#359 - Eric Kline (The Liberated CEO)

What happens when the business you built becomes the cage that traps you? In this powerful episode of The Mike Fallat Show, I sit down with Eric Kline, author of The Liberated CEO: The Business That Runs Without You. Eric’s journey takes us from the high-end construction world of the Cayman Islands to the inner workings of the Ritz-Carlton’s gold-standard culture — and how those lessons shaped his philosophy on leadership, systems, and freedom. We dive deep into the hero trap—that dangerous addiction entrepreneurs have to being needed for every decision—and how it destroys growth. Eric reveals the three I’s of hiring (Integrity, Intensity, and Intelligence), how to retrain your dopamine system as a leader, and why culture always beats strategy. From running multimillion-dollar projects to mastering leadership through empowerment, Eric proves that the real legacy isn’t the buildings you create—it’s the people who carry your vision forward. And of course, we talk AI in construction, Extreme Ownership, and how the future belongs to those who use the robots, not those replaced by them. 🔥 If you’re an entrepreneur who’s tired of running every department, answering every call, and wearing every hat—this episode will show you what true freedom feels like. Follow Mike Fallat on Instagram, Facebook, Truth, Tik Tok, Twitter, and Linkedin. Visit https://dreamstarterspublishing.com to publish your book today!