Happy 1st Birthday YouMap!

It's been ONE year, today, since my book, YouMap, went out into the world! The response has gone far beyond my imagination. YouMap is being read around the world by entrepreneurs, coaches, students, recruiters, job seekers, career changers, hiring managers, and anyone who is curious to uncover their strengths, values, preferred skills, and interests and discover their unique contribution. I would be remiss if I didn't thank Reagan Rothe, Black Rose Writing Founder and Owner, for giving YouMap a chance. And Ken Tasch for introducing us.

YouMap has hit the following incredible milestones:

• #1 category bestseller in at least five countries
• Top 10 category bestseller every month since release
• Top 50 bestselling business book on Amazon
• #1 bestseller in careers on Amazon
• #1 on Amazon's "most wished for" list for its categories
• #1 "most gifted" on Amazon for its categories
• #61 on the top 100 downloaded Kindle books on all of Amazon!
• 41 reviews on Amazon.com, all 5-star
• Rated a Best Reviewed Book by IndieReader.com in January 2019

However, better than all of these milestones are the stories of hope and transformation!

One of my favorite stories is from a colleague who gave the book to a relative who she described as being in a "terrible job for years." She started reading YouMap and decided to interview for another job. Not only did she land the job, but it's two levels higher and a significant pay increase!

Another woman from South Africa wrote me on LinkedIn after reading YouMap:

"You have no idea how God used you to save me from becoming depressed. You gave my husband his wife back and my kids got their Mom back since I was slowly becoming a shadow of myself... I was at my lowest emotionally."

The stories that have poured in have been inspiring. LinkedIn has been flooded with YouMap selfies, video reviews, people recommending it in comments and daily tags referencing it. The ambassadors behind YouMap have been extraordinary.

Many people who read the book and experienced "aha" moments went on to be certified as YouMap® coaches to help others experience the transformation they did working through the book. Those stories are equally inspiring.

In the past year, I've certified 53 coaches in the U.S., Canada and the Middle East. Our upcoming January 7th virtual certification class will have our first certified coach from India! Following are just a few comments shared by YouMap® coaches in celebration of the book's first birthday:

Michelle Rademacher, RP4C

Michelle was one of the very first certified YouMap® coaches and is set to become the first YouMap Master Trainer! She shared the following quote from one of her clients:

“This has been the most fun experience I have ever had writing and learning about myself. 

Typically this is a difficult task for me; however, focusing on the positive experiences I have had, and using the self-discovery process allows me personally to focus on what I love to do and then go after aspects of business (and life) that are tailored to the positives. This creates fundamental happiness in what I am trying to achieve, which ultimately makes me a better business person.”  

Lori Knudsen, Knowbility Consulting

Lori was a YouMap® client after being down-sized. She found the experience so impactful she became certified in the first cohort of coaches. Lori says, " I love the 'aha' moments clients have when going through the YouMap® process; it is a fantastic feeling to experience with them." She shared the following inspiring words from two of her clients:

“I’m still riding on cloud 1,000,000,000 after our session!!! You are the absolute best and this program is legit!” - Karen M.

“Because of the YouMap process and Lori's coaching, I am now more self-aware and confident in who I am!” – Alison B.

Gina Riley, Talence Group

Gina, seasoned in executive search and career coaching, knew YouMap® was what she needed as soon as she saw it. She has been one of the most enthusiastic cheerleaders of YouMap®. Gina offered these thoughts about being a YouMap® coach:

"As a coach and walking on this journey of self-discovery with my clients, it never gets old when we come to the end of the YouMap process and the client says, 'Ohhhhhhhhhhh! I SEE it now!'. The beauty of YouMap is not only seeing the whole person picture, but helping bring out the language that uniquely describes what they bring to the table. This work is foundational to my entire coaching program."

Mimi Rios, YouMap, LLC

The amazing Mimi works with me at YouMap, LLC, and became certified this past August. I hired her without ever seeing her resume. Instead, I looked at her YouMap® and she was the perfect hire. She's everything her YouMap® said she would be! After her first YouMap® client debrief, Mimi was hooked. She shares this reflection after that first experience:

I quickly realized my first client had an immense need for YouMap. She was so miserable at her job and was amazed at how much YouMap was transforming her thinking, helping her discover who she really was. Here is a direct quote from her: 

'I was prepping for my debrief and had an epiphany... through this YouMap process, I discovered that I had wandered so far from who I am at my core and who God designed me to be.'

