Take the first step. This simple phrase inspired Jan Janura’s life philosophy. It guided him in his early days as a novice entrepreneur and is the same mentality Jan approaches every professional and personal decision today, over 40 years later.

Jan Janura is a serial entrepreneur, out-of-the-box innovator, and, according to Gallup’s StrengthsFinder test, a futurologist. His insight has helped him establish prosperous businesses across a diverse range of markets. A highly driven business leader, Jan’s entrepreneurial career took off in 1977 after receiving a phone call from his friend (now-wife) Carol Anderson. Carol had plans to renounce her job in design – but wanted to stay in the industry – and Jan felt a calling to pioneer a new business venture, so together they forged a partnership.

With Carol’s vision for fashion and Jan Janura’s business insight, Carol Anderson by Invitation (CAbi) was created. A fashion merchandiser that helped usher in the non-store subsector of women’s apparel retailers, CAbi answered the void present in the larger retail space. It became the solution to traditional shopping; 25 years after its inception, CAbi become the largest women’s fashion retailer not limited to a physical storefront.

Jan Janura’s ingenious business strategy: Combine personalized style advice with the convenience of at-home shopping to reinvent the way women shop. Instead of browsing countless clothing racks in the impersonal environment of a store, everything can be done in the comfort of one’s own home.

In less than ten years, Jan grew CAbi into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. As the creator, founder, and funder of CAbi, Jan Janura laid the groundwork for what become a thriving e-commerce industry – a feat before it’s time. Influencers like Vanna White wore CAbi’s products and renowned television shows like The Price is Right gave away their items as prizes.

CAbi’s success also had a global impact on women entrepreneurs. The tangibility of CAbi allowed women to take control of their own careers so that in 2012 when Jan and his wife Carol sold CAbi and retired from their executive roles, there were over 3,000 women working with the brand.

In 1982, Jan Janura combined hobby and passion when he started The Wild Adventure. 36 years ago, in a small town in Seattle, Washington, Jan discovered his love for fly fishing. This new hobby, Jan Janura’s appreciation for the great outdoors, and his unmatched devotion to his deep friendships grew to become something more profound than he could have ever anticipated.

Multiple times a summer, Jan hosts a group of men at his Smiling Moose Ranch in Montana for a one-week excursion. He leads them in open discussion about life’s big questions; they relish in the scenic views surrounding his ranch and spend the majority of their time fly fishing out on the Madison River.

Fly fishing is at the core of Jan Janura’s personal life and TWA because it enriches his deepest passion – his inner walk. His hope is that The Wild Adventure will cultivate a space where men feel comfortable grappling with their own inner walk with complete transparency and free of judgment. Every year, more men become aware of the impact this trip has on the lives of its participants, resulting in a hurried rush to sign up for the next available spot.

CAbi and The Wild Adventure are two of Jan Janura’s most notable accomplishments to date. He credits their success to his nurturing nature and believes every entrepreneur is capable of the same triumph if they pursue their passion and follow their calling. To quote Proverbs 24:3, “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.”

Jan is a firm believer that once you feel an urge to cultivate an idea, you should be proactive in this pursuit. This energy, he believes, sets an entrepreneur apart from 90 percent of people. While fervor is what should drive an entrepreneur’s goals, Jan Janura has meticulously built his endeavors with bridled passion.

Jan Janura grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois but eventually moved to Colorado to attend college. His first two years were spent at Regis University before he transferred to Colorado State University. Here, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Jan eventually relocated to Montana, which has become his home. To Jan, there is no place on Earth is as vast and beautiful as the western part of the United States.

When he is not busy developing a new business venture, Jan Janura is occupied with his other hobbies. You can find him in his backyard fly fishing on the Madison River, on the golf course, or reading a book.