I admire your determination and what you accomplished at such a young age. I had a similar situation and I was taught like you; by my dad as he would say: "If You don't do it, it won't get done! Never expect somebody else to do what you need to do because it's your responsibility to get it done!" When I got started, with no experience, a retired NFL football player observed me and told me I reminded him of a bulldog he had named, "Tenacious." Ever since I try to tackle everything with pride and vigor and it's served me well for over 50 years and I wouldn't have it any other way.

My grandpa always said, "Do what you got to do, when you got to do it."

I'm pushing 70, and lived, and still live by the seat of my pants.. I know no other way. I've been a steelworker, draftsman, welder, auto body painter, illustrator, mechanic, wood worker, did construction, writer, shipping and receiving, forklift driver full-time musician/entertainer, museum exhibit creator/maker, sculptor, maintenance technician... and even did a stint being homeless for 2 years (not recommended), rode a bicycle from Philly to Boston, hiked, kayaked, invented an attachment to ride bicycle on (abandoned) railroad tracks... and I'm only getting started... Now on Social Security, which is not enough to live on... i need work, but nobody hires anyone over 50, so I hustle... fix-it make-it gigs, play some music, and supplement my paltry SS check. I've no regrets... many lessons learned... and I keep learning every day, make mistakes... a.k.a. "lessons." It was great to hear your story... ya done good.

Your story reminds me of my high school days. My brother had started a "logging company" which ended up being a firewood business. I'm still amazed that we both survived his three truck disasters.We did get it done, though.

Stories like this is exactly why I follow your channel. Wranglerstar, you are an inspirational man!

The supreme Law of all Laws: _"The Law of _*_Necessity."_* Now you know a thing or two . . . and another thing!

I’m just going to say this... i think you should do a podcast. You got the story telling capabilities. I for one would tune in just to hear these stories. Hearing about your experiences with you Pop, your grandad. And stuff like this. Wow. Just amazing. Love it.

I started an appointment based towing service much the same way..... so much we learn when we redline ourselves with no room for error... needed that story from you today!

Excellent story, thanks for sharing. Find a way, get it done.

USD inflation from 1991 to today puts $6000 then to $11'200 now. A young man with big cojones you were.

Started a factory cleaning business with 150 dollars. ........after six months I was making 60 a month wanting to give up . I told my wife and she got mad and in despair I laid my head against the wall and realized I put my head on a framed lords prayer I read it slowly taking in each word and understanding it.........when I finished the phone was ringing in the background and I got a huge cleaning contract I kept for 20 years along with many others....The lords prayer is the bat phone to God...I'll never forget what happened that day.........you'll do what God gives you

This makes America great! I was 30 when I started my first business and folks thought I was crazy. I don’t know a single 19 or even 20 something who has brass to do what you did.

I know the feeling, I have been self employed since I was 17 , i am now 67 and still working but now getting my state pension £ 550 month = $700. U S in and out of debt like a yo-yo , and by the grace of god still able to enjoy life love your videos gods speed, Derek

"$6,000/ month may not sound like a lot".....ummm yeah, that's a ton of money for us common folk, lol

We need more men like this gentleman !! Working to provide for those who depend on you, no matter what the circumstances or hardships may be !!

Some folks might even say, This was once the American way. It also has Depression era overtones. Thanks, Cody. My brother will love this.

Making over 50k a year, fell and destroyed my left rotor. I am 60 and have to settle for SSDI at way less than half that because no one wants to hire an old - busted up guy. But my family looks up to me because I have time to do for them now. GOD is good all the time.

Taking big risks, shooting high, being willing to do what few are and taking every possible precaution is the only way anyone ever did anything difficult to do.

“Go to war with the army u have”. I like that saying a lot

Reminds of when I started logging, my boss through me in the D6 and showed me the controls for about 5-10 minutes than looked at me and said “you good to go ?” Of course I think that’s what he said because it was so loud in the cab it was rattling my brain. There I was 18 years old on the side of a mountain pushing logging roads into the bush. Then he put me in the grapple loader and skid steer off we went logging like mas men !!! It was pretty awesome time in my life God bless my friend.

