Page 4 of The Funnel to You

They both look at me with amused looks on their faces. I know Carter is going to be proposing sometime soon. And Kylie knows too. Their anniversary is in the spring, so probably next March or April if I had to guess.

“That’s not even up for negotiation.” Kylie tells me. “Oh look, there are these guys called ‘funnel experts’ or ‘content visibility specialists’ and a few of them offer free consultations to see if they are a good fit. I’m going to send you a few of these to look over tomorrow, because it is fast approaching bed time and we need to cap this conversation or you will never sleep.”

“Perfect! Thank you both so much.” My phone begins dinging with messages from both Kylie and Carter – links to the expert websites, an article to read on funnel types, and a picture of the notebook paper that Carter has been working with. They really are amazing.

I finish my tea while Kylie loads the dishwasher and then we all head to bed.

I go through my nighttime routine and get on my pajamas then crawl into bed. I plug in my phone, set my alarm, and then turn the screen upside down. The fan is on so I have my white noise going. But I don’t want a distraction. I need to leave this problem for tomorrow. I can only worry so much about this. I mentally go on my walk again in order to settle down and eventually drift off…4:30 is going to come early and with that a full day of work and the dive into figuring out what the heck a funnel is.

Chapter Two

Sasha

Butter Pecan Cold Brew with cold foam and French Vanilla

Social Post: OOTD for work at the Depot today. I’m seriously debating a petition to opt out of the orange aprons, because how cute is this?? #depotday #ootd #sashaloveslipstick

Image Description: Mirror selfie before I head out to work! Minus the apron.

Today is overwhelming.

I really have no other thought about today than that. Everyone has been having issues with the scan guns and our inventory is off on some of our most popular items. I haven’t been able to put any mental energy into the whole makeup, social media, and funnel problems. Which just means I am stressed and freaking out. I am not the kind of person to put issues on the back burner until later in the day. It just sits in the back of my mind until it turns into a migraine or a tummy ache – or both.

Today, it’s both.

I only have an hour left in my shift and my favorite contractor is coming in soon to review his order for a job he’s starting next week. I’ve been working with Ryan for years and I am his favorite. I’m not full of myself – he’s told me this. And he brings me coffee, so I’m not complaining.

Just before Ryan is set to come in, Frank comes up with a customer order in hand.

“Can you please pull this before you leave?” He hands it to me and immediately turns around.

“Frank, I really don’t have time for this today.” I go to hand it back to him. “I’m buried with the inventory glitches and I have a meeting with my contractor in twenty minutes that I need to have stuff pulled for.”

Frank looks more frustrated than I feel today. His dark hair is damp with sweat at his hairline and his normal polo is untucked and covered in dirt. This man doesn’t know how to handle pressure and has a minor meltdown if he has to actually come onto the floor to get work done. And apparently, he just came from the garden department by the looks of the dirt on his clothes.

“What all is in the order?” I ask him. Hoping I can at least give him some direction and he can’t say I’m totally bailing on him. Although, we have two full time order pickers – why is he asking me about this?

“It’s a whole bunch of random nuts and bolts. Literally one or two of twenty different pieces. And then a few basic household things like a screwdriver. It looks like someone is building a dresser or something and they aren’t sure what is needed but also doesn’t want to come in and look at things so they ordered one of all of the options”

I have to hold back a chuckle. That used to be me.

“Hand it over. I’ll get it done. That won’t take me long, but I do need to be left alone during my meeting with Ryan when he gets in. I have to finish these orders with him or he is going to miss deadlines.”

Frank gives me a head nod and then walks back to his office. I seriously wonder why it takes him so long to do those reports each week. Maybe he needs an assistant.

I get all the parts pulled in ten minutes. Luckily, everything was pretty close together. I bring it up to the service desk and get it keyed into the system as ready for pickup. It’s for a guy named Luca. That’s a new one.

Right on time, Ryan walks in with my iced green tea matcha latte and a notebook. Ooooh, and a new pen! Yay me. We head over to the desk in millworks (doors, windows, all that stuff) and go over his latest order.

“You don’t seem like your normal happy self today, Sasha. What’s up?” Ryan asks after we get through the majority of the hardware order. Today he’s in his signature paint covered light denim jeans and a black tee shirt. Nothing fancy, but it works. His dad handles most of the customer and client interactions and Ryan handles the actual physical work alongside his team. And the Depot trips. I’m the one that tends to get dressed up every day.

Today, I am in my black dress slacks, my sparkly silver flats, a floral blouse and a black cardigan. Plus some super cute silver jewelry. My hair is pulled back in a pink headband that matches with some of the florals on my shirt as well as my lipstick. It contrasts my deep brown hair well. I went with a subtle pink shimmer eye look today that works well with my brown eyes. I don’t usually do a full glam makeup look on regular work days – I save those for corporate visits and presentation days.

“It’s fine– I’m trying to figure out how to work more intentionally on the makeup account I’ve been growing so that it can actually turn into something where I’m making money off of it. Right now, I’m pouring a lot of attention and time into content and products and it’s not really turning into much yet. I love what I get to do, but it would be nice for it to be bringing me at least a bit of free product. I only get so many new viewers because of contacts here, ya know?” I say with a bit of sass.

Ryan has been working with me for a while so he knows I am growing my makeup accounts. His wife is one of my followers and I’ve had the chance to do her makeup a couple of times on my channel. The connection has been good, but it isn’t what I need.

“What are you looking to do to change that? I know you don’t want to be here working with contractors forever.”

---