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.
Join the conversation now!
Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.
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 Car
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.