Eric Jackson, Robert Hartline

Seize the Day: Lessons in Love, Loss, and Legacy – Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson

Eric Jackson 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 eight 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.

Eric Jackson is the Founder and CEO of Element 47, a web design and marketing agency that helps businesses reach their marketing goals and connect to their next customer. Eric has been a member of EO for about 15 years. Before Element 47, he was the Founder and Managing Partner at Keystone Business Solutions and the President of the EO Nashville Chapter.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn

[2:03] Recognizing mortality as a catalyst for living a more focused life
[4:29] Eric Jackson talks about the pivotal moment of his father’s last days
[18:39] The influence of Eric’s dad’s passing on his parenting style
[23:42] Discussing grief and mortality with your EO forum: a therapeutic journey
[27:49] How the death of a loved one can shape and change a person fundamentally
[33:43] The importance of reconciling past grievances and misunderstandings with parents

In This Episode

When faced with the inevitability of losing a loved one, entrepreneurs often wonder what they could have done differently. What if you were given the chance to say everything that needed to be said before it was too late? How can writing a letter help you find closure and peace?

While witnessing his father’s final days, Eric Jackson knew he had limited time to reconcile past differences and spend quality time with him. Eric deepened their relationship by expressing his thoughts and emotions through a letter and facilitating transparent conversations with his father before it was too late. During a loved one’s last days, he recommends having candid discussions with your EO forum about mortality to foster a supportive community and prepare you for the loss. These pivotal life events shape your personal and professional life, providing opportunities for self-reflection and growth.

In this special episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline interviews Eric Jackson about his father’s recent passing. Together, they discuss the value of presence, communication, and proactive acceptance of death and mourning. Eric also talks about appreciating and communicating with those closest to you.

Quotable Moments:

“Everybody dies. Nobody gets out of this world alive.”
“Recognize that eventually you’re going to die… Maybe even think about it every day.”
“Everybody ought to hear from the people that are important in their lives, what you really think of them.”
“The reason for the app is to have deep, meaningful conversations with someone’s video and their face.”
“We got really lucky because we could see it coming. And not everybody gets that.”

Action Steps:

Write a heartfelt letter to a loved one expressing your feelings and gratitude: This action is effective because, as Eric Jackson mentioned, it creates a lasting message that the recipient can cherish and revisit.
Make a commitment to spend regular, quality time with family members, especially aging parents: Prioritizing family demonstrates the value of relationships and ensures no regrets about unspent time or unsaid words.
Reflect on the present nature of your relationships and work towards being fully present with those around you: Being present can strengthen connections and create more meaningful interactions, as highlighted by Eric’s appreciation of his father’s ability to do so.
Use creative outlets, such as songwriting, to process and express feelings about relationships and life experiences: Creative expression can offer healing and a deeper understanding of oneself and others, inspired by Eric’s songwriting experience.
Engage in conversations about death to normalize it as part of life and to be better prepared for it emotionally: By talking openly about death, we can reduce fear and stigma around it, helping ourselves and others to cope better when it does occur.