Page 6 of Hitched to my Boss

"The same principle applies to business relationships. Different situations require different strategies, but the core competence remains the same."

I can see him turning the concept over in his mind. Jason strikes me as someone who approaches everything analytically, breaking complex problems down into manageable components. If I can frame reputation management in terms he understands, I might actually be able to help him.

"So what's the first step?" he asks.

"We need to identify your optimal operating conditions. The types of interactions where you feel most confident and effective." I pull up a new document on my tablet. "Then we figure out how to recreate those conditions in business contexts."

"I'm most effective when I'm working alone."

"That's not entirely true, or you wouldn't have built a successful business that requires client interaction." I tilt myhead, studying him. "Tell me about your best client experience. Someone you enjoyed working with."

He thinks for a moment. "There was a rancher in Montana. Tarah Chen. She had a problem with coyotes getting into her chicken coops."

"What made that experience different?"

"She understood the situation. She didn't expect me to perform or put on some kind of show. She showed me the problem, asked direct questions about my approach, and then got out of my way to let me work."

"And how did you initially connect with her?"

"A phone call. She'd heard about my work from someone else and called me directly. No intermediaries, no sales pitch required."

"What about the actual job? Did you have to interact with her ranch hands, provide progress reports, deal with unexpected complications?"

"Some. But it felt natural because we were all focused on solving the same problem." His voice warms as he remembers. "She actually joined me for part of the tracking work. Said she wanted to understand how the coyotes were getting access so she could prevent future problems."

"And you were comfortable with that?"

"Surprisingly, yeah. She was competent, asked good questions, and didn't slow me down."

Jason's comfort level appears to be directly tied to competence and shared purpose. He doesn't dislike people; he dislikes incompetence and artificial social dynamics. This is valuable information.

"What about the business side? Contract negotiation, payment, follow-up?"

"All handled professionally. She paid on time, provided references when I asked, and called me back six months later for a consultation on preventing future issues."

"Perfect." I lean back, pieces of a strategy already forming in my mind. "That's exactly the kind of client relationship we want to replicate with Marcus Hartwell."

"Except Hartwell has already made it clear that my reputation is a problem."

"Which means we need to control the narrative before you meet with him." I pull up a fresh document. "I'm thinking a comprehensive digital presence overhaul. Professional website showcasing your expertise and approach, client testimonials that emphasize your problem-solving abilities, maybe even some educational content that positions you as a thought leader in sustainable wildlife management."

Jason looks skeptical. "I don't do social media."

"You don't have to. That's my job." I smile at his obvious relief. "Though you will need to provide content and approve everything before it goes live."

"What kind of content?"

"A few case studies, methodology explanations, maybe some educational pieces about coexistence strategies for ranchers and wildlife." I'm getting excited now, ideas flowing. "The goal is to position you as the expert who finds solutions other people can't or won't consider."

"And this will convince Hartwell to work with me?"

"This will give Hartwell a reason to overlook whatever he's heard about your interpersonal skills." I lean forward, meeting his eyes. "Jason, you're not trying to become a different person. You're just learning to present your expertise in a way that makes sense to clients who don't know you yet."

Something shifts in his expression, a subtle relaxation that tells me he's starting to believe this might actually work.

"How long will all this take?"

"Depends on how much access you're willing to give me." I pause, choosing my words carefully. "I'll need to spend time here, observing how you work, understanding your methods well enough to write about them authentically. And I'll need you to be available for interviews, content review, maybe some practice sessions for client interactions."

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