Episode Details

You plan your week. You protect your calendar. You have the productive habits in place.

And then someone asks you for something and even though every part of you wants to say no, you say yes. And you carry the weight of it in silence.

That pattern has a name. And it is quietly costing you more than you realise — in your business, in your relationships, and in your energy.

In this deeply honest conversation, I sat down with Lisa Haydon-Bennett, a therapist who works with women navigating the invisible weight of who they’ve been told to be. What started as a conversation about sustainable energy in work and building an entrepreneur mindset that actually lasts... turned into something much more real. Because we followed the thread all the way back to good girl conditioning — the deep-rooted pattern that teaches women to earn their place through accommodation, compliance, and over-giving. And what that pattern costs us, not just emotionally, but structurally, in how we work and lead.

We explore the parts of us that are still trying to earn approval — the teenage version that comes out when we feel unheard, the compliant self that says yes to avoid conflict, and the shame spiral that happens when we dare to want something different.

We also talk about intent versus impact — why the people around us may not mean to dismiss our needs, but why the impact still lands hard. And what it means to come back to yourself before you respond, rather than either reacting or going quiet.

This conversation will feel familiar if you’ve ever questioned whether you’re allowed to want what you want. It is not a quick fix. But it is an honest, compassionate look at what’s underneath the busy loop and why sustainable productivity has to start inside.

Connect with Lisa Haydon-Bennett

✨ Ready to Take Action?

If this conversation made you think about how much you’re carrying — in your business, your relationships, and the roles you hold — take two minutes and do the CEO Time Quiz. It’s a quick, clear lens on how you’re really spending your energy, not just how you think you are.

➡ Take the quiz: annerajoo.com/quiz

📲 Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations on peaceful productivity, sustainable energy in work, and building a business that doesn’t cost you your wellbeing.

How to leave an Apple Podcasts review

1. Open the Apple Podcasts app.
2. Tap Search and type The Productivity Sweet Spot.
3. Tap the show (not an episode) to open the show page.
4. Scroll down past 4 or 5 episodes to Ratings and Reviews.
5. Tap Write a Review.
6. Choose a star rating, add a title and a short review.
7. Tap Send.

Thanks for listening!

What's really stealing your CEO time? Every entrepreneur has a dominant productivity pattern — a way of working that feels normal, even productive. But when you're the CEO, that pattern has a cost.

It shows up as full days with no real progress. As never having time to sell, to build, to think. As always being busy but never feeling ahead.

You might recognise yourself in one of four patterns: The Overloaded Operator, The Momentum Chaser, The Preparation Loop, or The Capable Bottleneck. 

Find out which one is your dominant pattern 👉 Take my quiz: https://annerajoo.com/quiz

Or book a complimentary productivity assessment with me and start reshaping your approach to productivity and success.

Don’t forget to connect with me on Instagram @_annerajoo_ and share your key takeaways from this episode! Your insights mean a lot to me!