EP 91: The Blueprint of Resilience - Building a Life, a Business, and a Mindset | Al Simon CEO of APS Solutions

June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, and we cannot talk about men's health without talking about men’s mental health. To kick off the month, Elex sits down with a very special guest co-host—the CEO of APS Solutions (and her dad!), Al Simon. Al shares his incredible journey of resilience, detailing how he went from living in poverty to owning his own multi-million dollar business. From navigating "working scared" early in his career to balancing a 26-year corporate climb with family life, Al opens up about what mental toughness actually means, the lessons hidden within failure, and how he keeps his mind quiet amid the noise of being a CEO. Whether you are looking to scale your career or optimize your personal accountability, this episode is packed with raw, actionable wisdom. Redefining Mental Toughness: The shift from the old-school "rub some dirt on it" mentality to acknowledging when things hurt, allowing for true emotional regulation. The "Hustle Game": How Al used the motivation of "working scared" early in his career to out-hustle his competition and master the staffing industry. Reversing the Education Mindset: Why saying "yes" to new responsibilities at work—even before a pay increase—is actually a bountiful opportunity to gain invaluable personal assets. The Law of Averages in Failure: Accepting that you won't always be 100% perfect. Moving fast at 80% right is often better than being paralyzed by the fear of failure. Slowing Down a CEO's Mind: Al shares his personal "sanctuaries" for turning off the mental noise, including golf, family time, and a daily commitment to Bible study. The 1% Kaizen Mindset: Why big resolutions fail and how focusing on controlling the controllables by just 1% each day creates lasting lifestyle changes. Over 6 million men struggle with depression each year. Men die by suicide at a rate more than 4 times that of women. Alcohol dependency impacts 1 in 5 men. If you are a man listening, or if you have men in your life you care about, the biggest thing you can do this month is raise awareness by simply starting a conversation. If you or a loved one are seeking guidance, support, or tools for mental health, please utilize the trusted resources below: Movember: A leading global organization focusing on men's mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.Link: movember.com HeadsUpGuys: A visual, practical resource resource hub specifically designed for men battling depression and mental health struggles.Link: headsupguys.org 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Free, confidential, 24/7 support for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. You can call or text this number at any time.Phone/Text: 988 Link: 988lifeline.orgVisit the Mental Mixology Resource Page directly via our website bio for easy access to these links and more episode content.