This is a simile! Because it is comparing two things using like or as
In this sentence :
"You also learn what it takes to make money: a lot of effort.”
The main verb is "learn". The verb Takes is also a verb but since it is within the next clause and it is the verb of the Cataphoric refrence "it" such verb cannot be considered the main verb of the sentence.
So your final aswer is Learn.
If your personifying the object, I would mention how lonely it was whatever the object was because it never got used and if it did it was rare. I said it was dark and that the object was used to the dark so when it saw light it was very happy because it was so rare.
