Conversations with Dario Simontacchi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dario Simontacchi.

Hi Dario, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Originally from Staten Island, NYC, I was a college drop-out who realized that just working a job in the Electrical Union was not for me, despite pressures from the people in my hometown who claimed it was the best thing I could do for myself. My grandparents kept telling me they wanted me to go back to college; they claimed to have seen something in me that was special. They said to leave that potential behind would be a tragedy.
I wound up leaving the job after two years to go back to college and pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I took up various odd-jobs during, like pizza delivery and bartending. After learning a few semesters of Computer-Aided Design (CAD,) a close friend and I started a 3D-Printing Business, where we would design projects at the requests of our customers. We’d first print them, clean them up, paint them if necessary, and deliver them as requested. It was this venture that made me realize I had a passion for business-building, and serving and maintaining a customer base.
I then graduated college, still living in NYC, when a large Engineering Corporation here in LA reached out and wanted to relocate me to work for them. My business ventures were cut short as I relocated here to LA to work as an Engineer, but my longing to get back into business never subsided. While working as an Engineer full-time, I began to pursue my own business ventures again on the side. I first went into Real Estate Investing, where I learned a lot about tax efficiency and how money moves through business. My grandparents had since passed away, and it made me realize that I need to go much further in life, and faster. My grandfather was one of the only men I’d ever met who was a role model to me throughout my entire life.
I then found One Hour Cleaners for sale, and purchased it for myself. The Escrow process kept getting delayed, and I thought it would have never worked out. After a trip to Italy, I broke my foot on the final day, and had to travel back to the US in a wheelchair or occasionally on crutches. I was terrified thinking Escrow was going to close and I would be physically unable to work in my business. Luckily for me, I healed up and after more delays, Escrow finally closed a week or two later.
I took over One Hour Cleaners from the amazing previous owner, a respectable gentleman who I owe a great deal to, for his thorough training and exceptional display of skill in the business that I have been only barely hopeful to replicate. Since that day of the Buyer Takeover, I have given my all to my business and to my customers. They are my absolute number one priority in life. Nothing is as valuable to us as our quality, value to our customers, and our commitment to service. I take this very seriously, and will continue to.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an Engineer, who learned a lot in school and in life. I believe I was born with a special attention to detail, and a craftiness to adapt to incredible amounts of stress very quickly. Stress-inducing events and items actually fuel and attract me, as I thrive from the challenges in front of me. I’ve gone through a lot more negative life events and struggles at a very young age than most people typically do, and I believe this has prepared and primed me for the challenges of the real world.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
It’s an excellent question. I think knowing that I can overcome any obstacle I set my mind to makes me happy. I think knowing that I work as hard as I do everyday, without compromise or relent makes me happy. I’ve stayed true to myself, and never betrayed my own values for any sort of gain, and I think that’s rare in today’s world. I firmly believe in being a good person, and being a good person has made me very happy. Spending time with my loved ones, family and friends also makes me happy. Putting in all this work will eventually reward me with the ability to do that as I please, and knowing that I am continuously working towards that everyday makes me happy. All of these core beliefs are tied together to create a framework within me that inspires both others and myself, and brings me great integrity and joy to be the selfless, proud and diligent young man I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://onehourdrycleaner.com
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/one-hour-cleaners-hawthorne
• Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/One+Hour+Cleaners/@33.9013747,-118.3625863,3a,75y,90t/