We debated the numbers at the kitchen table. Mark made a list of the trade-offs; I sketched a payment plan that included contingency lines we could use and pay off within six months. Maya, ever practical, suggested a phased bid: offer to start with stabilization and provide a timeline for training to upskill our crew for the conservation phase. It was cautious but credible. Jonah listened and then said, modestly, “I’ll take the training if it means I can do it.” The way he said it—quiet, earnest—made the decision for us. We bid with the phased plan.
The contract went our way. Collins liked the caution as much as the ambition. We hired a conservation specialist for a short-term consultancy to transfer skills and to certify a small team. The work was slow and careful, but it built reputatio
