Damir Ljubovic
Damir Ljubovic grew up in Bosnia and Saraeeayvo and moved to America in 1995 as a refugee of the Civil War. Starting over in America, he moved to Arizona in 2002 and, in 2014, chased the American dream by starting his own business alongside his wife while raising three children. 365 Mechanical has been in business for ten years, helping commercial and residential customers with their HVAC needs. Our main mission is to provide customers with facts related to issues they face so that they can make intelligent decisions about their new purchases.
Today, Damir continues to operate 365 Mechanical, but considers the success of his children to be his greatest accomplishment.
Episode Transcription
Guiding Growth. Conversations with Community Leaders. In this podcast, we'll explore the human journey of leaders, their stories of humility, triumph, roadblocks and lessons learned. Come join us as we journey together and uncover the questions you've always wanted to know. This podcast is brought to you by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, providing resources, connections and belonging for business professionals and modern moments, an event and meeting venue in the heart of Gilbert and at Gilbert Independent, your valley. net dedicated to serving readers with good community journalism. The Gilbert Independent is a nonpartisan newspaper, an online site that covers our town's institutions, development and events.
Subscribe and follow Your valley. net Daily to stay up to date with latest local news. All right, here we go. Our guest today grew up in Bosnia in Sarajevo and moved to America in 1995 as a refugee of the civil war. Starting over in America. He moved to Arizona in 2002 and in 2014 chased the American dream by starting his own business alongside his wife while raising three Children. Today, he continues to operate 365 mechanical but considers the success of his Children to be his greatest accomplishment. Please welcome Demir Lubovitch.
Hey, you got the name right. Look at that. Well, I don't think you should be the judge of that. Actually, I don't know that I got the name right? Did she get it right? It's perfect. I see. There we go. Fantastic. Well, thank you for being here. Sorry that Sarah is here for you today, but that's what you get when you come to this little podcast show. So you're in for it today. Are you ready? Thank you for having me here. We'll start with what we call Rapid Fire.
Would you rather host a party for all of your friends or enjoy a dinner for two, dinner for two? Definitely. Ok. Here's one Star Wars or Star Trek, Star Wars. Cool. Favorite color blue. This is going to be an interesting one. Winter or summer. Oh, summer all the time. So you're just thinking of the money, raining the money. Come on. I love, I love the hot weather. Ok. Here we go. What did your mom call you as a kid? So, was it like, hey, you or get the?
No, no, no, it was just so all by my name. Didn't have any special. Ok. Favorite holiday? Oh, definitely. Uh, Christmas. Would you ever bungee jump? Uh, no. Ok. In your teen years? Long time ago. What was your favorite movie? Mad Max too? Hey, I'm right there with him. So I don't talk about what is one thing you wish you enjoyed more. Um, definitely time spending with my family and golf. No family. Yeah, she's put words last question. Here we go. Glass half full or half empty.
Um, half full. All right. Say Star Wars one more time. Star Wars. I love it. That's awesome. She's going to have you be her ring tone voice for something like that? Yes. Do you ever feel like your business is stuck? It's time to get traction and move it forward. Call Chris Spear, your business coach and certified E US implementer. He'll help you use the entrepreneurial operating system to get traction and achieve your vision. Call Chris today at 4808483037. That's 4808483037. All right, let's go back to the beginning days.
Let's talk about childhood. What was that like? It was, it was actually very, very happy childhood. I, I just wish that my kids and, and probably from what I hear from my American friends, um people same age as me. All, all the kids had the same um childhood. It was very, very happy. No worries. You know, I would, I would literally, you know, my mom would, my parents would let me go out play and they didn't have to worry about stuff that we worry today. So um I I just wish that my kids what our kids would have.
Um a 50% of, you know, it really, that water free childhood and, and being a child enjoying childhood. So, um, it wasn't a bunch of your mom saying son get outside and play. It was, it was, it was just free to go. No, no. As a matter of fact, uh, it, it was opposite like she had a problem and that just not my mom but all, all parents like getting us back in the house because we really enjoyed playing outside. And, um, we lived in a neighborhood, um, that was somewhat different than here in America.
It was typical urban area, you know, big building. Uh, we had over 100 apartments and uh ton of kids and same age. So we would play a football or like we say here in America, soccer and just what a free childhood that was. Did you have siblings? No. Unfortunately, I don't have any siblings. It's, it's just me. I'm in the only child club too. It's a, it's a great club. It did, it didn't work. My parents tried but, um, my mom had a couple of very, very difficult miscarriages and they decided not to do anything.
