Page 23 of The Funnel to You

What? I head up there as soon as I finish putting away my returns from last night. Sure enough, there’s a hot coffee and cinnamon roll waiting for me. The coffee has two sugars and two creamers in it, just like how I take my regular coffee.

“Any idea on who brought this by?” I ask her as I look it over. There’s no notes on it except for my name, phone number, and the store address.

“Nope. One of the girls from the coffee shop down the street just dropped it by saying it was for you. I didn’t think to ask. I figured you ordered it with it being so early when you got in today.”

“Huh, nope. Not me.” I shake my head and then my phone is buzzing again with a call to head back to the department.

The rest of the day goes by in a blur and it takes me nearly two hours to finish my coffee. It’s one customer issue after another and complicated returns that I have to go deal with. Why people can’t look at warranty information or use power tools for their intended purpose, I will never know apparently.

As I clock out early that afternoon, I am thankful that I have a few hours before I’m set to meet Matt. I need a breather before I go talk business. Can I just turn my brain off for an hour? Is that an option? I go sit in my car and check emails noticing that one came in from a new salon and spa not far from my apartment. It has a coupon for half off a pedicure. Don’t mind if I do. I call and they have the space to fit me in with enough time for my meeting with Matt.

I walk into the space at 2:40. My appointment is at 2:45 so I have a minute to grab a water bottle and look around. The waiting area is beautiful, open, and has a water feature in the corner. I head over to the wall of polishes to pick out something fun for the warmer weather. This may be my only pedicure this summer, so I need to make it worth it. I grab a really pretty raspberry pink from the wall and head back over to the check in desk. As I wait for the girl to check my information with the computer, I look out the front window. There are several businesses in this plaza, including a gym, and Matt is leaving the building right at that moment. It takes me a moment to notice that it’s actually him. I’m not going to try to get his attention from across the parking lot, I’m going to be seeing him in just a little while anyways.

As he reaches his car, he looks up and we make eye contact. Well, I think we make eye contact. It’s across the parking lot and I have no clue how bad the glare is over here. But I still smile and give a little wave just in case. He waves back then heads to his car. I hope that wave was for me, otherwise, that would be super awkward.

“Okay, we are ready for you at chair two.” The receptionist brings me back to what I’m here for and I head over to the chair and stick my feet into the warm bubbly water. The scent of peppermint feels amazing on my senses as I sink into the water and the comfy chair. An hour later, my feet feel incredible, I’ve enjoyed a calf and foot massage, and my toes are painted a lovely shade of Far Out Fuchsia from OPI. I love this color!

I head home and grab my work bag and then head to the library to meet up with Matt. I told him I need someplace that I won’t spend money today since I have been going out a lot. I get there right on time to find him already working at a table. He looks up and smiles at me then hands over a bag from the grocery store.

“I know we are meeting at dinner time, so I grabbed you something little.” He says as he finishes up his email or whatever he was working on a moment ago.

“You did not have to do that, but thank you.” I know eating in the library isn’t really something we are supposed to do, so I’m thankful when it’s a snack box that I can eat easily without making a mess – hummus, carrots, pita bread, grapes, and a hard-boiled egg. “I didn’t know you went to the gym over in the plaza with Lotus.” I bring up seeing him earlier once I am sitting and situated.

“Yeah, been going for about a year now. I sit at a computer for hours every day, if I don’t make it a point to go a few times a week, I would not be very healthy.” He chuckles as he answers me. “I thought I saw you at Lotus when I was leaving, it was hard to tell from how far away I was.”

“Yeah. They just opened so I got an email blast from them with a coupon, so I got a pedicure and just chilled for a bit. By the way, please tell me I won’t be this tired after every event.” I tell him, absolutely exasperated.

“No, it gets easier. There will be less prep going into them and more people coming to you at your table rather than you going to network around. And I’ll be there to help provide some breaks next time hopefully.”

We work together for a few hours, setting up my email campaigns to my newest extra on my site that is set to go live in two weeks. Now is the time to make sure all of the automations are in place so it is ready when it’s scheduled. And we can start thinking ahead to fall and winter content. Content creation is a lot of working ahead at least three months. The goal is to have the bulk of content and campaigns mapped out six months in advance and then add in the other things as needed.

By the time we are done, I’m feeling like we are in a good space with things. He walks me to my car and helps me get everything inside.

“Have a good night, Sasha. Things are looking good on my end. Analytics are showing that this last campaign is working how we were thinking it would. I will see you next Tuesday unless something else comes up. Text me if you need me.” He smiles at me then walks off.

This is just too seamless. The conversation. The growth. He really is that good with what he does. And I am enjoying spending time with him – both the work side and the leisure side too.

The rest of the week is more of the same routines.

Wednesday I have a new coffee order waiting for me at the shop.

Thursday I end up waking up late and an order is delivered at 7:30, half an hour after I clock in at the store.

Friday morning, Ashley comes over to the apartment for content and has coffee with her that she picked up on her way over.

Friday afternoon I head to work for my closing shift. I’m scheduled to work from one until ten tonight and I was running late, so I forgot to pack a lunch for myself. I clock out at 5:30 to run to Subway just as I hear my name over the intercom. I head to the Service Desk to find a sandwich waiting for me.

Okay. This is officially getting weird. Again, no one knows who ordered it. It’s just here. I shake my head and go back to the breakroom to eat and then finish off the night. I’m going to miss fireworks, but that also means it should be a quiet night. At least my eyeshadow is still sparkly and shining. I’m so ready for a quiet weekend after this week. And all the content from this week is doing really well. I’m glad we went for summer technique and weather styles rather than full Americana this year. It’s going to have a longer “life expectancy” than the traditional holiday makeup. And it’s easier to take off when I get home that night too.

Life continues with our regular routines – spending time at work, with my roommates, with Ashley, and with Matt. I start getting more texts from Matt of things he sees when he is out running errands that make him think about me, or a package showing up at the house from Amazon with things I didn’t order. There’s usually a note attached to those.

A pink pillow with a bunch of lipstick swatches in a pattern on them: “This popped up on my suggested purchases lists last week and I immediately thought of you. Have a great day. – Matt.”

A pack of makeup inspired stickers and notecards: “I know you are sending out some follow up messages to those you have been connecting with at farmers markets and collaboration inquiries. I figured these would be a nice touch to include with those notes. By the way, you are starting to look a lot more comfortable at those events. I’m proud of you. – Matt.”

A variety pack of coffee flavors from a new company in North Carolina: “My parents brought home a bag of this from their last trip and I really enjoyed it. I wanted you to be able to experience it too and maybe try something new. Let me know which one is your favorite. I think it’s going to be the Raspberry Creme – try that one iced or cold brew. – Matt”

He was right – the Raspberry Creme was spectacular and when I told him that, he promptly set up a subscription for me so I get a new pound of coffee every two weeks, usually with another one to try or a refill of one of the others that I liked. I feel incredibly spoiled. And seen. He notices those little things and takes care of them. He does it in a way that I don’t feel like I’m bothering him though – it’s like he wants to make this effort. Effortlessly.

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