🎉 Book Launch Special Edition
(Yes, Really. And It Started with a Kitten Named Ninja)
When I tell people Cats Don’t Carpool: They Come in Their Own Accord is a leadership book inspired by cats, I usually get one of two reactions:
- A confused pause, followed by polite curiosity
- A knowing laugh and the phrase “Okay, now I need to hear more…”
So, in honor of book launch day, here’s the origin story of how a kitten, a dog, and a very strange walking routine inspired a whole new way of thinking about teams and leadership.
🐾 It Started with a Kitten Who Stalked My Dog
His name was Ninja.
Not because he was stealthy (although he was), but because he would literally sneak up on me and Bailey, my dog, during our walks. He didn’t want to fight. He wanted to play. With Bailey. Who, bless his patient soul, let it happen.
One day, I started feeding Ninja.
Then Ninja started bringing friends.
Soon, a clowder of cats was trailing behind us like we were the pied pipers of the back alley—me, Bailey, and our ragtag feline entourage.
Then the weirdest thing happened.
The cats started going potty. Like… on cue.
Because they noticed that once Bailey did his business, he got food. So the cats started mimicking him.
I had unintentionally trained a team of cats, without trying.
That was when I realized:
These cats? They were teaching me about leadership.
🐈 What Ninja (and Friends) Taught Me About Leadership
Here are a few feral truths that shaped my philosophy:
1. You can’t lead through force ... only invitation
These cats followed because they wanted to. They chose me. Just like great team members choose to engage (or not) based on how safe, supported, and seen they feel.
2. Everyone learns differently
One cat mimicked Bailey. Another stayed back but showed up at mealtime. Each had their own rhythm, and leaders have to honor that kind of neurodiverse, personality-rich landscape.
3. Trust builds over time
None of those cats showed up wagging tails and making eye contact. I had to show up, consistently, with no agenda other than care. That’s how trust works ... at work, and in life.
4. A little structure + a lot of freedom = magic
I wasn’t commanding them. I was just providing conditions: food, safety, and presence. And those conditions allowed for one very odd but functional cat collective.
📘 Why I Wrote
Cats Don’t Carpool
What started as a funny pattern turned into a deeper reflection on the ways we try to lead people who don’t always “come when called.”
This book is for every leader who’s tried to:
- Get buy-in from wildly different personalities
- Support people who don’t fit the usual molds
- Balance structure with autonomy
- And lead with empathy, even when you’d rather just hide under the bed
It’s about communication. Compassion. Cat behavior. And mostly, it’s about learning to lead by earning trust instead of expecting obedience.
🐈 Final Meows
This book started with a kitten named Ninja, who wanted to play with my dog.
It ended with a leadership philosophy that embraces the glorious chaos of modern teams.
And if you’ve ever worked with people who are brilliant, unpredictable, emotionally complex, a little messy, and occasionally mischievous…
Congratulations. You’re already leading a team of cats.
📘 Cats Don’t Carpool: They Come in Their Own Accord is officially out in the wild!
✨ Get your paws on it today → https://amzn.to/4kCSJ6B
🐾 Then come tell me: What kind of cat boss are you?