Lessons learned from Charlie Sheen

DISCLAIMER: First and foremost, I don't condone excessive partying under most circumstances and never condone domestic violence or abuse in any form so spare me the moral and judgmental responses. I live in a glass house.

"We are all born originals - most of us die a copy" - Abraham Lincoln

Many consider Charlie Sheen a playboy, a genius, an addict, honest, an abuser, a top actor and in some circles, simply crazy. Perhaps all may true to varying degrees. But by any standard, Charlie Sheen is an original. And being such, he was the highest paid television actor (and seems that will continue...see below), he's sold out arenas...is the top story on every tabloid news channel...has the fastest growing twitter account in history (and commands 5K to simply reference a product in his tweets) and by no coincidence, rumor has it CBS wants to bring him back, with a raise!

Lessons learned:

1) Be an original. Copies can be replicated and as such are cheaper the more you make.

2) Be honest, regardless of the ramifications. You'll sleep better and be more respected.

3) Having the best product will always supersede having the best service. Think Soup Nazi!

4) The squeaky wheel gets the grease. These sayings were made up for a reason.

5) Any press is good press. See #4

6) Focus on "Winning". Based on the above, looks like he's right.

How to parallel this to recruiting?

1) Propose something unique. Saying you work harder, have the best technology, have the best people, and saying you work with the best candidates...just makes you look stupid (to anyone who will fill your pockets)!

2) If you have a superior product, clients will tolerate slips in service. The reverse is not true! Clients can care less about updates and emails about failure and how hard you're working...they want product, results. I recall one of my bosses who would get to work before anyone and leave after everyone. Some would say he worked hard...others would say he worked slow.

3) If a client screws you, tell them so and move on. Otherwise, you've given them a license.

4) Do anything you can to get your name out there. Be memorable and brand, brand, brand. I've met 100's of recruiters...but I only remember one. A guy walking up and down wall street during the recession with a sandwich board with all the wall street jobs he's working on. I remember him!

5) Keep your eye on the prize...MONEY! Don't be so pretentious as to believe this isn't the measure of success. Frankly, it's the only measure. And for those who wrap themselves in the Snuggie with hot cocoa on a Sunday afternoon and catch up on Oprah re-runs thinking the best measure is making the right fit, think again. If you are making the right fit, you're making the most money.

Fill your veins with Tiger Blood, people!

Comment by pam claughton on March 23, 2011 at 5:25pm: Good post. Agree that Sheen is "crazy like a fox". Saw a clip of him and Mark Cuban on Jimmy Kimmel, that's Mark Cuban the billionaire. He and Sheen are teaming up on some projects. Sheen has already started making serious money off his catchphrases "Winning" and "Tiger Blood", and was tossing shirts with the slogans on them to the audience who were leaping up to get them. This media frenzy will likely result in the highest ratings ever when the show returns (and it was a ratings leader anyway).

Comment by Christopher Poreda on March 23, 2011 at 5:28pm: Saw it too Pam...the inspiration of this post!

Comment by David Luke on March 23, 2011 at 5:54pm: Hi Chris: I liked your disclaimer - point on. It's funny to watch Two and a Half Men now, and try to figure out if Charlie is really acting or just being...Charlie. Some of my friends dont like the show now...but I still use it to fall sleep by..maybe that's my out clause.

What kinds of Tiger Blood people are you recruiting these days?

Comment by Brian Christopher on March 23, 2011 at 7:07pm: Charlie is a looser....nothing to be proud of....

Comment by Christopher Poreda on March 23, 2011 at 7:17pm: Ahhh...but Morgan...remember the name Emilio Estevez? Not much help there. As with all businesses...a little help opens the door...talent, and originality keeps it open.

Comment by Ken Forrester on March 24, 2011 at 11:00am: Well..well..well! Finally, someone has stepped up to say what they really feel, and do it in a way that get their point across without offending anyone. Way to go Mr. Poreda; looks like you have found your true voice/comfort zone. I want to hear more bold views of whatever you have to say.

Comment by Adam Eckels on March 24, 2011 at 11:20am: Very interesting and well done.

Comment by Dan Hunter on March 24, 2011 at 11:25am: Gota love Sheen. 'Come on dude i won best actor at 20, and i wasnt even trying, er WINNING'

Comment by Wayne Rampey on March 24, 2011 at 11:34am: The parallels to recruiting were interesting, and Christopher's opinions unique and in some cases accurate. The sad note here is why anyone of us would confuse the value of being original with someone who had a public meltdown of a marriage, drug addiction, emotional trauma inflicted on his children, his publicist no longer willing to work with Charlie, his hit TV show dismissing him, and living with an ex-porn star. Surely there is someone else in the public eye we can hold up as a better model on how to be successful while simultaneously being original. Lets don't confuse America's apparent appetite for tawdry news bites with substantive business lessons.

Comment by Michael Stoyanoff on March 24, 2011 at 11:36am: He's becoming the new Chuck Norris without even trying. Quite amusing. People always like the unique and different! Modern culture is all about it! Good advice and amusing correlation!