenting ROI to get critical projects approved, even when you have to ask for forgiveness later.

The Future of Work & AI: A provocative discussion on whether "Human Resources" is becoming "System Resources" and how to use AI without driving your business toward the "average."

Real-World Lessons: Candid stories from 30 years of entrepreneurship on learning from failure and the value of a trusted peer who asks the tough questions.

If you're a CEO, founder, or operations leader looking for no-nonsense strategies to improve communication, unlock hidden capacity, and future-proof your business, this episode is for you.

Keywords: business turnaround, operational efficiency, leadership, entrepreneurship, process improvement, corporate culture, AI in business, future of work, CEO advice, business strategy, team management, employee engagement, operational leadership, Derrick Mains, Paul Sim, The Fix, GapView, business consulting, ROI, investment, systems thinking.

Is your ERP a liability or your greatest asset? In this episode of The Fix, host Derrick Mains sits down with Teddie Reyes, NetSuite expert and founder of TFR Solutions, to expose the shocking reasons why up to 90% of ERP implementations fail—and how to ensure yours is a success.

They dive deep into the critical connection between clean process design, ERP configuration, and your company's ultimate sale value. Discover why "customization" can be a dirty word and how speaking the "common language" of systems like NetSuite can dramatically increase your business's transferability and multiple.

In this episode, you'll learn:

-The #1 reason ERP implementations fail (it's not the software).

-How to perform "Process Triage" before an implementation to identify and fix workflow bottlenecks.

-Why "tribal knowledge" is your biggest risk and how to systemize it for scalability and a successful exit.

-The "Shipping Container" analogy for building a business that is easy to understand, operate, and sell.

-The future of work in the age of AI and why "Human Resources" is shifting to "System Resources."

If you are a CEO, CFO, or operations leader considering NetSuite, struggling with a current implementation, or planning a future business exit, this conversation is a must-listen.

Keywords: NetSuite, ERP Implementation, Business Process, Operational Due Diligence, Business Exit Strategy, Scaling a Business, Process Triage, NetSuite Consulting, Teddie Reyes, TFR Solutions, Derrick Mains, The Fix, Oracle NetSuite, SaaS, Workflow Automation, System Integration, Tribal Knowledge, Business Valuation, AI in Business.

Struggling to bridge the gap between your business strategy and your team's daily execution? In this episode of The Fix, host Derrick Mains sits down with Layla Pomper from Process Driven for a masterclass in operational efficiency.

They break down the critical difference between high-level process mapping and the daily "playbook" that makes a team actually work. If you've ever been frustrated by disorganization, missed deadlines, or employees who seem to have "no common sense," this conversation reveals the root cause and provides a clear path forward.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The "MapQuest" vs. "State Map" analogy for understanding Process Mapping (strategic) vs. Process Execution (tactical).
• Why the first 90 days of an employee's journey often kills their creativity and how to fix it.
• How to move from chaotic email chains to a structured work management system that everyone follows.
• The real reason managers are incentivized to create busywork and how to flip the script to reward efficiency.
• Practical steps to implement "habit optimization" for your team, moving from theory to daily practice.

If you're a business owner, COO, operations manager, or team leader tired of the friction between departments and the chaos of daily tasks, this episode is your guide to creating a cohesive, productive, and accountable organization.

Keywords: business process, operations management, team productivity, workflow optimization, SOPs, task management, business execution, process mapping, Derrick Mains, Layla Pomper, Process Driven, The Fix, operational efficiency, team collaboration, project management, leadership, business systems, habit optimization, common sense in business.

Unlock hidden capacity and skyrocket your business efficiency. In this episode of The Fix, host Derrick Mains sits down with Jenn Gray from Bright Path Strategies to reveal why "working harder" is the wrong approach to growth. They break down a powerful framework for visualizing your workflow, eliminating pointless tasks, and focusing on what truly moves the needle.

Discover:

How to use Process Mapping & Notion to create a visual "inbox and outbox" for your digital work, exposing bottlenecks you never knew existed.

The "Action vs. Results" mindset shift that prevents wasted effort and ensures every task contributes to a clear goal.

Real-world examples of insane inefficiencies (like the $19/month software that could replace a full-time job) and how to find them in your company.

Why "Working ON your business" is a myth until you first systematize the work IN your business.