Great story Cody. Had me laughing about the truck. It was a sink or swim decision and you decided to swim.

i feel like i have found my tribe! This video was great, AND THE COMMENTS ARE AWESOME! This is why i love farmers, old people, and entrepreneurs. They have great stories and they come up with amazing ways to get stuff done. I haven't done anything spectacular but I can relate to that hustle mentality. I tried to get a neighbor to hire me to work in his carpenter shop when i was about 8 or 9. Since then I have mowed grass, painted houses, framed houses, worked for grocery stores, a restaurant, locksmith, delivery company, Southwestern Bell Telephone, collected scrap metal, been in I.T. for 20 years now, have a small collection of rent houses, and now moving into wholesaling real estate. I was going to say, "I hope it works out" but you know what? I'll figure a way to MAKE IT WORK! Cheers!

Thank you for this I’m 54 and for basically the first time in my life I’ve found my hands empty and all doors closed. I’m needing to regroup. I appreciate the encouragement to go to war with the army I have

You quickly shot past my truth....."you lose a leg, you got to get going...", soooooooo true, lost my left leg 7yrs ago and everyday I work at making my life's journey lived and filled with accomplishments, EASY not at ALL, possible, thru many tears and painful NEW realities, I keep at it

Nice story, man. A payment coming due can make a man of character unstoppable.

Safety 3rd! Yep the world is made by guys that just had to get it done, somehow someway....

I gotta say, I broke my neck competing when I was 17 leaving me mostly paralyzed from the chest down. 5 years later I am graduating with two degrees, just accepted a full-time position with one of the top companies in the world for my career path, and am in the works of starting my own company. I was raised to work for what you want and I see very very few people out there with legitimate reasons as to why they couldn't work and achieve something.

Bible; "If you wait for the perfect time to get started, you'll never get anything done!"

Subscribed for the tool videos and experience stay for the stories! Nice one Cody, love it.

My God that truck rolling down the road was an accident waiting to happen. haha

I am a small guy doing an office job. I understand exactly what you mean. You do what you have to do to survive. I hope I will reincarnate one day in some land where the dreams of hard working people get true.

Great life story Cody, thank you! "You do what you have to do." Excellent, descriptive statement Cody! I got married at 17 years old. From that day forward my wife and I did exactly that. Without going through a long story, I've learned how to do a lot of different things since then and my wife and I have had four children, three are grown now with kids of their own, we lost one, our youngest, to a drunk driver in 2007. We just celebrated 44 years together so far.

Really wish I had a man in my life like this. I'm 28 and made a lot of mistakes but for whatever reason I have had an awakening of sorts and see where my life is headed if I continue the toxic cycle I am in. I want to be a good man and father and not have some victim mentality. I don't want fear to continue to consume me.

I love listening to him tell stories, I think he tells them so well

I will soon be 65 I have worked all my life. Not always the best job but I tried to be the best at what ever job I had. I lost both of my parents before I was 18 years old. I have never had any kind of government aid I made my way through life with hard work and the love of my wife. We had what we needed most of the time maybe not all we wanted. Life is what you make of if not what someone gives you. Work hard and have self respect. Some times that means you work your day job to pay the bills. Then you find a second job that puts the food on the table. In the short time I had with my parents they did teach me good work ethics.

We need more men like this! I've been working since I was 15 years old. While going to school. I've never gone one day without a job. I'm 43 years old now, and work 6 days a week at one job, and 5 days a week at another. Doing what I gotta do to support my family.

Cody the Outlaw! I laughed so hard during this story. Very entertaining!

The visual of driving that rig and the way you described it has me laughing and thinking of CW McCall's Black Bear Road. "you don't have to be crazy to drive this road but it helps"

In 1976 I was running a Mack B-57 with the split shift air brakes

It’s called LIFE, and it’s an uphill battle the whole way. Great job Cody, for finding a way to get it done!!

Fun to catch the premiere. Hope you all are doing well.

Up here you just have to drive by a truck stop and you can easily tell if the scales are open or not😂

I have a very similar story. Started laboring for my neighbors excavating company at 15 and when I was 18 the operator was arrested with his 3rd DUI and the boss asked me, "think you can run a hoe?" I said sure I play video games lol. Anyways that's how it started and at 21 I was able to secure a 1 year contract with a modular home company and went $150,000 in debt. 13 years later I'm still slinging dirt!

