Adam Aguirre of Downtown Los Angeles on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Adam Aguirre and have shared our conversation below.

Adam , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
What people see on the surface level is Adam the Pool Builder, a young ambitious entrepreneur at its core of the word…. Or “Pool-trepenuer” I like to say.

It’s easy to just say I’m a Swimming Pool Contractor but the truth is, I’m a “Chameleon Contractor” because there are so many different facets and depth to my identity. I’m so much more than just a swimming pool contractor.

I’m an actor, entrepreneur, competitive bodybuilder, traveler and nationally recognized pool professional, recently featured in Pool Pro Mag’s Top 30 under 40 years old as their #1 male of the year nominee and #1 on the west coast for 2025.

What brings me joy outside of swimming pool work is everything else in my life that makes me, me!

I love acting, I’ve been an actor long before I’ve been an entrepreneur and I recently came off a 4 day shoot on location for a very special high budget project which was a dream come true.

I recently competed in my first of three bodybuilding shows (or competitions) of the season, taking top 3 in my class at the open and i am currently 4 days out from this seasons second show and will be capping my season off in 2 weeks at the New Mexico State Open where I was invited to compete.

I’ve been traveling constantly all year, vacationing in Ibiza, Germany, was flown out to Sacramento earlier in the year on State Business to work with the State Licensing Board as a subject matter expert in swimming pools, as well as another business trip to Palm Springs for a six figure project, location for my acting project mentioned earlier, Las Vegas for the 2025 Pool Nation Awards, San Diego for my second bodybuilding show of the season and New Mexico for the final show.

It’s a blessing to be on the road so much and see this beautiful world we are blessed to be a part of, but yes I do miss my bed back in LA, haha!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Adam Aguirre, I’m Southern California Native and proud Angeleno,
I wear many hats in this life but what has truly changed my life the most is my entrepreneurial endeavors. I am the owner of California Poolman, a Los Angeles based swimming pool construction company with a separate division dedicated to swimming pool service and repairs.

I guess the most interesting part about my story is the part that I always hope inspires others: I started in the pool industry at 17 years old, cleaning friends parents pools on the weekend for extra money and I have grown that side hustle into a 2 part business that grosses over 7 figures in revenue annually, I always want to be a voice, support system and example for others on why they should take that leap and start their own businesses as it’s quite literally changed my life.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
This is such a great question, without hesitation the answer is my Dad.

My Dad’s entrepreneurial spirit was passed down to me like the green in his eyes, he is a straight up hustler and one of if not thee biggest inspirations I have had in my career.

My father, Tony Aguirre, grew up very poor in Pico Rivera, CA and started stuccoing houses around his hometown for extra money, he always found a way to hustle and make money- in the 80s and 90s he owned 5 businesses ranging from restaurants to limousine services and even a tech related company in Mexico.

I think what I admire the most or what I most learned from my Dad is that by any means necessary we have to be up and after it every single day, my father worked tirelessly to give my brother and I the life he felt he never hard and provide for my Mom along the way, he instilled in me a provider mindset, an entrepreneurial mindset and a sense of fearlessness to take any leap because whether it works out not, I’m further ahead than those who hesitate to jump.

My father is a mentor to me in the business world but also a hero, in the 2008 recession there were foreclosure notices on so many doors through out the United States but my Dad sold some of his most prized positions to keep our home and keep us fed.

I never realized the sacrifices he made until I got much older but the lesson I learned from those sacrifices is:

“By any means necessary, you must always find a way”

I am grateful my Dad taught me to find a way, not just to get by- but to find a way to win and succeed at the highest level possible.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
What an interesting question, I suppose the umbrella answer for any younger age- whether that been elementary to teens, to early 20s:

It gets better, just don’t ever quit or give up, things have a funny way of working themselves out.

Growing up we are so confused, we feel lost , directionless and often scared of the future. I suppose I’d remind myself to always stay the course and be fearless, because things really do have a funny way of working out, often times better than we ever could have imagined.

A brief example being when my parents heartbreakingly informed me I had to withdraw my college acceptance and I would not be attending a university, I was 17 and what little idea I had of the future was no shattered, I remember feeling so lost and directionless.

It wasn’t until years later did I realize that was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me, it set me up to have the epiphany to stay home, attend East Los Angeles College, pursue acting, and grow my pool service route- just 2 years later almost to the day- I bought my Porsche, business began to boom and I never looked back.

Well, I do look back if we are being honest: but only to see just how far I’ve really come.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
From the outside it would appear all I care about is my successes, my goals, my dreams, and my present and future however those closest to me would actually say what I care most about is “the team”. By “team” I don’t just mean my work team / employees (although yes of course I do) I mean my life team. My closest friends and allies, my family, my inner circle.

Deep down inside I feel like I was chosen to take care of the ones I’m close too, everything I do , I do for the team- I want everybody close to me to be taken care of and never have to worry or stress about a thing because they know I got them in whatever capacity they need.

Like every young entrepreneur, I’d love to retire my parents or pay off their mortgage, but until then I’m there when they need anything in this world. I’m there when my friends need anything in this world. I swear I do it all for the team.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Unfortunately death is inevitable, the only thing guaranteed in this life are death, and taxes. Death can come at any time and any age and when I look at my 28 years so far, if I were to go tomorrow-
I’d want people to tell the story of a man who did all he could to suck the sweet nectar out of the life he was given, someone who loved and supported his team and family. A person who was fearless toward his goals and what he wanted because he knew life was short whether life was lived to old age or not, its short and I spent my time enjoying my life while trying to make the world a better place for those around me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://California-Poolman.com
• Instagram: @adamactoralbercafitness
• Youtube: @adamalberca
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@adamthepoolbuilder?_r=1&_t=ZP-91KI9Ir9aZD
  

  Adam Aguirre, 28

  https://m.imdb.com/name/nm8439531/?fbclid=PAdGRleAOA0gpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadQm8yvfDaaxCtoO-qD60b0hxApBrK1TPmxhS1Owr8W9uRJFY4z2rP48Imp9w_aem_7tB-qcwrmzXM7QBYMI6Jlg

Image Credits
@profitnessphotos