From the outside, Kris was winning: an eight-figure business, more than 100 employees, a growing family, financial success, and people constantly telling him how well he was doing. Behind closed doors, he was battling crippling anxiety, depression, substance abuse, panic attacks, and a relentless belief that no matter how much he accomplished, he still wasn't enough. In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Kris shares how the same competitive operating system that helped him succeed nearly cost him the life he had worked so hard to build—and what finally happened when he stopped trying to outrun himself. In this episode, you'll learn: How childhood loss taught Kris to become fiercely independent and use performance as a way to receive the attention and connection he was missing. Why the relentless mentality that made him an elite baseball player followed him into his career—and eventually taught him to treat everything like an emergency. How the belief "I am not enough" can become fuel for extraordinary achievement while quietly making every accomplishment feel insufficient. What Kris's life actually looked like behind the trips, money, growing business, family, and appearance that he was "killing it." Why alcohol, partying, and other substances became less about having fun and more about temporarily silencing the thoughts he couldn't escape. What happened when Kris finally reached a breaking point—and discovered that vulnerability and asking for help weren't weaknesses. Why success didn't give Kris the peace he expected, and how he's learning to pursue ambition without sacrificing presence, his family, or himself in the process. Key Time Stamps: 04:24: The childhood loss that changed how I experienced the world 12:25: I became obsessed with being the best—and stopped enjoying the thing I loved most 16:59: Baseball ended, but the operating system driving me never did 26:23: Why I unknowingly started treating everything in my life like an emergency 30:14: The belief underneath my ambition that no amount of achievement could silence 33:45: I was building an eight-figure business while quietly falling apart 36:39: Twenty years of emotions finally came out on this staircase 39:06: Everyone thought I was living the dream—they had no idea what was happening behind closed doors 43:27: What I was really trying to escape every time I drank or used drugs 46:29: My wife picked up my phone—and discovered how bad things had actually become 56:32: I finally built a business that didn't need me—and that's when things got worse 1:01:18: Money, success, a family—and me alone in Manhattan at 3 A.M. 1:05:53: I finally told 15 strangers the secret I'd spent years hiding 1:25:22: Success didn't give me peace—it amplified everything I'd spent years avoiding 1:27:23: What success cost me that I can never get back I help founders, CEOs, and ambitious professionals overcome the hidden psychological and emotional costs of success so they can build a life that feels as successful as it looks—and make what matters most matter now. APPLY FOR 1-1 PRIVATE COACHING If you've built a successful life but recognize that the way you've achieved it is beginning to cost you—your relationships, health, peace of mind, or ability to be present—it may be time to do the work beneath the work. Click here to apply for private 1:1 coaching and learn how to pursue success without sacrificing what matters most. HAVE A STORY WORTH SHARING? If you've achieved meaningful success but discovered that it came with sacrifices, struggles, or lessons rarely talked about publicly, your story may belong on The Cost of Success. Reach out to share your story and explore the possibility of joining me for a conversation: paul@thecostofsuccess.com. CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA Watch on YouTube: @thecostofsuccesspodcast Follow Paul on Instagram: @thepaulsalter Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thecostofsuccesspodcast Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: @paul-salter-coaching BUILD YOUR BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE WHO GET IT The M19 mastermind brings ambitious, golf-loving entrepreneurs together to build meaningful relationships, solve real business challenges, and grow alongside people operating at a similar level. Join me and many of the guests there by applying to join today. Apply here. DOWNLOAD FREE GUIDED HYPNOSIS AUDIO FOR FOUNDERS AND CEOS Click here to download a free guided hypnosis experience designed to help you slow down, recognize what you've been feeling, and honestly examine whether work is costing you the relationships, health, and life that matter most.
