The morning began with a soft vibration on my wristband. When I blinked awake and checked it, I saw the first notification of the day: a new message on WorkNet. My half-asleep mind jolted awake instantly. I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and opened the message.
Client: "Good morning. I saw your Aren Scheduler post. Do you offer a demo for restaurants?"
My pulse picked up. Another potential customer. I straightened my posture and typed quickly.
Me: "Yes. I can prepare a restaurant-tailored version within an hour."
Client: "Great. Sending details now."
The files arrived seconds later—menu types, staff count, customer flow, preferred schedules. I skimmed them while getting dressed, brushing teeth, and brewing coffee at the same time. Efficiency had become a default mode for me. I took my cup to the desk and began assembling the restaurant demo. It didn't need much. A custom UI theme, a reservation layout, a staff-shift module. After thirty minutes, I tested it twice, fixed a few small bugs, and sent it over.
Client: "This is clean. We'll try it for five days. If it fits, we'll subscribe."
Another trial. Another step. The foundations of my business were starting to take shape. But ten paying subscribers… that was a big number. Thirty days sounded long, but time had a way of slipping through fingers when pressure mounted. I needed a real plan. A real strategy. "System," I murmured, opening a blank page on my tablet. "What's the best way to get early customers—fast?"
[Analyzing…]
I lifted the coffee to my lips and waited.
[Recommendation: Direct outreach to target businesses. Market segmentation strongly advised. Focus on the following sectors: Salons, Clinics, Spas, Restaurants, Cleaning Services, Tutors.]
"Door-to-door marketing?" I muttered. "Really?"
[Direct contact increases conversion rate by 63%.]
I sighed. "I was hoping to avoid awkward sales pitches…"
[Entrepreneurs must adapt.]
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Fair enough." So the old-fashioned way it was. I created a list—thirty businesses within walking distance that might need scheduling help. Small shops, small owners, small problems. The perfect market. After preparing ten personalized templates, I exported everything to my wristband. I tied my shoes, grabbed my keys, and stepped out of the apartment. The elevator hummed softly as it descended. On the street, morning traffic filled the air with hover-engines and distant chatter. I walked with determination toward the nearest stretch of small shops. My first stop: a modest hair salon named Glow Trim. The neon sign flickered slightly, and a bored-looking receptionist sat behind the counter. I took a slow breath and stepped inside. "Good morning," I said with a polite smile. "I'm Aren. I'm a developer who made a simple appointment app that can help salons manage bookings, reminders, and staff schedules. It's affordable and easy to use." She blinked, clearly not expecting a sales pitch this early. "Do you have a demo?" "Yes." I projected the interface from my wristband. She leaned forward, curious despite herself. "Oh… that looks clean. Wait one moment." She disappeared into the backroom, returning with the manager—a middle-aged woman with tied-back hair and tired eyes. "You made an app?" she asked, skepticism dripping from her tone. "Yes. And I can customize it to your shop if needed." I walked her through the features. She folded her arms, but her eyes softened slowly as she watched the automated reminder system. "Our clients always forget their appointments…" "The app solves that," I said. "It'll reduce your no-shows." After a moment of silence, she crossed her arms tighter. "How much?" "Thirty credits a month." She whistled softly. "That's… cheaper than what we pay now." "And you get a week free. No commitment." Another moment of silence. Then her shoulders dropped. "Alright. Sign us up." My wristband chimed as I registered her trial. One more potential paying customer. I thanked them, stepped back onto the street, and allowed myself a small smile. "One down," I whispered. "Nine more to go." The next few hours passed in a whirlwind of conversations, demonstrations, rejections, and unexpected opportunities. A cleaning service signed up for a trial. A tiny tutoring center wanted a customized version. Two cafés asked for demos. A dental clinic asked if I could integrate a simple patient file system. I promised I would add it later. By noon, my wristband was buzzing nonstop. Trial registrations kept stacking up. People were interested. People wanted solutions. And Aren Scheduler, simple as it was, filled a real need. I sat in a small outdoor food stall, eating a flatbread wrap while checking numbers. Thirteen businesses on trial. That was more than I expected on the first day of outreach. If even a third converted, I'd be halfway to the mission goal. My heart raced with cautious excitement. I was checking messages when a new one popped up—this one from a large-looking establishment: "Silver Petals Spa." I blinked. That was one of the more luxurious spas in the northern district. Probably too big for me. Still, I opened it.
Client: "Saw your scheduler app. Need something better than our current system. Can you visit our branch today?"
My breath caught. A large spa wanting me? "System," I whispered under my breath, "am I dreaming?"
[Host is awake.]
"Helpful," I muttered. I swiftly replied.
Me: "Yes. Please share your address. I can come in an hour."
I finished eating quickly and took a transport pod to the address. The spa was enormous—tall glass walls, illuminated water features, calming music from hidden speakers. I stepped inside, feeling wildly out of place. A young woman at reception greeted me warmly. "Aren Vale?" "Yes." "Please wait. The manager will see you." I waited, trying to calm the pounding in my chest. Minutes later, a well-dressed man in his thirties approached. His expression was sharp, focused, professional. "You developed Aren Scheduler?" "Yes," I said, projecting confidence I didn't fully feel. "We're considering changing our appointment system," he said. "Ours breaks down too often." A weakness in the competition. Perfect. "I can show you what mine can do," I replied. He led me to a small office. I projected the demo. He watched without interrupting, his face unreadable. When I finished, he finally spoke. "This is clean. Lightweight. Fast." My pulse quickened. "We have three branches in Solara," he continued. Three branches? If I got all three… I swallowed. "Can your app sync data across multiple locations?" "Not yet," I said honestly. His eyes narrowed slightly. "But I can add that feature within a week." Silence. Then he nodded. "Show me when it's ready. If it works well, all three branches will subscribe." My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. "Understood," I said with a steady voice. "I'll deliver." Leaving the spa felt surreal. Three branches. Three subscriptions. That would triple my speed toward the mission goal. My balance shook off its earlier nerves and was replaced by fierce determination. The moment I returned home, I sat at my desk, rolled my shoulders, and got straight to work. Multi-branch syncing wasn't complicated—it just needed careful data handling and secure cloud modules. My fingers raced over the virtual keyboard. Hours passed. The sun dipped again. The room dimmed. My back ached. But I didn't stop. Not until the System finally pinged.
[Feature Completed: Multi-Branch Sync Module]
Relief washed over me. "System, what's the performance rating?"
[Performance: 88% stable. Additional optimization recommended.]
"Fine. Optimize it."
[Optimization applied.]
I tested the module repeatedly until it flowed seamlessly. Only then did I package the demo and send it to the spa manager. My finger hovered over the "Send" button for a second… then I pressed it. A weight dropped off my shoulders. Exhaustion hit me like a slow wave, but the good kind—the kind earned after hours of real work. I leaned back and exhaled deeply. "System," I said softly, staring at the ceiling, "how many trial users do I have now?"
[Current Active Trials: 16]
"Sixteen…"
[Projected conversion after trial period: 6–10 subscribers.]
I closed my eyes. "I can actually do this."
[Host is progressing efficiently.]
I smirked. "Thanks." The city glowed outside my windows, and in its neon shimmer, I felt something growing inside me—confidence. Purpose. A promise to myself. The road to ten subscribers had just begun, and I was already running. I whispered to the quiet room, "Aren Technologies… we're going to be big."
[Acknowledged.]