And here I am by myself. One is all I needed, I guess. There you go. I guess. I don't know. Ok. So let's go to mile a little bit longer. Like high school age. What was that like for you guys again? You know, everything, everything boils down to to, um, this, I, I would call that true freedom. Um, we didn't have a buses at my school was probably like 1520 minutes away. So a bunch of kids, you know, walk into school. And, uh, I remember when I grew up we had a true four seasons.
So even winter, I remember going to school with the snow up to our knees and like you were first in the morning trying to make a path for everybody else. Um, but it was, it was really, really happy time in, in, in my life and not just my life. I mean, everybody's life. We, we really looking back, you know how, what, what kind of childhood that was. I, I would just wish everybody to experience the same thing. What about things you did in school? Were you like in sports?
Did you do? Basketball was my thing always. I mean, I know Europe is really big with the, with the soccer but, um, basketball was always my, my thing and, and generally speaking, society itself, um, push that really big time. So in, in our neighborhood, they, they built like these basketball field, uh soccer field or, or handball field, which we mainly used for, but it was constant. You go to school, come back home, you do the homework and out, just out with your friends. It was, it was constantly out.
I mean, you know, earlier II I talked a little bit of my childhood but my mom would call me just, hey, or, or she would actually bring me some sandwich. That was it. You, you just go on and play with your friends. But the sport was, was really a big part of my life. Do you have any teachers or coaches that you think back on that, like, were instrumental in the growth of your life back then? Like, inspiring you and mentoring you. Well, I mean, I remember a couple of them and uh and, and something that I'm taking, I guess for rest of my life with me, uh uh one of them uh was um not necessarily that he influenced me, but there was something that our history professor said, I think I was in the sixth grade in elementary school.
Uh and he told us something that um kids remember that any, any war was is and it will be, it just because somebody is trying to gain something, it might be called civil war. It might be world War, it might be this or religious war. But everything boils down to and, and now, you know, just through my 3653 years of my life, like everything I, I kind of see through that. Um He's taught that he's saying and, and the second one, believe it or not, I was really bad with the math.
This was in the high school. I didn't like the maths is just um I don't know, it wasn't my thing but everything else was, um, let's say I had A's or B's but the math was, like, strictly DD, like, just enough to, and, and ironically enough, he was my, uh, favorite teacher in high school because he told me at the very beginning, it's like I can tell you're not stupid because your other grades you're just lazy. You don't wanna, and, and I was honest with him, like, I am so sorry, but this is not my thing.
And I find your class being an inconvenience. Is that what you said? You know, it, it's, it's not that it really, it wasn't everything I really enjoyed um geometry and uh and our high schools are set up different way or at least when I was in school because our high school is a trade school. So I was following my, my dad's steps who was economist. So high school was just like teaching all the kids at, at least the school for the economy that I was attending. Uh we had a three different uh types of math.
So it was something what everybody has. But back in like eighties, I knew how to convert American standards to, to metric system. So I guess it helped. I, I like that a lot but all that, all those calculus and I wasn't my thing. All right. So now we're going to the 95. Ok. And so we're talking about the solo time and you guys, yes. Escaped talked about that a little bit. Um, I, too many people this might come, like, um, I don't know, strange maybe statement but, um, as much as this, um, experience Three Years Award was, was extreme situation in anybody's life. Right.
Just witnessing pretty much killing and dying on a, on a daily basis. It was, it was absolutely huge experience how I perceived the life. And, um, and I think pretty much that's a more or less a human nature. Um Ironically enough, not that we necessarily have to experience some hardship, but um I guess teaches us about life. So me living in that three years in that really mess and experiencing something that I don't want anybody to experience 95. Um I'm moving to United States and I literally, my, my story is a typical that immigrant story that I show up here with uh with my mom because my dad was killed in the war.
Um We had some suitcases with us and at that time, my family lived in Cleveland and um came here as a refugee. I, I didn't even have a green card. I promise I was here legally. But um we had a um I don't know, permission to stay here and work and, and that's all I needed. Just like another shot in life to, to start to do something with my life. So first seven years we lived in, in Cleveland and I, I think um maybe third week of of me being in America, I was already working, rolled up my sleeves and you know, started working.
