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?