Ryan Van Horn never planned to go into the family business. In fact, it wasn’t even an option—at first. When Van Horn graduated college, his father, who had founded Fort Myers-based Custom Packaging & Products the same year Ryan was born, told him he needed to go to work for somebody else before he could even consider joining the family business. So, that’s what Van Horn did.

His educational background was in agriculture, so he started at a large agricultural company that sold feed, seed and chemicals. He worked as a warehouse manager, running a team of 16 people. But eventually the monotony of the job wore on him. “I got bored,” Van Horn says. “It didn’t fulfill me.”

Next, he took a job working for an aquascape company, managing a team for the southeast region. But he felt the same dissatisfaction he’d felt with his earlier job. And that’s when his father’s wisdom sank in.

“By working for other companies, I learned that I wanted to work for myself,” Van Horn says. “I realized how monotonous some companies can be. I worked for some pretty large corporations, and it was hard to see the bigger vision. I had a specific job, and I was just doing that.” Being an entrepreneur, he realized, required a completely different mindset. “You’re always asking yourself about next steps. How can I grow my business? What programs can I put in place for my employees so that their lives are better? When you become an entrepreneur, the monotony is not there.”

Van Horn joined Custom Packaging & Products when he was 30 years old, and this year, as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary, he’ll turn 50 as its CEO.

Find Your Niche

The most important piece of advice Van Horn gives other entrepreneurs—especially those just starting out—is to find an unexplored niche in the market. “Something nobody else does or something you can do better,” as he puts it. How does someone find that niche? Keep your eyes open. Pay attention. Listen to customers and vendors, as well as people in the wider world. Inspiration comes from unexpected sources, Van Horn said.

Love the Process

“I didn’t use to know anything about paper,” Van Horn admits. “I didn’t know I was going to love this.” What he did know was that he had drive, and he enjoyed the process of goal-setting. “My head is always spinning,” Van Horn says. “And I like that. I’m constantly trying to make things better, more efficient and more profitable.”

The old adage goes “Do what you love,” and entrepreneurs often get stuck trying to find a product they love. But they might have more luck finding a process they love, Van Horn said. That’s been the key to his success. “No day is the same. That’s what makes it fun. Even after 20 years.”