Can we, I'm, I'm really curious and I'm going to just ask that you, excuse my ignorance. But how do you, um if you go back to the moment, how do you find the opportunity to come to America? And what are those, what are you processing amongst? I'm sure grief with the loss of your dad and it's just you and your mom, what does that look like for you during that time? But II, I actually told my, uh this story to my kids so many times and, and this was probably breaking point in my, in my life.
So, um I have a family who lives in, in, in Ohio, right? Um I think they move like seventies, eighties. So now going back to war, this was late or early, the mid nineties and at that time, I was 22 years old, 25. And um I was, I was very, very upset and very mad that we are on the kind of verge of 2365st century. And we have this biggest war in Europe since World War two. And while the rest of the world is, you know, thinking about bigger and better things would just kind of live in a, in a, in a cave age, right?
So December 210st, 212 that's a New Year's Eve, right? I was laying in my bed. It was probably around 215 o'clock and crying and, and the reason I was crying because, uh, we didn't have electricity, we didn't have a water and um, like Crest of the World is celebrating. And, and we live in a, in a cave age and I told myself that I was basically ready to put everything on the, you know, and a gamble, everything. If I have to die, I'll, I'll die. But I don't have, I, I won't live like this anymore.
So at that point, I contacted my family in, in the United States in Cleveland and, and they obviously um decided to help me out and be my sponsors to move to United States. So they send me a papers and I just decided, like I said, to gamble everything and take a chance and, and it was, I don't think we have enough time to, for me to tell you about that night that I basically escaped my country. But it was, it was very, very, very dangerous, not, not one but multiple situations, but you know what they say, if you don't gamble, if you don't risk, um there's no rewards in life.
And um you know, it worked. I just waited a couple of weeks for my mom because she was old enough that she can leave the town. Um The reason I had to escape was because I was still young. You know, I, I could be a soldier and use me and I just didn't wanna, didn't wanna participate in that nonsense in that war. So, yeah, that said it was, it was simply, I made a decision basically overnight, I'm leaving everything behind because I truly did see myself to start my life, um, from zero then stay behind and, and you know what, it turns out that it was actually really good decision.
I mean, here we are probably 2365 years later. I mean, there's no war but countries economically devastated and, and, and many, many, many young people, even after me just left the country and looking for a better, better life. So I found mine. Did your mom know of your plan? Do you remember what she was feeling during that time? She was scared. She was super scared because she knew. Like I said, it's, it's a really long story, what had to take place that night. But, um, she was basically my biggest encouragement, you know, as any parent that wants to push you out of that hell on earth.
And, um, that, that e evening or that night, she was just waiting for me next morning to, um, to call, you know, to say, hey, I made it, I'm, I'm out here and it was a huge relief. But yeah, she knew and she's the one who kind of encouraged me and pushed me even more. Ok. Well, now let's jump back to the US here. You said you got work right away. Like three weeks here. You're working. What were you doing? Well, I, I actually found a job in the machine shop.
It was, um, you know, as you probably know, northeast after World war two is, is, is the big time automobile industry and the steel mills. So there's actually large communities in the northeast of people from, from eastern Europe, you know, that immigrated after World War two. And, but especially now after um, this war that we experienced. So, um there was a job available, like I said, my family waited for me. So my cousin's husband, he helped me get the job. And I mean, I, I, my, my, my first job was extremely, um I wouldn't say difficult, but it was a heavy labor, you know, I had to do cut some steel and it's big, big heavy steel bars and, and then, you know, I was just watching other guys working on, on the machines and I'm like, I think I can do that.
And then I asked the owner and, and everything naturally progressed. And probably three years later I was working on these CNC computer numeric control machines and II, I don't know, I, I, the one thing that I, I'm also teaching my kids and, and generally speaking with people, the success comes from struggle. Um As, as long as I'm healthy, I don't have a problems in life. I don't, I don't order my family is healthy. So the way I feel, I always say that as a joke, I probably couldn't be a, a space shuttle pilot but the way I feel I can do everything.
So, um, I, in Cleveland I, I was just, I wouldn't say a job prop, I had only three jobs in those seven years, but every time it was like something bigger and better. Um, interestingly in our first job was, um, II, I would say 3653 2365 people work in, in this machine shop really big and I was making a decent money. Um But the one thing that I really didn't like, most of the people speak my uh was speaking my native language and, and, and I didn't speak any English.
