The Motive
WHY CARS?
I've been working on cars for 13 years. It's what I know. And I've seen what happens when someone's car doesn't work. It's not just a broken machine. It can mean missing work. Not being able to get your kids where they need to go. Being stuck somewhere. Missing an appointment. Having to choose between fixing your car and paying another bill. Sometimes someone isn't asking for a luxury. They're asking for a way to keep moving. That's where I can help.
FIGURING THIS OUT.
I'll be honest. There are a lot more people who need help than I can possibly help by myself. I've received thousands of messages from people looking for assistance. Sometimes that's overwhelming. Sometimes I wish I could say yes to everyone. But I can't. So I'm learning to help the person in front of me without feeling like I have to save everybody. One car. One person. One repair at a time.
WHAT I REALLY WANT
I want people to watch what we're doing and think: “Maybe I can help somebody too.” Not necessarily by fixing a car. Maybe it's buying someone lunch. Helping a neighbor. Giving somebody a ride. Buying a kid a backpack. Checking on somebody who is having a hard time. You don't have to be rich. You don't need a million dollars. You don't need an organization behind you. Sometimes you just need to see somebody who needs a hand and say: “I can help.”
THIS IS BIGGER THAN CARS.
Cars are where I'm starting because that's what I know. But I don't want Ty Diesel 808 to stop there. Eventually, I want to help with housing. I want to help families. I want to help people who are homeless. I want to provide free towing. I want to build a place where people can get their vehicles repaired without worrying about how they're going to pay for labor. I want to help with school supplies. Christmas. Disaster relief. And eventually, I want this to become something much bigger than me. I don't know exactly what that looks like yet. But I'm going to find out.
WHY I DO THIS
I don't do this because I have everything figured out. I do it because I want to. I spent a lot of my life chasing what I thought I was supposed to chase. Work harder. Make more money. Build the American dream. And somewhere along the way, I started asking myself: What if I used the skills I already have to help people instead? So that's what I'm doing. I'm not trying to save everybody. I'm just trying to help as many people as I can. And if watching me do it makes somebody else want to help someone too... then maybe we're onto something.