He Built an Empire. Then Lost Himself

I knew Robert Hartline as a savvy businessman and someone who'd been a big Marco Polo fan for years. Then I read his LinkedIn post about love. I had to have this conversation. Robert spent 22 years building something extraordinary — 78 stores, 450 people, the fastest-growing business in middle Tennessee two years running. And slowly, quietly, he was going numb. Then T-Mobile acquired Sprint overnight. Everything collapsed in months. He was lost, using weed, and writing in his journal every day about fear. Until one day, what came out wasn't just fear. He told a friend. The friend said: come to Costa Rica. That yes changed everything. There's a moment in this conversation that was particularly meaningful to me. A breathwork facilitator asked him what he does. He said: "I sell cell phones." She said: "You help people connect with each other. You connect people." He got emotional just retelling it. So did I. Like he'd fallen asleep and suddenly remembered who he was. Nine years sober. A breathwork facilitator. A leader helping entrepreneurs stop running from themselves and start leading from their hearts. A man whose whole philosophy — and last name — is Heartline. ▶️ Watch the full episode now. 👤 Robert can be found: Instagram:   / roberthartlinejr   LinkedIn:   / bobbyhartline   Website: https://roberthartline.com/ Website: www.scalingsober.com ✨Vlada can be found: LinkedIn:   / vlada   Substack: https://heartfulwonders.substack.com/ Instagram: ⁠  / vladabortnik   📎 Resources mentioned: Traction: https://www.eosworldwide.com/traction... Three Marriages: https://www.davidwhyte.com/three-marr... 10x Is Easier Than 2x: https://www.10xeasierbook.com/ EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System): https://www.eosworldwide.com/ Strategic Coach: https://www.strategiccoach.com/ Evolution of Dave (YouTube):    / @evolutionofdave   Envision Festival: https://www.envisionfestival.com/ Power vs. Force – David R. Hawkins: https://veritaspub.com/product/power-... 🎧 This episode is also available on Spotify and Apple: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vi2... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... #HeartfulWonders #FollowingYourHeart #Sobriety #Breathwork #Entrepreneurship #FounderBurnout #PersonalGrowth