You know, you can’t help from your knees.
Seriously.
I’ve met so many women over the last decade who just keep giving…
Helping. Supporting everyone around them…even when they’re running on fumes.
Why do we do this?
Why do we put ourselves at the bottom of the list… or not even on it?
Honestly, I think it’s the patriarchy.
Most leadership models were designed by men, for men.
And we’re taught from a young age that to be of value, sacrifice is the currency.
That we’re a resource: here for everyone else’s benefit.
And even though I know better, hell, I’ve done the work, I teach this stuff!…It’s still deeply internalised for me.
I catch myself in it all the time.
You might not be aware of it yet, but it’s in you too.
I call it the Martyr Habit.
Most women will unconsciously prioritise everyone else’s needs above their own.
Our deep desire to please can completely override our desire to stay well, rested, whole.
And when it comes to work… it’s the same.
I’ve worked with hundreds of incredible women who burned out on the way to their mission.
I was one of them.
When I found the calling to coaching, I learned some amazing tools: how to shift mindset, clear limiting beliefs, release the emotional blocks that hold us back.
They were powerful. I started using them, and everything changed.
But here’s the thing no one told me:
If you give a woman powerful tools for change
without helping her see who she really is beneath the programming…
you will accelerate her straight toward burnout.
That’s what happened to me.
I started setting goals that weren’t mine.
More money. More status. More recognition.
They sounded right. They looked right. But they weren’t aligned with my truest self.
And I achieved them, all of them.
International speaking gigs. LA one weekend. London the next. Sydney after that.
And by 30, I was shattered.
I learned the hard way: you can’t help from your knees.
Because if you give Superwoman tools for change, she’ll use them to push harder. Go faster. Help more people. And collapse.
So it’s critical we look underneath.
What’s really driving you?
And where does that drive come from?
For most of us, it’s not truth. It’s cultural patterning.
And it’s got its claws in deep.
If you’re ready to finally understand this, and shift it, join me for Elevate.
We’ll unlock what drives Superwoman.
We’ll explore where she comes from, what she costs, and most importantly, how to step out of her grip and into a way of being that’s far more sustainable.
Because you can be of service, make your difference, and still thrive.
Ready to be impactful, without burning out?
You don’t need to collapse to make a difference. Elevate will help you make sure you don’t. Join us here.
Author of the Amazon best-selling book, Superwoman: Escaping the Myth, she has explored the hidden pressures women face in leadership and offers a roadmap to sustainable success without burnout.
As the founder of One of many, a global community supporting women in leadership, she is committed to equipping leaders with the tools they need to create sustainable impact, without compromising well-being. Her work integrates neuroscience, behavioural psychology, and emotional intelligence to help individuals lead with confidence and authenticity.
Dr. Joanna's insights have been featured in major media outlets, and she is a renowned speaker on leadership, resilience, and high-performance coaching. When she’s not speaking or coaching, Dr. Joanna enjoys exploring new research in human potential, spending time with her family, and championing initiatives that support women in leadership worldwide.
- You can’t help from your knees - November 19, 2025
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- Finding your momentum – one step at a time. - November 11, 2025