So I, I realized that in order for me to succeed and be more successful in this country, I have to speak English, I have to learn English. So I literally took a pay cut, I think 2365 $22018 left that place. But just to work with people that they just speak English at that time, I was still single. And um I don't know, I, I consider myself low maintenance. I don't need a whole lot. So money was fine. But my goal was just to learn English and many doors will open up for me and that's actually what exactly what happened.
Um So, yeah, that's what I was doing for seven years in Cleveland. And then I moved 2002 to Arizona. What, what drove you to Arizona. Well, my, my wife lived down here in, in Phoenix and, um, like I said, there's, there's a large communities of these eastern European nations. So she has a lot of family in Cleveland. That's where we met. Fell in love and, um, decided to get married and I'm like, ok, I'm coming down to, to meet my in laws and, um, I think he was either October or November northeast, like cold snow, rain.
And I show up down here it's beautiful, warm. I'm like, I wanna live here. You asked me earlier, do I like cold or, or, or summer of, of, or winter, summer all the time. So we're moving, it took a few years by 2002, we finally pulled the trigger and moved down here. Ok. All right. And so when you get down here, what are you doing? Well, I was good with, with what I was doing, you know, a machine shop working on the CNC machines. And I was looking for, at that time 2002, economy wasn't great.
And, um, 10, basically because of my father in law, he was also in the same industry, but he's the one who probably gave me one of the best advices in, in life. He asked me if, if I'm ready to go to school a little bit. Um, but air conditioning is the thing here in Arizona is like unlimited source of work. So I decided to switch and, and, um, just graduated from the local school, found the first job and again, work my way up from like a, you know, low, lowest paying guy down on the bottom.
And I guess here we are 20 plus years later, I own my company. It strikes me that you're not afraid of hard work and you have an intrinsic ambition, you're not willing to give up. And I'm curious where along the way, where does that come from? But I would again, um um I would say it boils down to this hardship, right? Um Once nobody wants to go back, II, I just, I'm a like a very um not necessarily sad or angry but like everything, what's going on in our society these days.
It makes me wonder how come people don't see how beautiful this place is because um once again, success comes from struggle and um they call this country land of opportunities long time ago. But I, I think today is even more land of opportunities because somehow mankind evolved in this. I don't know, not necessarily lazy, but you know, I, I guess to answer your question where it comes from, it is, is just, I don't wanna go back, I don't wanna go back to the way I lived. And um and reality is that nobody moved to this country because you left something better behind.
Everybody moves to America because you left something that is not so good, not so pretty for whatever economical or political reasons. So then when you, when you just move here is like, all you see are opportunities all over the place and, and especially when it comes to roll up your sleeves and work hard. I mean, opportunities to me are limitless. So it, it just didn't wanna go back to what I was experiencing before I moved here. So, and, and I guess, you know, I wanna show my kids give them be a good example.
Nothing's too difficult. Nothing's too hard. So just if you keep working hard, you'll be fine. Yeah. All right. So 365 mechanical. How did that get started? Where did that come from and tell me the journal that, you know, but I mean, again boils down to what we're talking about my ambition. So prior to starting company, I was, I wouldn't see entirely running the, the, the company that I worked for, but I was a major part of that, their success and, you know, we had a, some disagreement or whatever and I didn't see eye to eye and I decided to start my own company.
So it, it, it made me basically, excuse me, dealing with the customers. I, I realize how much they appreciate what I was doing for them. And it just made me believe that I can do it, dealing with other contractors and other companies that they were not doing so good. I just told myself I think I can do a lot better than this. And I decided to, um, again to gamble. I, I, I'm a very confident person. Like, uh, what if I put my mind to something and I'll, I'll make it happen and, uh, I had a huge support by my wife and the kids, they believed in me and that's all I needed.
And, and honestly, it, it just really didn't take a whole lot for, you know, for customers to call me once they find out. And here we are 3653 years later, we're still in business. So for those listening, they probably heard that you were doing air conditioning work and stuff like that and explain what 365 mechanical does. What 3365 mechanical is uh is uh uh commercial and residential, primarily commercial. We're trying to make some move on residential uh field as well. But um from the very beginning, I was very fortunate to get involved in a very unique type of industry, which is they call that critical environment, air conditioning.
Uh Phoenix is very, very a popular spot in, in the United States for data centers and computer rooms because of our climate here. So I was very fortunate to get involved in that. So most of our businesses in that world. Um but yeah, we do commercial as well and um helping customers with their ac needs. So I want to reflect on your journey a little bit because along the way, there's people who obviously stand out. Um I would assume your family in Ohio um were pivotal in your life.
