Leadership, chemistry, and the lessons forged in the oil field—they have far more in common than you think. In this unscripted, off-the-cuff episode of The Crude Truth, host Rey Treviño III sits down with longtime friend, mentor, sponsor, and all-around force-of-nature Jim Holmes, Executive at LFS Chemistry, Exec Crew mentor, Eagle Scout, oilfield veteran, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast.
What began as a casual lunch turned into one of the most candid conversations in show history. Rey and Jim talk about chemistry innovations in the oil field, navigating volatile markets, adapting to extended laterals, mentoring young leaders, the pressures facing service companies, and why integrity matters more than spreadsheets when choosing investments.
Jim opens up about parenting, leadership, the discipline of Jiu-Jitsu, and the surprising life lessons learned from wilderness survival in Scouts—and how those lessons directly translate to running a company in today’s oil and gas landscape.
This episode is raw, real, and full of insight into the mindset it takes to build, grow, and sustain a business—especially in turbulent times. If you’re in the oil field, run a service company, or simply appreciate hearing two industry pros share the truth behind success, this one’s for you.
Chapters
00:00 – Unscripted beginnings and welcome
03:10 – LFS Chemistry: New tech, new trials, and growth in a tough year
06:00 – Environmentally friendliness conversation
06:50– Evolution in the industry and Jim’s thoughts from a chemistry standpoint
8:00 – The oil production challenges with chemistry and how LFS Chemistry is mentoring
10:42 – Longer laterals and how chemistry is evolving to keep up
17:20 – Leadership, mentorship, and breaking old molds
22:41– Jim opens up about challenges and his thoughts on perseverance
24:15 – Eagle Scout lessons that shaped Jim’s business philosophy
34:08 – Parenting, risk, and bonding through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
45:30 – Exec Crew: What real leaders learn from each other
52:44 – Investing: Why people matter more than projections
1:02:18 – The road ahead for oilfield service companies
1:12:50 – Looking to 2026: Market pressures and surviving the downturn
1:18:40 – Calling out JP Warren and final thoughts
1:22:10 – How to contact LFS Chemistry and closing remarks
Please reach out to Jim Holmes on his LinkedIn here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-h-55463a14/
Check out the Crude Truth Substack: https://pecoscrudetruth.substack.com/
Check out LFS Chemistry here:
