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  • The Upside of Being Down

  • How Mental Health Struggles Led to My Greatest Successes in Work and Life
  • Written by: Jen Gotch
  • Narrated by: Jen Gotch
  • Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

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The Upside of Being Down

Written by: Jen Gotch
Narrated by: Jen Gotch
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Publisher's Summary

A New York Times best seller

An entertaining, humorous, and inspirational memoir by the founder and chief creative officer of the multimillion-dollar lifestyle brand ban.do, who "has become a hero among women (and likely some men too) who struggle with mental health" (Forbes).

After graduating from college, Jen Gotch was living with her parents, heartbroken and lost, when she became convinced that her skin had turned green. Hallucinating that she looked like Shrek was terrifying, but it led to her first diagnosis and the start of a journey towards self-awareness, acceptance, success, and ultimately, joy.

With humor and candor, Gotch shares the empowering story of her unlikely path to becoming the creator and CCO of a multimillion-dollar brand. From her childhood in Florida where her early struggles with bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, and ADD were misdiagnosed, to her winding career path as a waitress, photographer, food stylist, and finally, accidental entrepreneur, she illuminates how embracing her flaws and understanding the influence of mental illness on her creativity actually led to her greatest successes in business and life.

Hilarious, hyper-relatable, and filled with fascinating insights and hard-won wisdom on everything from why it’s okay to cry at work to the myth of busyness and perfection to the emotional rating system she uses every day, Gotch’s inspirational memoir dares listeners to live each day with hope, optimism, kindness, and humor.

©2020 Jen Gotch (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

What listeners say about The Upside of Being Down

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Love Jen and hearing her story

I have followed Jen for many years starting when she had started her blog and when Bando first started. I always dreamed of owning one of her headbands.. I really loved hearing her side of the whole start up of her business and also how open she is about her struggles with mental health. She genuinely exposes the very real unglamorous side of the girl boss movement. Love her honesty. Great listen.

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Must read if you are ready for growth and accept yourself

I loved it! I thought it was funny but also extremely real. Thank you Jen for becoming an advocate for mental health. I personally related to every chapter. Is a great way to look at life as a journey and live it with self compassion and growth and learn from mistakes instead of feeling shame and blame.

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