A contrary perspective of mine is that there are occasions where being overlooked can be a gift.

It never feels good to be overlooked or underappreciated. But I never let that make me feel any less than what I knew I was—or what I knew I would become. Over time I learned that many people can only recognize qualities they already understand. So when your value is unconventional, unfamiliar, or ahead of its time, the wrong crowd may completely miss it.

Sometimes being undervalued is simply a sign that you are not in the environment designed for your growth.

WHY SOME NEVER SHINE

There are countless geniuses whose gifts were never seen—not because they lacked potential, but because:

• They didn’t identify their gift early enough
• Others couldn’t recognize it
• They accepted an identity someone else projected onto them
• They gave up because no one believed in them

The tragedy is not the lack of talent—it’s the timing of your becoming.

A LESSON IN TRUE WORTH

This story has always stayed with me:

A father gives his son a watch that was passed down to him from his grandfather. A precious, yet very old time-piece that had a few small scratches and abrasions. He asks his son to get the watch appraised so that his son understands the value of the watch. The father instructs him to visit various locations to get a general idea of the perceived value.

The son is first instructed to take it to a jewelry store; after review they offer the son $100. He then took it to a pawn shop; after review they offer the son $20, pointing out the various scratches. Finally, he took it to a museum; the curator offered $1,375,000 because it is a very rare antique.

The son returns to the father with the news, and the father tells him:
“The right place values you in the right way. Don’t stay somewhere that can’t see your worth.”

The moral is simple:
Never let anyone place you in a box simply because they don’t understand what you carry.

IDENTITY, SELF-TALK & ETERNAL WORTH

In the past when someone would to underestimate me, I’d remind myself:

– My name is Early—you can’t put “time” in a box.

It’s a pun on my name, but to me it means:
Who I am is beyond their limitations or their timeline.

What you say to yourself matters.
What you think of yourself matters.
How you treat others matters.

Being overlooked is not a sign that you should shrink—it’s often a signal that it’s time to grow.

We speak a lot about IQ (intelligence quotient), but EQ (emotional quotient) is equally, if not more, important.

EQ is what allows you to:

• Manage your perspective
• Direct your thoughts
• Control your emotions
• Strengthen your actions

Your emotional maturity determines the altitude of your success.
Attitude truly is latitude.

HUMILITY, TIMING, & THE RIGHT POSITION

You always have a choice in where you position yourself. Sometimes it’s not your time to shine—not because you aren’t ready, but because you’re being positioned for something greater.

Don’t resent the season of being underestimated.
Build daily.
Stay consistent.
Eventually, people won’t be able to overlook you even if they tried.

When your time does come, your experiences become someone else’s blueprint.
Some of your trials aren’t meant only for you—they’re meant to help you uplift someone who is walking the path you once walked.

FINAL THOUGHT

Never let people walk over you.
Exude excellence in character and action.
If you feel overlooked, remember:
Your opportunity may be just around the corner, and you must grow into it before you step into it.

“A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” — Proverbs 18:16

Your gift will make space for you.
Just don’t give up before you arrive at the room where you are truly valued.

— Early Boykins III