Diary of an Underwear Dream (Chapter 15): Steady Eddy If I could whisper to young Ali, the one who wanted everything to be perfectly set up and beautifully branded from the very beginning, I’d tell her this: things take time. Dreams like to unfold slowly, and that’s part of their magic. In high school, the assistant volleyball coach called me Steady Eddy. I wasn’t the most powerful player, but my serves and digs were reliable. I was the steady force. Years later, building Eberjey required that same kind of steadiness, especially because we were self-funded. There was no budget for splashy brand plays. Many times, I wanted to quit. But Mariela, my business partner, my ballast, and the steadiest Eddy of all, always reminded me to hold on. Now, nearly 30 years later, I see our little branded flower truck parked outside our NYC store for the Eberjey x Lily Aldridge collab, and our billboards lighting up New York City and it feels surreal. It’s like a dream blooming in its own time, and it reminds me of every small, steady step it took to get here. For anyone building something of their own: what you see today is the result of decades of patience, grit, and love. Don’t be fooled by the highlight reel. Great things take time, and they’re definitely worth the wait.