Strategic Prioritization: A simple method to rank projects by revenue potential, enthusiasm, and time commitment to stop spinning your wheels on low-impact work.

If you're a business owner, CEO, or operations leader struggling with team productivity, scaling challenges, or feeling like your team is constantly busy but not making progress, this episode is your wake-up call.

Keywords: Business Process Optimization, Workflow Automation, Notion Tutorial, Productivity for Business, Scaling a Business, Operational Efficiency, Process Mapping, Systems Thinking, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, How to Scale, CEO Advice, Work Smarter Not Harder, Digital Transformation, Task Management.

How do you make critical decisions under extreme pressure? In this unique episode of The Fix, host Derek Maines is joined by Derrek Hofrichter, a former Krav Maga instructor and NTSB investigator, to explore the powerful parallels between self-defense tactics and executive leadership. Discover a proven framework for high-stakes decision-making that applies to both personal safety and business crises.

Learn how to move from analysis paralysis to decisive action, build resilience under stress, and create reliable mental models for when your business is under threat. This conversation dismantles the myth that effective leadership is only about strategy, revealing the critical importance of mindset, awareness, and process under fire.

Key Topics Discussed:

-Applying Krav Maga's decision-making process to business leadership and crisis management.

-Moving beyond fight, flight, or freeze responses to achieve clarity under pressure.

-Lessons from NTSB accident investigations on executive decision-making failures.

-The role of stress, fatigue, and cognitive load in reducing effective IQ.

-Building a "self-defense" mindset for business to anticipate and neutralize threats.

-Contrasting sport fighting with real-world self-defense for strategic advantage.

-Implementing black box thinking and creating a culture of psychological safety.

Learn how to:

-Develop a reliable framework for making high-consequence decisions quickly.

-Train yourself and your team to perform under duress and in chaotic situations.

-Apply principles of leverage and anatomy to overcome larger competitive threats.

-Foster an environment where challenges and contrarian ideas strengthen strategy.

-Improve organizational resilience by rehearsing responses to potential crises.

Featured Expert:

Derrek Hofrichter is a speaker and expert who integrates his experience from Krav Maga instruction and federal accident investigation with the NTSB to teach leaders how to thrive under pressure.

Relevant Keywords:

leadership under pressure, high-stakes decision making, executive resilience, crisis management, business strategy, risk mitigation, cognitive load, stress management, contrarian thinking, psychological safety, performance under duress, operational strategy, leadership development, CEO mindset, business continuity, threat assessment, strategic planning, decision fatigue, Vistage speaker, business coaching.

Subscribe to The Fix for more unconventional strategies to optimize your business and leadership.

Is your company's energy being sapped by chaos and unpredictability? This episode of The Fix features Bill Green, a expert in aligning business strategy with organizational culture. We explore how intentional system design directly impacts company vibe, employee retention, and ultimately, your bottom line.

Discover why optimizing for employee experience is the most powerful lever for customer satisfaction and business yield. Learn practical frameworks for building trust, reducing operational friction, and creating a destination workplace that attracts and retains top talent.

Key Topics Discussed:

- The direct correlation between predictable systems, employee energy, and productivity.

-Moving beyond profit-first ideology to a people-first and customer-second model.

-How to diagnose and repair broken trust between leadership and frontline employees.

-Designing operational clarity to reduce variability and create a high-trust culture.

-Preparing your business for due diligence, investment, or acquisition by systematizing operations.

-The critical role of leadership in creating psychological safety and fostering honest feedback.

-Applying the "What do you want to optimize?" framework to drive meaningful change.

Learn how to:

-Transform company vibe by intentionally designing people-centric systems.

-Unlock hidden capacity by eliminating non-value-added work and busywork.

-Build a resilient organization that can withstand market variability and stress.

-Create a compelling due diligence package that increases business valuation.

-Foster an environment where employees feel safe to report problems and innovate.

Featured Expert:

Bill Green of VibeOptimizer.com specializes in integrating strategic execution with cultural health to help leadership teams build scalable, high-performing organizations.

Relevant Keywords:

company culture, organizational health, business vibe, employee experience, leadership development, operational efficiency, due diligence preparation, business valuation, scaling a business, trust building, psychological safety, change management, strategic planning, process optimization, people operations, talent retention, destination employer, leadership team alignment, business systems, operational excellence.

Subscribe to The Fix for more insights on building businesses that people love.