LOVE IT! And that's why I love YouMapping!!!"

Itzamarie Chevere-Torres, Director of Postdoctoral Affairs, Rutgers University

Itzamarie is the most humble PhD (she's a neuroscientist who doesn't mention she's a neuroscientist) I've ever met. She is the first coach to bring YouMap to a postdoctoral program.

"Today was the first day of me facilitating a workshop using my YouMap training and it was an experience that I will never forget. I was living my true calling and it's a feeling like no other. 10 STEM early career scientists learned about their uniqueness in a way that I could tell was impacting them in a positive way. A lot of eye-opening moments happened." 

Dawn Metcalfe, PDS-i

Dawn is just an absolute rockstar and is based in Dubai (watch this space!) and was one of our first certified coaches in the Middle East. She shared the following from her experience with YouMap®:

“I’ve used YouMap with people ranging from 15 to 45 and every one of them found the insights added to their self-awareness and ability to not only choose the right path but explain to others why this was the case”.

Steve Sullivan, Leadership Coach

Steve has a long history of IT leadership and became certified in YouMap® when he was, himself, a job seeker. He is passionate about self-discovery and is now helping leaders from the consulting side to become better leaders through self-awareness, which is the #1 predictor of career success. His thoughts on YouMap®?

"YouMap is the greatest self-discovery process available to help you understand the power that lies within you."

Loreen Brown, True Harbor, LLC

Loreen left the corporate world to go out on her own after serving on executive leadership teams in senior vice president roles in healthcare. She is a natural coach that has empathy, patience and asks the smartest questions. Working with both adults and students, Loreen shared this testimonial from a recent client:

"Thank you for helping my son understand what excites him and how to focus his efforts. Before he completed the [YouMap] assessments and worked with you, he had no direction and was completely overwhelmed by the college search process."

- Mother of high school junior

Amy Sperry, Executive Director, Union County Education Foundation

Amy works in the thick of education as executive director of UCEF. Her enthusiasm for YouMap® and the work she does coaching students inspires me. And you just have to hear her contagious laugh!

“I feel like I’ve learned a second language now! I speak English and YouMap®.

Being “bilingual” has helped all areas of my life and I love to teach others this new speech.”

Allegra Stein, Allegra Stein Coaching

Allegra is a creative force and perhaps you've seen her YouMap® sketches on Instagram or LinkedIn. If not, follow her! It only makes sense to share one of her sketch posts here.

And now, if you've read this far, are you ready for the anniversary giveaway?

I am drawing one grand prize winner with proof of purchase of the book (Kindle, audible, or paperback). If you are the winner, you can gift your prize to someone else. Proof of purchase must be dated today through November 15, 2019.

Option 1: A full YouMap® self-discovery coaching engagement with me (valued at 1,000 USD):

• YouMap profile report and three virtual coaching sessions

OR

Option 2: A spot in the YouMap® certified coach program this coming January (day and evening class available). Valued at $2,875 USD.

• To qualify to be certified you must be in HR, the career services field, a recruiter, consultant (of any kind), a hiring manager, or work in training, OD, L&D or related field.

Reminder: Proof of purchase must be dated between today and when the giveaway ends November 15th, 2019. Please send proof of purchase to service@myyoumap.com. Purchase on Amazon at bit.ly/YouMapBook.

GOOD LUCK!

I am so grateful to everyone who has been an ardent supporter and ambassador of YouMap® over the past year. There are too many to list! You know who you are...and so do I! I do need to make special mention of the contributors to the book: Donna Serdula, Kerri Twigg, Lisa Jones, Kamara Toffolo and Patricia Edwards.

To all YouMap ambassadors - your support is helping people truly discover themselves -- often for the first time. Because it's hard to read the label when you're inside the jar!

Here's to more lives changed in 2020!