Robert Hartline

Real Stories of Entrepreneurial Breakthroughs From the EO Nashville Community

Robert Hartline is the Founder and CEO of CallProof, a company that helps B2B sales teams manage their customers using a sales activity reporting system. He has been a member of EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) for about 10 years. He is also a Professional EOS Implementer for EOS Worldwide, where he shares his experience using the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to scale a business from $10 million to $100 million in three years. Before CallProof and EOS Worldwide, Robert was the Founder of Absolute Wireless, a wireless retailer with 78 retail locations, which he sold in 2020.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn

[0:58] The importance of experiencing fulfillment in your endeavors
[2:35] How embracing opportunities can catalyze business growth
[4:33] Robert Hartline explains the deep connection and value of peer groups for personal and entrepreneurial support
[5:52] The hidden struggles entrepreneurs face and the emotional support found in EO forums
[7:49] How EO members can tailor their forum experience and find fulfillment through global opportunities

In This Episode

Many entrepreneurs appear to have it all yet find themselves grappling with a persistent sense of unfulfillment. Despite accolades, accomplishments, and milestones, they quietly struggle with feelings of isolation, regret, and the pressure to always appear strong. How can entrepreneurs confront these challenges and find meaning beyond traditional success metrics?

Members of EO Nashville have struggled with and overcome initial failure and disappointment. After her first cake recipe failed, baking entrepreneur Mignon Francois reframed her baking approach and entered a bake sale to give back to her community, showcasing persistence. Serial entrepreneur Robert Hartline maintains that peer groups like Marco Polo foster emotional connection and support, while community-driven leader Alan Young emphasizes the need for honest dialogue among peers. EO Nashville director Sameera Lowe recommends taking control of your entrepreneurial experience and aligning forum participation with your lifestyle.

In this special compilation episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline reflects on five of his most memorable episodes. Guests like EO Nashville’s Executive Director Sameera Lowe, Aaron Young, Mignon Francois, and Aaron Wenzel discuss navigating entrepreneurship with emotional awareness, the value of video-based peer support, and the importance of long-term fulfillment.

Quotable Moments:

“The ultimate failure in life is success without fulfillment… it’s kind of like failure times 1,000.”
“When you keep your hand like this, you can’t give anything, but you can’t also receive.”
“Every stupid thing you’ve ever had to do is taking you from where you are to where you want to be.”
“The best way to communicate with anyone is to be in their face, talking to them in person.”
“Everyone has stuff that you don’t see from the outside, right?

Action Steps:

Embrace vulnerability in peer groups: Sharing personal struggles in a trusted environment fosters connection and combats entrepreneurial isolation. Vulnerability encourages authenticity, which builds trust and leads to deeper, more supportive relationships among entrepreneurs.
Own your experience within support forums: Clearly articulating your needs helps ensure you get the most value from peer interactions. Taking the initiative allows you to find the right fit and grow through seasons of change in business and life.
Reframe failure as progress: Viewing setbacks as stepping stones enables personal growth and resilience in the face of adversity. This mindset shift transforms challenges into learning opportunities and fuels long-term entrepreneurial success.
Use meaningful communication tools intentionally: Platforms like Marco Polo can deepen relationships through face-to-face messaging, even when remote. Maintaining strong emotional connections reduces feelings of isolation and creates space for real-time support and feedback.
Recognize that success without fulfillment is a red flag: Achievements should align with personal values and inner peace to be sustainable. Evaluating success through the lens of fulfillment helps entrepreneurs make purpose-driven decisions and avoid long-term regret.