The Meaning Behind OTB

Every brand has a name.

For OTB, the name came long before the brand.

"It's Only The Beginning" had been my personal motto for about a year. (You could even call it my nindō). A reminder to stay grateful and humble when things were going well, and to keep moving forward when they weren't.

At the time, I wasn't planning to start a business. I'd simply made something for myself, a bag I designed my own way, and along the way I added a small mark to it. Not because I had a brand in mind, but because the phrase felt right for that season.

People started asking where I'd bought it. That was the first sign this might become something more than just my own bag.

When I eventually decided to build a brand, the name was obvious. It was already the phrase that had shaped how I looked at life, and I hoped it was one others could relate to as well.

At that point, there was a lot to be thankful for. Opportunities were opening up. Life was moving in the right direction. But I never wanted to become comfortable or believe I had already arrived.

To me, it was only the beginning.

The same has been true every step of building OTB since. Starting a business, creating content, putting your work into the world; progress rarely comes as fast as you'd like, and it's easy to question whether you're headed the right way. Whenever those thoughts crept in, I came back to the same line.

That mindset traces back to a verse that's stayed with me for years:

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin..." — Zechariah 4:10

Today, OTB is more than a name on our products. It's a reminder that we're all still growing. There's always another goal to chase, another lesson to learn, another chapter to write.

Whether you're building a business, posting your first video, stepping into the gym for the first time, or chasing something that's been on your heart for years. I hope OTB reminds you that your story is still being written.

Never look down on small beginnings. Every step, however small, is part of the journey.