It was one of the greatest single concentrations of wealth ever assembled in one place.

Mostly gold and silver bars, gold chains, newly minted gold and silver coins - - loaded onto 12 wooden ships sailing from Cuba to Spain, on July 24, 1715.

Five days out, a tremendous hurricane struck the fleet, sinking all but one of the ships, and scattering the treasure into the sea - just a few hundred feet off the coast of present day Florida.

All that gold and silver, sinking to the bottom of the ocean . . . just waiting to be found.

This past week I was in Florida and camped within a mile of where the treasure was lost.

And yes, I walked the beaches looking for gold and silver.

I really didn't expect to find treasures, but I wanted to see how many other people would be out there - looking for lost treasures.

And there were none.

I suspect that most people visiting the area had no idea that billions in lost treasures were just a few hundred feet offshore.

We are all probably that way. Not aware that we are surrounded by 'lost treasures' just waiting to be found.

Whether it be a product waiting to be developed, a talent unrecognized, or a technique yet mastered, we all have treasure nearby.

All we need do is dig for it.