Failure builds character. I hold my failures much closer than my success.

"Just get it done." Very encouraging for me today. Thanks.

I really liked that story and it provided me some additional insight about myself. I wished I had known you earlier in life. I am so blessed and thankful to have met you and your family on KZfaq, it would have been much better in person. I live on the right coast and you live on the left coast yet I feel like we are the kind of neighbors that used to exist in this nation. We are both believers in the same person and seek pretty much the same thing. Maybe, one day, we will meet and be a blessing to each other. Thank you so much for all you have shared through the years, I will say a prayer for you and your family. I love you all, God bless and take good care, your friend in NC.

It's nice to hear stories like this where a father taught their son resilience. I had a very capable father who knew how to do just about everything. He was a Vietnam vet and fixed the radar on F4 Phantoms. He worked for Digital Equipment as a tech and rose to management, getting his BA in business. He fixed our cars, built our garage, built our chimney (building inspector told him that it was the best build chimney he had ever seen), took out the electrical heat in our house and replaced it with oil burning, forced hot water, etc. Auto mechanics, carpentry, electrical, plumping, masonry, land scaping, whatever were all within his wheelhouse. If he didn't know how to do it, he figured it out. Sadly though, he was NOT a teacher. I tried many times to learn things from him and he was very abusive, critical and packed patience. He tried to show me how to Mig weld once and my bead wasn't perfect on the first try (I was probably 16 and never held a welding gun in my life) and he yelled at me, called me names and threw me out of the garage. He did the same when teaching me how to drive a standard transmission... first time I stalled it I was yelled at, told that I was stupid and forced to pull over so he could take over. Total a-hole of a man. Despite all of that, I have found the same self reliance, to a lesser degree, and work on and fix many things myself. I did learn how to weld because after I graduated college with a degree in electrical engineering, I worked as a maintenance technician and my boss taught me how to Mig and stick weld so screw you dad. Anyway, I gave up on automechanics except for the smallest things but I do carpentry, woodworking, electrical, plumbing, general appliance repair, etc. to save a few bucks and I enjoy doing the work. Haven't spoken to my father in 20 years either due to his abusive nature. The last thing he said to me was "take you kids and get the hell out of here". Well, my kids... his grandchildren... were 5 and 2 at the time. Today they are grown men with the oldest turning 27 next week and the youngest at 23. His loss to have no relationship with his son and grandsons. What I did learn from him was to have a better relationship with my boys. They are my best friends and although they are moved out now and planning on getting married next year, we get together often and have a great relationship... just went to the movies last night with my oldest :)

Your beginnings sound like mine, done it with an antique cab over and $1000.00 log trailer and a lot of prayer. God has blessed us truly.

sounds like my logging and sawmill business when i was 21. i had a 427 gas diamond rio cabover ,,5 speed 2 speed axle log truck. quite exciting to drive. never cut a tree and walked into the woods with my wore out 56 stihl and an old file. had an old 404 international tractor to load with. me and my late brother John. best days of my life but tougher than woodpecker lips. good story Cody. enjoyed it. had me laughing out loud.

Blessings to you and your family Cody From Oklahoma

My parents always told me "Can't Never Could Do Nothing! Figure It Out Son." I hated it then, but so thankful for those hard learned lessons now.

Mr W I know exactly what you were saying, I was made redundant and went to the job centre every day to try and find something, I ended up street sweeping through a job agency for £ 90 for 5 x 8 hour shifts just to pay the bills until I found something better

The worth of a job is not always the money you make.

I feel for our children today! Nothing goes under the radar today! Differnt world today. many more hops to jump through and not nearly as forgiving for mistakes..

My Grandfather lost his job, and felt ashamed, so, every weekday morning, he would get dressed in his work clothes, and go out, looking for work. Even though he had run out of places to approach for a job by noon, at the latest, he would stay out, hanging around parks and similar places, until it was the time he used to finish work, before he would return home, so his neighbours wouldn't realise he was out of work.

