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angrylatte's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book as a gift from my university during one of the luncheon talks we had for my graduate program. I blazed through this book in the last two days and I took many of the words to heart. I have my own small business with an online print and sticker shop and have been a little lost on how to grow and develop it. Reading this book gave me some kind of direction and a motivation to get back into improving the work I'm doing while I go through this MBA program. Thank you, Jess, for this insightful book and all the work and wonderful purpose you have done to build your amazing company.
shona_harding's review
Every chapter felt self serving and repetitive. I wanted to enjoy this book so badly but it bored me to death!
jessicamajeski's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book - it's packed with actionable tips & anecdotal stories on how optimism can show up in your life and how to look at things through the lens of optimism. Jess has such a unique perspective and story and I loved learning from her & can't wait to consume more of her content!
lynsyrenay's review against another edition
5.0
This book is hilarious and full of optimism. Whether you're considering starting your own business, contemplating a major milestone in your life, overcoming something difficult, or just needing a shot of positivity this is the book for you. It will give you the extra bit of confidence, the extra bit of good vibes you need to push through and just do it!
Jess is hilarious and reading this book feels like sitting down and talking to a friend. She's young, but has navigated the business world as well as (if not better) than anyone I know. She is proof that you don't need a terminal degree, a fancy title, or a million dollars to do something meaningful with your life or become successful.
After reading this book I'm refreshed, energized, and...optimistic for what the future holds. I'm ready to move forward with my business and kick ass!
Jess is hilarious and reading this book feels like sitting down and talking to a friend. She's young, but has navigated the business world as well as (if not better) than anyone I know. She is proof that you don't need a terminal degree, a fancy title, or a million dollars to do something meaningful with your life or become successful.
After reading this book I'm refreshed, energized, and...optimistic for what the future holds. I'm ready to move forward with my business and kick ass!
annetjeberg's review against another edition
1.0
Sooo, I am a picky self help/motivational book reader. Or better said: I love Brene Brown, who does some real break through work.
I did not really hate this one, unlike Rachel Hollis' work, but once again, there wasn't really anything new in this either. I was actually going to give it a full 2 stars, until I came across her example of helping a homeless person by doing shopping for him, and being annoyed with the fact that he preferred wheat bread. WHEAT bread, as she writes.
And why the heck not. Why should he accept whatever you think is best for him? Why do you think he has not enough agency to determine what he'd like to eat or not? Why not let him do his shopping for himself?
And why do we always determine success by being on TV? Or celebrity involvement? I think I am pretty successful, but hardly anybody ever heard of me! Doesn't bother me one bit.
Just leaving that here too.
I did not really hate this one, unlike Rachel Hollis' work, but once again, there wasn't really anything new in this either. I was actually going to give it a full 2 stars, until I came across her example of helping a homeless person by doing shopping for him, and being annoyed with the fact that he preferred wheat bread. WHEAT bread, as she writes.
And why the heck not. Why should he accept whatever you think is best for him? Why do you think he has not enough agency to determine what he'd like to eat or not? Why not let him do his shopping for himself?
And why do we always determine success by being on TV? Or celebrity involvement? I think I am pretty successful, but hardly anybody ever heard of me! Doesn't bother me one bit.
Just leaving that here too.
lilkahut's review against another edition
5.0
This is not a self help book. This is not a book that will walk you step by step on how to become happy with a new life. In fact, this book will force you to look at your life directly in the face and understand that there is good in all of it. That’s the point of this book. Optimism. Something Jess, the author, explains we all have as children and then learn to give up as we grow older. But we don’t have to!
Jess writes in an honest and funny fashion that makes you feel like you’re sitting at a bar together, just catching up. Trust me, I’ve done that exact thing with this wonderful human and it’s the same.
Chasing the Bright Side will help you find the optimism in life again by allowing you to laugh with Jess at her own life’s stumbles and her encouraging inner monologue to overcome it all.
Try it, try finding your optimism again, you won’t be disappointed.
Jess writes in an honest and funny fashion that makes you feel like you’re sitting at a bar together, just catching up. Trust me, I’ve done that exact thing with this wonderful human and it’s the same.
Chasing the Bright Side will help you find the optimism in life again by allowing you to laugh with Jess at her own life’s stumbles and her encouraging inner monologue to overcome it all.
Try it, try finding your optimism again, you won’t be disappointed.
andrearbooks's review against another edition
4.0
On the Bright Side by Jess Ekstrom was a read I picked up after a co-worker was telling me about an upcoming conference she was going to attend. I happened to see the book on the new releases section of the library (back when I could still visit), and I decided to check it out. The author is the founder of Headbands of Hope, a company that donates a headband to pediatric cancer patients for each headband that is purchased. This is the story of how she got started to where she is now with a deep exploration of what happened along the way. What I loved about this was that she was honest and real. Some stuff went down as she was getting started, and she didn't try to hide that. This was a real exploration of how she had an idea, but also legit no idea what she was doing, and how she then figured it out. And by figured it out, she made some mistakes and had some fails. I love that this is a lesson in finding and living your passion, but it shows how that actually goes. It isn't sugar-coated and/or an oversimplification. The authenticity shines through as she talks about the awesome stuff and the not so awesome stuff. I chose to read this one as I just needed a shot of positivity in my life, and this so did the trick. It's a quick read, but one that's message will stick with you. I'm so glad I picked this one up on a whim!
jessicachenard_author's review against another edition
5.0
It was very refreshing to read how her purpose, passion & business started. I loved reading about the real moments along her journey.
amz10190's review against another edition
5.0
My friend and I read this together and did the discussion questions as well. I absolutely loved this book!! Not only was it easy to read and understand, but I actually WANTED to keep reading. Some self-help books like this are very dry and come off too systematic and fake. I love how Jess shares a story from her life that tied in with each chapter and lesson she learned. I felt like I was along with her through it all. Her thoughts were so genuine and it felt like my friend was talking to me. I underlined a lot in this book and plan to revisit it as I continue my journey.