Who Would’ve Thought? From Starters to Startx: A Diesel Technician Learns Linux


Back when I was a diesel mechanic, I had to replace a starter in -4°F weather in Willow Springs, Illinois. Frozen fingers, cutting wind, and bolts that felt like they were frozen in place forever. That job wasn’t just cold — it demanded patience, grit, and determination.
Now I’m preparing for my CompTIA Linux+ certification coming up on June 18th, and honestly, it reminds me a lot of that kind of work.
Linux, like mechanics, is all about figuring out what’s not working under the hood. One moment I’m adjusting file permissions with chmod
, the next I’m digging through logs trying to track down a stubborn service. It takes the same kind of problem-solving, just with cleaner hands and a working HVAC system.
The difference? These days I’m indoors, sipping coffee instead of wiping grease off my knuckles. But the mindset hasn’t changed. Whether it’s getting a machine to start or a system to boot properly, it still takes the same drive to get it done.
Same grit. Better environment.
Who would’ve thought?
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