Never once did Gerald Olsen think he would be in the shoes he is in; working full-time hours as a one-employee business, he was doing everything he could to better himself.
Olsen Improvements is a business that started in August of 2020, a little after COVID-19 started. I asked Gerald what life was like when he was growing up, and he said, “Not very good; rough.” Gerald did many jobs, including working at Skyline Homes in Lancaster, Wisconsin. This gave him the experience and the knowledge of how to build things that he uses daily now in owning this business. This includes but is not limited to building or fixing decks, porches, showers, ceilings, and much more.
The life that Gerald grew up in, “Makes me work for everything I have in life currently.” He makes every day better than the last, and that isn’t only for himself; that is also for the people he works for. He told me if he hadn’t made the decision to get out of a town like Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, and all the people and decisions he was swallowed into as a child, he would have never been able to make a better life for himself, his child, and his wife.
“What about the fact of being your own boss?” Without a pause, Gerald said, “he always wanted to be his own boss.” He also mentioned that he would never return to a workplace where he isn’t his boss. He worked at Skyline Homes in Lancaster for 17 ½ years. Gerald has put in the work and dedication no matter the place or time. He always goes and gets the job done.
You may wonder what kind of an education it takes to own a business, and how much time it takes to do this. Gerald was very confident in his answer, simply stating with a little chuckle, “None.” It is incredible how one individual can go out without a formal education and do the kind of work he does. Gerald also confidently stated he would own a business for himself and build up his future for the rest of his life. He feels that if he were ever to go back to a workplace, it would put a toll on himself, the things he owns, and the family he has raised. Since he owns a business he can set his schedule, and he also is flexible with other people’s schedules. If Gerald has to work at a workplace, he would be obligated to work the set hours, but as his own boss, he is able to leave work in case of an emergency in the family.
This just goes to show how one individual can go from a rough childhood and make an amazing life for themselves. I asked Gerald one final question: "What do you think your hard work and dedication should show the younger generation?” Without hesitation, Gerald told me, “Not everything is given to you in life, and not everything can be taken for granted. Nothing in this world comes for free, and if it does, it’s not worth it. Do what you can and want with your life, but make the most of what you have!”
Gerald has improved what he had as a child and lives by his company motto, “Making it better today, to enjoy tomorrow.”