“It takes 20 years to become an overnight success.” In the realm of entrepreneurship, success is a journey, not a destination. Amy Zuk Olsen, the Owner of Safety Buzz Campus, embodies this sentiment through her years of dedication and hard work. With 20 years of experience running her own business, she knows the opening statement above to be true!

Read on to learn more about Amy and uncover some entrepreneurial gold with us in today's Entrepreneur Story.

What are three things every entrepreneur should know?

Number One: As an entrepreneur, you need to realize that there’s going to be a lot of work ahead. Most people tend to look at businesses as overnight successes and may believe that the founders or entrepreneurs behind them are just along for the ride. Starting and/or running a business is incredibly difficult and is rarely an “overnight success” thing. As they say, “It takes 20 years to become an overnight success.”

Number Two: As an entrepreneur, it’s incredibly important to assemble the right team to traverse this path with. While you’re putting together your team, you need to choose people who will enable you to run your business. Your team needs to be capable of working in the business so that you can work on the business, which led to Amy’s third point…

Number Three: To have the right success for you, it’s essential to find the right balance between working on your business and being a part of the team without working in the business. This is a point we’ve heard before and it’s so true. Many entrepreneurs struggle to work on the business without wearing all the hats and doing all the things.

Even when there are things you enjoy doing or believe that you can do “the best,” being able to delegate is vital for success.

What problem does your business solve and who are its customers?

Amy's business, Safety Buzz Campus, is dedicated to tackling safety concerns and providing essential safety-related services. Their focus revolves around distinct divisions, each addressing specific facets of safety. Firstly, the Safety Training Division concentrates on imparting crucial training in areas such as class one and class three truck driving, inclusive of air brakes. This ensures that individuals are well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to operate vehicles safely.

Secondly, their Safety Management and Culture Building Division offers expertise to organizations seeking to enhance their safety protocols and foster a culture that prioritizes safety. This division plays a crucial role in guiding companies toward implementing effective safety management practices, ultimately creating a safer work environment for all.

Lastly, their Supply, Air, and Field Services Division is dedicated to providing necessary supplies, field support, and services related to safety. This could encompass a range of offerings such as equipment provisions, safety inspections, and on-field assistance, all geared towards bolstering safety measures.

Amy's business caters primarily to companies in the construction, oil and gas, and agriculture industries, where adherence to stringent safety standards is paramount. Additionally, they serve individuals seeking safety training, such as first aid courses.

What inspired you to become an Entrepreneur?

Amy's journey into entrepreneurship was profoundly influenced by her upbringing and the experiences she had within her family. Growing up on a farm, she witnessed her parents managing their own business and navigating the challenges that came with it. This early exposure instilled in her a sense of what it meant to be a business owner - having a deep understanding of the business, adapting to seasonal changes, and prioritizing the well-being of the family.

Her father's advice to pursue a path that would be financially sustainable played a significant role in shaping her perspective. Amy found enjoyment and purpose during her tenure as a field operator in the oil fields, an experience that fueled her desire for more and helped her realize the potential for entrepreneurship. She was driven by the belief that there was an opportunity for growth beyond her current circumstances.

When reflecting on her role as a woman in business, she emphasized the importance of not letting gender define her capabilities. Amy saw herself as a business professional, focusing on excelling in her field rather than being hindered by preconceived notions.

Knowing what you know now, how would you have spent a million dollars when you first started your business?

Amy found the million-dollar question to be a great one. It’s taken her 20 years to learn everything that she knows now. With her company, they’ve always grown at a pace that didn’t require an exorbitant amount of money to keep up. Knowing what she knows now, Amy likely would have done things quite similarly.

The main point of difference would've been to have the right equipment in place from the start as well as the right people. Like many business owners, Amy began by wearing multiple hats and working both in the business and on the business. She didn’t understand the impact of having people behind the scenes advising and assisting you.

Additionally, she would’ve allocated some funds towards owning a property from the start so she wouldn’t have had to pay rent. Those three areas would have been her main focus when allocating the funds.

What is your proudest accomplishment as an Entrepreneur?

Amy’s proudest accomplishment thus far as an entrepreneur is her team. Over the years, they’ve developed a great team and grown together - to about 20 people as of right now. She’s been able to watch her team learn, grow and transform.

Many of her team members began a bit timid and daunted by their positions whereas now they take on large tasks on their own and feel more confident to carry them out effectively. Watching her team learn and grow their confidence, as a result, brings Amy great pride. Additionally, Amy is proud of having a team that is not only good at what they do, but enjoys what they do.

What big goals are you looking to achieve?

One of Amy’s biggest aims for the near future is to meet their financial goals for bonuses for the team. Her company has recently made some large purchases and they’re getting closer to a point where those purchases are paid off. They can then look into investing in new opportunities which also excites Amy.

She also looks forward to transitioning new staff members into the team, developing both the team and the business together.