The Hidden Cost of the Hustle: Why Success Isn’t What You Think It Is
I’ve spent much of my life chasing success. First as an athlete, then as a coach, and now as a business owner and leadership mentor. On the surface, it looked like I was ticking all the boxes—achievement, recognition, progress. But behind closed doors, I was often battling something far more complex: loneliness, self-doubt, and a deep sense of disconnection.
I recently had the opportunity to share more about this on The Dad Nation Podcast with Mitchell Osmond. We dove into the parts of my story that don’t always make it onto the résumé—growing up with a narcissistic father, struggling for years with undiagnosed autism and dyslexia, and how these experiences shaped both my ambition and my blind spots.
The truth is, many high-achieving men are carrying silent burdens. We’re told to hustle harder, to push through, to be the rock for everyone else. But that grind often comes at a cost: our relationships, our health, and our ability to be truly present. I’ve seen it in the leaders I coach. I’ve lived it myself.
What helped me start to heal and truly thrive wasn’t more strategy or success. It was a male connection. Safe, intentional spaces with other men where I could take off the armor and be real, where I could explore what it meant to lead with heart, not just hustle.
This episode is one of the most honest conversations I’ve had publicly. If you’ve ever felt like your drive has pulled you away from who you really are, I encourage you to give it a listen. Not to fix yourself—but to remember you’re not alone, and there’s a different way to lead, love, and live.
Let’s keep rewriting the script.
– Lee