The word that resonated with me most out all of this was "grinding". Started my business around 19, we just grinded our way through it. We just put one foot in front of the other and had faith. My dad saw me struggling to find work over a period of time and he told me "remember your value as a contractor is that people know that you want to work and will actually show up and you are dependable, remember people do more for people they like" and "all you need is a few more wrinkles on your face". Basically he was telling me to just keep working hard, keep your word and work hard everyday. Dont worry if you dont know exactly what your doing all of the time - "go until you dont know". Shoulder to the wind is our operating mantra, it has served me well over the last 30 years in business. It was also a blessing that I married an AWESOME woman who busted her @ss everyday in the field with me for over a decade. We were/are a team and she also gave me the things that hold any real value to me.. I am sure you can guess what that is :). The American dream still exists.. the amount of sacrifice required to achieve it always seems to be the same... I am sure you all know the answer to that also!

A diamond Rio 5+4 is what i learned to drive in.....geezzz...what a beast it was! 👍🇺🇸

Your talking about how this country was built before the government came in and regulated free markets almost out of existence

This story will really make you appreciate modern transmissions. Go through the low gears, flip the switch, and glide through the high ones. That's even rough on these eastern Kentucky mountain roads, I can't even imagine how you felt.

Great story! I too started trucking with my uncle and driving his 9-car hauler big rig between weight stations while he slept..then I quickly got my permit and later practiced on his old rig by myself until I became well and got a license. Sometimes you gotta do with what you have. It's those moments that make you think and stretch you to your limits to make you grow.

"Sometimes a man has to do, what a man does."

Well said, "You've got to do what you've got to do" been there.

Everytime I get a bit sad about life or hopeless I rewatch this video, thank you Wranglerstar.

What you did showed you have great character, and you didn't just say 'I can't do this or I can't do that', you went out and did it! great story!

Raw grit built this country. Always an honor to see or hear examples of those that refuse to be denied victory.

Wonderful story, just what the kids today needs to hear. Sounds like we had the same dad. Can't was not in the vocabulary!

Cody you reminded me of one of my favorite lines of all time. “It’s not all I got - It’s what I got” John Wayne in Rio Bravo

This is a great story. Amazing how God watches over us when we do stupid things. I remember renting a small dump truck to avoid paying our home builder to move some fill and driving down a hill to a narrow bridge that 1 and a half cars could fit thru as this car was coming towards me and the truck wouldn't slow down, but somehow, we both passed thru the bridge. Nothing short of miraculous. God Bless you Brother!

THIS is what's missing in AMERICA today.. it's a "GO GET EM" attitude.. take a risk.. work your TAIL off and keep your commitments. you CAN become a WINNER!!!!

Just wanted to say I was raised by a man much like you. Do your own work, fix anything you can, dont pay for something when you can do it on your own. I got away from that as I grew older with the world we live in today but since I've subscribed to your channel over the last 2 years I've gotten back to my old ways I was raised on and wanted to say thank you. Awesome channel, keep doing what your doing

Wow, my first job after serving in Vietnam as a Combat Medic....was driving a petroleum truck with 280 Commins and 5x4 Trans... and your story brings back the job it was to shift that truck! Great Story, keep them coming...

Started my small businesses in 1993. Similar story. Only a little older. Wife 3 kids and. A mortgage. I had my CDL but no puc. Rented a farm truck to move my. 690 John Deere. The only jobs were the ones nobody else wanted or would do. Thanks for sharing. Retired last Thursday. What a long strange trip it has been.

Track hoes are common at horseracing functions in Australia ;)

That’s what you call Grit. That’s something that most people do not have. The ability to make it happen under any circumstance and with any resources. Now of course if you’re smart, you will learn not to get yourself into those messes but you should always be able to get yourself out of them.

