Page 9 of Hitched to my Boss

"Coffee's fresh," I tell her, holding the door open. "Though I’m fairly sure Mrs. Toombs from the lodge already told you my entire life story since you checked in yesterday."

Natalia laughs, a genuine sound that warms something in my chest. "She mentioned you helped her son repair their roof last winter without being asked, and that you always pay your tab at the general store immediately instead of running a monthly account like everyone else."

"Great. She's building me a reputation as a saint."

"Or as someone who's reliable and community-minded." Natalia sets her bag on the dining table, already familiar with the space. "Both valuable qualities for a service-based business."

I watch her unpack what looks like a portable office. Laptop, tablet, portable printer, folders organized by color-coded tabs. The woman is clearly prepared for anything.

"I spent last night reviewing your current business materials," she says, pulling out a folder labeled with my name. "And I did some digging and found out that Hartwell will be at a ranchers' convention in Vegas this weekend. And you and I will be there.”

Panic rises in my chest. “We will?”

“Yes. It’s the perfect opportunity to show Hartwell that you’re willing to adjust to his particular needs without complaint. Plus, Vegas is just an hour's drive from here. It would be career suicide not to attend.”

I release a noncommittal groan that Natalia either doesn’t hear or ignores.

“Now that that’s settled,” she chirps. “We need to talk about how you present your services online."

"What's wrong with how I present them?"

"Nothing's wrong, exactly. It's just very..." She pauses, clearly choosing her words carefully. "Functional. It reads like a government contract."

I probably deserve that. Most of my early clients came through Fish and Wildlife referrals, and I'd written myservice descriptions to match the formal tone of government communications.

"Show me what you mean."

She opens her laptop and pulls up my website, which looks even more sparse on her larger screen. "Listen to this description: 'Wildlife management services including population assessment, non-lethal deterrent implementation, and relocation protocols for conflict resolution.' What does that tell you about how you actually work?"

"That I can solve wildlife conflicts without killing anything."

"Right, but it doesn't explain why that matters, or how you approach problems differently than someone who just shows up with a rifle." She turns the laptop toward me. "Compare that to how you described the Tarah Chen situation yesterday. You talked about understanding the problem, working with her to prevent future issues, and finding solutions that worked for everyone involved."

I see her point. The clinical language I'd used makes the work sound impersonal, when the reality is that every situation requires understanding the specific dynamics between humans and wildlife.

"So, how do I fix that?"

"We rewrite everything from the perspective of problem-solving rather than service delivery." She pulls up a document on her tablet. "Instead of listing what you do, we explain how you think about these situations."

"And that will convince Marcus Hartwell to hire me?"

"Not on its own, but it'll give him a reason to have a conversation with you instead of just moving on to the next contractor." She leans forward slightly, and I catch a hint of whatever perfume she wears. Something subtle that makes me want to lean closer. "The goal isn't to close the deal with yourwebsite. The goal is to get you in the room where you can demonstrate your expertise."

That makes sense. I'm much better at explaining my approach when I can see the actual problem and tailor my response to specific circumstances.

"What do you need from me?"

"Stories. Specific examples of how you've approached different situations, what made each one unique, and how you developed solutions that worked." She opens a voice recording app on her tablet. "I'm going to ask you about various projects, and I want you to talk through your thought process the same way you did with the Tarah Chen example."

"You're going to record me?"

"Only if you're comfortable with it. The alternative is me taking notes while you talk, but I might miss important details."

I consider this. Being recorded feels invasive, but Natalia's approach yesterday had been straightforward and professional. She hadn't tried to manipulate me or push me beyond what I was willing to share.

"Alright. But if you ask something I don't want to answer, I'm not answering."

"Fair enough." She positions the tablet between us. "Let's start with how you got into this work. Not the technical training, but what drew you to wildlife management specifically?"

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