How to go out on your own and leave a corporate gig and salary behind

After two decades of climbing the corporate ladder, Robin Hazel waved goodbye to a promising career and went into business for himself. He shares the story of his gutsy decision — and why it worked.

By Brian Hartz
| 6:00 a.m. February 8, 2019
| 0 Free Articles Remaining!

Mark Wemple. Robin Hazel owns and operates BrightStar Careâ€™s Pinellas County franchise.

Entrepreneurs

As entrepreneurs go, Robin Hazel is what you might call a late bloomer. He spent 21 years with Univar, an Illinois-based chemical distribution company, and became one of the company’s top executives, overseeing a $100 million budget and operations in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico.

Everything changed in 2011. That's when Hazel, pushing 50 and with a family to support, quit his job and cashed in his 40(k), determined to go into business for himself.

“If you go to work every day with the mentality that failure’s not an option, you’ll work with a greater sense of purpose.” Robin Hazel, BrightStar Care franchisee