4:23 "and he said uhh..." MORNING STAR FARMS damn ad 😂😭🤦‍♂️

Loved your story. I'm 75 now, but when I was a teenager scrap iron got real high, (probably during Korean War), my Dad had an old wheat truck we didn't use anymore so I asked him if I could use it. It looked awful, not much paint, but ran more or less, on most days. I made deals with farmers to carry off abandoned farm equipment, mostly horse drawn plows and such. Good thing, it was mostly cast iron and very heavy, especially compared to steel. So I would cut this up, load it, heavily of course, because you really didn't know how many more trips this piece of junk hauling junk was going to make. An uncle of mine stopped me on the rural rode one day, just looked this highway accident about to happen over and said to me, "Overweight, no tags, no insurance, no license, no lights, probably not much brakes, if they catch you driving this thing boy, they gonna give you about 10 years in the electric chair." I made pretty good money though, bought the truck from my Dad, cleaned it up a little and traded for a pretty good 6 wheel. I got a contract to remove sheet metal roofs from huge cotton compress warehouses that were no longer used and made enough money in 2 years to put myself thru 4 years college as an electrical engineer. I love America, we will make it folks.

I love these story's cody! Keep them coming!

My dad is an excavator. In michigan back in the 80's. If you were the owner of the truck you didnt need a cdl. When I started my first company I didnt even have a pick up. I rented a beat up plow truck from a friend. His trucks just sat all summer anyway. So for 200 bucks a month I had a work truck. I didn't even have all my tools, I borrowed for the first couple jobs. I didn't go into excavating like dad. Apparently I'm a sadist and went into concrete. Nothing taught me creative problem solving like fixing the iron. Things like fixing a thrown track on the digger in the middle of winter. Or buying cheaper equipment and fixing it up.

I broke my hip and back and still work as hard as possible. Take great pride showing lazy able body guys up!!!! Being disabled has never stopped me just slows me down. Had no Disabilty insurance, cant pay bills if I sit and wait for others. I do it at all cost and get it done no matter what it takes !!! Walking cane and all. Love the stories Cody we have lots in common.

Yes, I am in the middle of what you described. I'm a Texan working in California. I'm doing what has to be done. 👍😀👍

6,000 per month is still astronomical to me. 😂😂

Soon as you said Diamond Rio, I said oh no! I remember drivers telling me about how you had to shift with your arm thru the steering wheel!.

While camping w/ the Scouts as an Assistant, I always told the Scouts that everything they needed was within sight. I've often found this to be true in almost any circumstance.

Hey Mr Wranglerstar, what ever happened to your first business.

that's a lot of money back then and a lot today

My brother from another mother. Cody, thank you. This story re-ignited my determination to not go softly into the night. No matter our circumstances, we should fight to carry on. I had forgotten that of late. Thank you for reminding me. May GOD continue to bless you and your family.

Just now watched this. Great story. I love you honesty and humor and grit.

This has been my life. And this is why I do not coddle my kids.

Reminds me of leaving the city at 17 to become a rodeo competitor.

Classic American story, it's a shame how the law really would crush you if they catch you trying to make something of yourself without the government getting their cut.

Great story man, it brought tears to my eyes I was laughing so hard. Glad you made it through the tough times and are able to look back with and smile

I’m chuckling right along with you. I thoroughly enjoyed and can really appreciate that story. It’s fascinating what a young man with perhaps a bit of an attitude, a solid work ethic, and some confidence can accomplish.

You and I have a lot on common including driving a Diamond T at age 19 pulling a lot of weight. (I was pulling a loader in the north Georgia mountains) before I got back home (after dark) the exhaust pipe fell off at the manifold. It was so loud I had to stick my fingers in my ears and steer with my elbows. Then about 1 mile away from parking this beast, #1 gearshift came out of the transmission and I still had one intersection and at least two red lights to go through. No cars in the intersections and all the lights were green. I had made it. I don't remember ever driving that truck again. By the way, I had my grandson out digging with the backhoe too. I just left him with it (with some instruction) so he could figure it out on his own.

This is exactly story how I started in Forestry business! Millions later here we are... Taking everything everyone wouldn't do.

We have family prayers every night at 9:30 and we will be praying for you and your family.

and Today's Millennials didn't understand a word this man just said.... NOT ONE WORD!

You did all the right things and you just inspired me.

Great story! Thank you for everything you have done over the years! World is a better place with you all in it!

Companies nowadays…..”take it, start working with it, pay me back” ….never happen. Good story, proud you made it.

that's pretty much how I got started too😎