"Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant."
Earning Income
Money is a tool. The Mature King makes money so he can take care of his people and open doors that would otherwise stay shut. He's not hoarding—he's providing. And the good news is that making money is something you can learn, like anything else.
The Tyrant exploits and hoards. The Victim either refuses to engage with money or makes it his god. The Mature King makes money as a means of provision and service.
Making money well requires several capacities:
Value creation: Money flows from creating value for others. The King develops skills and offers services people need.
Market awareness: The King knows what people will pay for. He finds the intersection of his gifts and others' needs.
Negotiation: The King asks for fair compensation. He doesn't undervalue himself or overcharge.
Multiple streams: The King creates multiple income sources. He doesn't depend on one stream.
Investment: The King makes his money work through wise investments. He doesn't just earn—he grows wealth.
Learning: The King develops new skills that increase his earning capacity over time.
Making money isn't the point of the King's life, but he can't fulfill his purpose without it. Money buys options, keeps the wolves from the door, and makes generosity possible. A King who can't bring in enough to cover what his realm needs ends up dependent on someone else or watching his people go without.
How you make your money matters as much as how much you make. The King earns in ways he can look himself in the mirror about. He won't sell his integrity for a bigger paycheck. He looks for the overlap between what pays and what he can be proud of.
The King who gets good with money takes care of his people, puts something aside for what's coming, and gives freely when he can. And he does all of it without compromising who he is.