Future Wealth Builders

The Hidden Treasure Within: A Story from Port Elizabeth

Hello and welcome to today’s effective story. Last week, we journeyed to North Africa, this week, we are in the beautiful country of South Africa.

1 Timothy 4:14 AMPC

[14] Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].

https://bible.com/bible/8/1ti.4.14.AMPC

In the quiet coastal town of Port Elizabeth, known for its beautiful beaches and strong winds, lived a teenage boy named Luyolo. Like many teens, Luyolo often scrolled through social media, comparing himself to others—some were better at sports, some more fashionable, and others seemed to have it all. He never really thought much of his own talents. To him, they were ordinary. But all that changed one windy afternoon when he overheard his teacher explaining something powerful—the endowment effect.

The teacher shared how people tend to place more value on things they already own—not just material things, but even skills, ideas, and passions. This got Luyolo thinking. He remembered how effortlessly he could draw comic-style illustrations. His classmates always asked him to design posters or sketch characters, but he never saw it as something valuable—just something he did for fun. For the first time, Luyolo began to see that his creative gift was an asset, something uniquely his, something he had been taking for granted.

Motivated by this insight, Luyolo decided to take his drawings more seriously. He started an Instagram page to share his artwork and joined a local youth art contest. When his sketch won second place, something clicked inside him. It wasn't just about winning—it was about realizing the worth of what he already possessed. He was beginning to experience the endowment effect, not with money or objects, but with his own abilities.

As he grew more confident, he began to offer digital artwork services to small businesses and local shops in his neighborhood. At first, he was shy to ask for payment, but remembering the value of his talent, he began to charge reasonably. What started as a fun hobby turned into a small business. Luyolo’s story spread through his school and community, and he was even invited to speak at a youth summit about discovering and valuing one’s gifts.

Understanding the endowment effect helped Luyolo not only financially but emotionally too. He stopped feeling the need to compare himself to others and instead focused on what made him special. He realized that true financial intelligence begins with recognizing your value before others do. You don’t need to wait to be famous or rich—your skills, your character, and your potential are assets you already own.

So, to every teenager reading this: what is your endowment effect? What do you have that you’ve been overlooking? Maybe it’s your ability to solve problems, to speak with kindness, to lead others, or to create something beautiful. Don’t let your gifts go to the graveyard of dreams unfulfilled. Start valuing them today. Just like Luyolo, you might discover that the real treasure has been within you all along.