358: How to Win at Work Without Paying the Price with Dana L. Cox
The Modern Manager
The Hidden Cost of Success
This chapter delves into the often-ignored emotional and relational challenges associated with pursuing professional success. It examines the burdens faced by managers and the unseen 'success taxes' that can impact personal well-being and core values.
We celebrate the wins. The promotions. The milestones.
But no one talks about the price tag that comes with constantly performing at a high level.
For Dana L. Cox, that price came quietly—missed family moments, sleepless nights, and a level of exhaustion that no amount of caffeine could fix.
She calls it the “success tax”—the hidden costs we pay in pursuit of achievement. Thankfully, Dana’s here to unpack what that tax really looks like and how to stop overpaying it.
Dana is a global executive-turned-coach, Radical Reset Expert, founder of FIX Coaching & Consulting, and author of FROM BURNOUT TO BADASS: Flip the Script on Your Work-Life Balance. She’s helped hundreds of women transition from exhaustion to empowered leadership. Her work integrates cultural wisdom, neuroscience, and strategies for sustainable success.
In this episode, Dana reveals how high-achieving individuals unknowingly pay a “success tax” that can hinder their health, relationships, and performance at work, and what we can do to avoid overpaying.
Dana shares her experience of facing burnout and provides actionable insights for managers and leaders on how to create work environments that prioritize well-being while still achieving exceptional performance.
She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, taking intentional time off, fostering a culture of empathy and support within teams, and more.
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Conversation Topics
- (00:00) Introduction
- (01:32) What are “success taxes”?
- (04:54) The hidden costs of high-performing roles
- (08:31) Getting things done vs. caring for your team
- (12:54) How to pay the success tax without burning out
- (22:05) The power of speaking up
- (25:14) The third shift: how emotional labor affects women in leadership
- (28:07) A great manager Dana has worked for
- (30:38) Keep up with Dana
- (31:40) [Extended Episode Only] How to talk to your team about burnout
Additional Resources:
- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month
- Read the full transcript here
- Follow me on Instagram here
- Visit my website for more here
- Upskill your team here
- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here
Keep up with Dana
- Follow Dana on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook
- Visit her website here for more information
- Grab a copy of her book, From Burnout to Badass, here
FREE Career Clarity Checklist + Positioned to Paid Assessment Calls
Dana is giving members of Podcast+ her Career Clarity Checklist and is offering a limited number of Positioned to Paid™ Assessment Calls, all for FREE.
The Career Clarity Checklist is your first step to stop spiraling and start leading again. It will help you make sure you're aligned, visible, and ready for what's next.
The Positioned to Paid™ Assessment Call is a 30-minute private strategy session designed to help you clarify what’s next, uncover hidden value, and walk away with a custom roadmap.
To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.
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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.
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