How We Move When No One’s Watching
Let’s talk about the moments that don’t make the highlight reel.
Because while building brick by brick is the philosophy, today I want to focus on those bricks no one ever sees.
The ones where there’s no award, no applause — just you, your ambition, and a blank screen. The truth is, growth isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s silent. Invisible. Relentless.
I woke up yesterday morning, made my coffee, scrolled through my phone, and nearly spat out my first sip when I saw the email. “Material Opulence nominated for Best Clothing Apparel Line in the Kansas City People’s Choice Awards.”
My first thought? “Wait, is this real?” My second thought was about all the mornings that didn’t start with good news. All the mornings I dragged myself to my laptop after a sleepless night, wondering if anyone was even paying attention.
After the initial shock wore off, I felt a wave of gratitude. Not just for the recognition, but for the journey. For the times no one saw. Because behind every win are countless quiet moments most people never hear about.
The Grind Between the Applause
There’s a certain kind of beauty in the in-between.
That stretch of time between the celebration and the next big thing. That space where nothing is guaranteed, and yet you still choose to show up.
Most people want the finish line without falling in love with the training. But this brand — this mission — was born in the middle. Built from the ground up by faith, by hustle, by intention.
Like that Tuesday in March when I was sketching designs at 2 AM before a 8AM shift, knowing no one would ever see the 14 iterations that didn’t make the cut. Just me, a half-eaten bag of chips, and my cat judging me from across the room.
And when I say “we’re still building,” I mean it.
The pop-up shops where I’m frantically steaming clothes, while warming up my car. The emails from interns where I’m replying with typing errors because I’ve it’s been a long all day. The late-night Canva edits with eyes so tired I can barely see straight. The full-time job I clock into before I clock back into the dream.
The work isn’t always pretty. But it’s always purpose-driven.
Moments That Don’t Make the Feed
Nobody claps when you:
- Redo the same design three times because something doesn’t feel right
- Get turned down for vendor spots you were perfect for
- Respond to emails on your lunch break while eating a desk meal
- Get passed over for opportunities you prayed for, then stressed over
But those are the moments that shape you.
I remember standing at my first solo booth with barely enough merch to fill the table. My hands were shaking as I arranged shirts that I’d stayed up all night packaging. I remember doubting myself as I set up, questioning if anyone would even stop by. The first hour, exactly two people glanced my way. One asked where the bathroom was.
But I showed up. And eventually someone did stop. And then someone else. And then someone bought something and I had to fight back tears while making change.
Not because it was perfect. Because it was real.
The Myth of Overnight Success
We live in a world that celebrates the outcome but often ignores the process.
People see the nomination. They don’t see the nights I worked on the brand after a 10-hour shift, barely keeping my eyes open, questioning every decision.
People see the product drop. They don’t see the designs that didn’t make it, the ideas I had to shelve because of budget, the months I questioned if it was all worth it while staring at inventory in my living room.
But I’ll tell you what I’ve learned:
Success is built in obscurity. In the days when no one is watching. In the decisions you make when the only one holding you accountable is you.
The truth about success isn’t glamorous: it’s showing up when no one’s watching, over and over again, until the world can’t help but take notice.
What Progress Really Looks Like
This past week alone, I:
- Emailed exchanges with Pro X interns on Monday to outline summer plans while racing a deadline for a
- Researched manufacturers samples for our upcoming June pieces on Wednesday during my lunch hour
- Followed up with pop-up event organizers for this summer when I really just wanted to take a nap
- Strategized with creatives on future collaborations that likely, won’t launch until 2026, even though my brain wanted immediate gratification
None of these things were glamorous. None of them earned me a single like or comment. My parents didn’t call to congratulate me on sending those follow-up emails.
But they were necessary.
And they’re part of a bigger picture I believe in.
To Anyone in the Middle
If you’re in a place where it feels slow… Where you’re doing the work but the results aren’t instant… Where it feels like the world isn’t noticing…
I see you refreshing that inbox. I see you checking those stats. I see you wondering if you’re crazy for believing so hard in something that sometimes feels invisible to everyone else.
Keep going.
Your dream is not on a deadline. Your story is not too late.
The in-between is not a setback — it’s a setup.
You are learning. You are refining. You are building something that will outlive the likes, the views, the moment.
Brick by Brick
Material Opulence didn’t happen by accident. It happened by consistency. By waking up and choosing to believe even when it was hard. By knowing that legacy is built through presence, not perfection.
We are still becoming. And that is something worth celebrating.
Every message of support. Every blog read. Every vote for this brand. It matters.
Because it means you see the work between the wins.
And that’s where the magic really lives.
Let’s keep going. Together.
Share your “work between the wins” moment in the comments or tag us in your behind-the-scenes process. Your grind deserves to be seen too.
🖤 #WhatsYourMO #ThatsMyMO #TheWorkBetweenTheWins