It sounds like your in laws. Are there other people along the way who stand out as really influencing your journey or your success today? I mean, many people really, it's, it's too many to name, but I would, I would single out uh my best friend, um Marty's husband Rik to Janovic, who, who was uh instrumental in uh um in, in uh I always need the validation for my thoughts because I'm a really good with my hands. But when it comes to running business, not, not so much or at least initially.
And that's what he is. Uh role was very instrumental to continue and, and not fail. Usually all businesses fail for 33 to 5 years, right? Um But in guiding me in, in the running the business and making right business decisions. So, um it was, it was very important to me and, and um even today, his, his guidance and friendship means a lot. So it was, it was absolutely instrumental what, you know, to be where I am today. That's good. Well, ok, great. So where are you going now? I mean, you think about the future, what's the future look like for mechanical 365 mechanical and new for that matter?
Well, right now, you know, we're, we, we have a seven employees and honestly, like I mentioned before. Uh I have, uh I wouldn't say low expectations, but I'm a very low maintenance guy. What, what, what I would like to take this company uh is I would like to uh can remember what was that musician's name. But when he started his band, he want, he, he said something like I would like to make a Disneyland for my band. So I would being somebody who was born and raised in Europe and um see like a little bit different things, how workers kind of enjoy the benefits.
I would like to create a place like that. That's, that's honestly what I'm going with this that, you know, being probably 10 to 12, maybe 15 employees and um having these guys stick around, you know, with me till the end and enjoying, I, I want people that they work for 365 to wake up every morning and go happy to work because I tell everybody that they don't have to work for me. I don't have to employ them, but we all have a bills to pay. So why not make this like something that is really enjoyable?
So I, I'm, I'm going above and beyond. It's not my thing to say. Probably they should uh uh tell you more about these things, but uh I to make them welcome to water for 365 mechanical. And um just recently I had um brief conversation with one of our customers that basically they did some um a short video for us and we happen to do prior to that some work for them. So this was, I promise you guys really spontaneous, it wasn't fixed. But um she asked me, um how would you describe 365 mechanical in one word, right?
Or one sentence? And I was thinking about that for a second and then I remember expression like happy face and that, you know, in the customer's face when we finished the, like how happy she was. I'm like, that's, that's 365 mechanical. As long as I guess I can spread a little bit uh happiness even if it's air conditioning. My, my mission is accomplished. That's great. I'm curious. Um What is it that you hope your kids know about you and your legacy? Um I believe that every person carries with them.
Um, a something a thought or a sentence or um growing up that there's something they heard or advice from their parents. And one of those things was from, from my dad who, who basically told me once that the most difficult thing to be in life is to be a good human being. So I would, I would like my kids to remember him. Remember me as, as a good, good human being. Um 2018 when we um it was the first time I took my kids uh back home where I came from and we were visiting um my father's grave.
And, um, they, they actually asked me, I wasn't crying, what I wasn't emotional. Like, you know, they asked me, Dad, are you sad? And, um, I said it just a little bit but I'm more overwhelmed with, uh, with the sense of like a pride like who I became and it was because of my parents. So what I would like my kids one day, you know, that for them to say the same thing. I'm, I'm a, I'm a very, very happy. I'm glad who my father was. So that's my, that's what I would like my legacy to be.
That's cool. Yeah, I like that. Well, this has been a great conversation. Thank you for sharing your story with us and kind of the journey that you've been on and, and a lot of the people that have been in your life along the way, it's been really interesting to learn. Well, thank you for having me. II. I hope I'm uh I don't know, made somebody's day a little bit better. So I think you have and I also think that we have a lot to learn from you.
So grateful for your time. No problem. Thank you any time. Indeed. Thank you. And I know those listening today, probably enjoyed this episode like we did. So if you want to get more of these, please join our tribe, subscribe and you'll get these in your inbox and enjoy all the great conversations we have. Thanks for listening today, guiding growth, conversations with community leaders. Ben, let me ask you a question. How do you see other community members being involved in this podcast? This is going to be a great opportunity for so many people in the community to have a chance to be heard if they want to tell their story or if they just want to be part of this journey with us and help sponsor in a way that helps bring more people to the table with us.
So I think there's many opportunities at hand whether you want to again be on the show, reach out to us, let us know what your story is and how you think you could be part of it. We'd love to hear from you, reach out, let us know and we'll see if we can make that connection.
