12 Dec 11  -  So often, while networking for my business, one of the first questions someone asks is, “What’s the story behind the name ‘Flip Cat?’” Here’s a little background to answer that question.

In 2008, I was comfortably employed, yet some of my friends had been recently laid off or were not in an ideally-suited position. During one morning’s commute on the bus, I was reading Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone, a great book on networking. Thoughts from the book coincided with my own thoughts about how I might help support and connect my friends. I have long been blessed with a great network of talented people, and that has grown exponentially in the past year when I began to pro-actively network for my business. Well, the more I read and reflected, I thought, “I have always landed on my feet, how can I help others do the same?” The initial idea of Flip Cat was born.

Just how have I landed on my feet? Let me count a few of the ways:

• At age 5 I was pushed into the deep end of a pool and almost drowned.
• At 14, I almost died of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
• In 1988, I was held up at knife-point in my own apartment.
• Four years later, I was held up at gun-point in my own apartment. (A different one, in a different city.)
• On a trip to Dublin, Ireland, I was one step away from being hit by a city bus.
• A year later, an out-of-control SUV narrowly missed hitting me while careening and spinning across the median from southbound I-35 to the northbound lanes in a heavy downpour at 70 mph.

I figure I have 3 lives left.

The Flip Cat goals are to help new businesses and entrepreneurs land on their feet as they get started, and help established businesses find ways to leap to the next level as they develop. The more we achieve these goals together, then the more we can give back to our respective communities.

Flip Cat provides marketing strategy, business development, public relations, special events logistics, content writing for online & print, and business social media strategy. (Not sure about social media for business? Don’t think you want to bother with it yet? Then recall a time when web sites were born and the development process for that. Social media will become a tool you will use in your business. You should plan for that now.)

I try to support my community through donations and outreach to the American Red Cross, American Stroke Association, MS Society, North Texas Food Bank, Captain Hope’s Kids, Wounded Warrior Foundation, and Rover Dramawerks. I also provide pro bono work for non-profits each year.

Is there a Flip Cat? Yes and no. I have had six cats since the age of 8. Most were named for musicians and most were black cats. The inspiration for the logo is based on my last and smartest cat named for Sam Cooke. My present cat is a “tabby Abyssinian” with the oddest personality I have ever encountered, but very sweet-natured. He’s named for Van Morrison. He may guest-post at a future date…we shall see.