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 Christopher Poreda on March 25, 2011 at 5:52pm: Interesting commentary...a few more notes then like Sandra...I have to get back to work as well...but I must say the recruitingblogs family has quite a few smart folks and I'd love to get to one of the events and meet you all!

1) I never mentioned getting wasted with clients, taking my [dress] off, strip clubs or weekend trips to Thailand. Simply, that I believe most people tend to (or would like to) live on the friendly professional side vs. the uptight professional side of business. Most of my clients I would call friends. I know their husbands/wives, kids birthdays, been invited to holiday parties, etc. As with any relationships, professional or not, there are boundaries. With them I always know I'm getting the first call. Plus, we like each other and it's fun to do business with them! Can't imagine a better scenario.

2) For those who didn't take the time to read my disclaimer or did so but couldn't help themselves, let me chuck a holier-than-thou stone. A few people that quickly come to mind that have been adulterers, drug addicts, had orgies and/or alcoholics: Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John F. Kennedy, and Pee Wee Herman. And Bill Clinton, he's practically a GOD now!

Although losing sight of the satire of originality intent, I thought we were a more forgiving society. Do you, as recruiters, bash the guy who made bad career moves but you know is perfect for your client...or help him get his story straight for the interview? Think before you pick up that stone.

PS...Jason, please hold your next event near a fountain, with a champagne fountain flowing...I'll pay!!!

Comment by Yvonne on March 25, 2011 at 5:56pm: I agree there are some amazingly intellegent individuals in this group. Their reasoning is valid and they are kind enough to share their thoughts with us. And, Sandra, bravo for your use of humor to illuminate the thoughts expressed around the comparison of Charlie Sheen to our recruiting world. Bravo and thank for plenty of giggles!

Regarding judgement, I do not believe that there is judgement of Charlie Sheen here as much as there is an acknowledgement that he is a troubled person, and should not be used as a model on which to build and/or improve our success in our business dealings. I, personally, hope that he survives his struggles and gets the wonderful life that we all deserve.

In addition, it is a far, far reach to quantify the comparison between Mr. Sheen and business success by using the likes of Gandhi, Thomas Jefferson, etc. The above comments by our colleagues are not cases of throwing stones in my opinon. I believe, rather, that they are expressions that there are those who cannot get behind the idea of the parallels drawn by the orginal blog. Sharing thoughts does not a "holier-than-thou" person make.

Comment by Sandra McCartt on March 25, 2011 at 6:41pm: I get your disclaimer Chris. I think the point i and several others were trying to make is that celebraties and politicians get away with a lot of crap because that is what they are and they don't make their living in the world of real people on a day to day basis.

Here is the question. If your client friends started acting like Charlie Sheen , drugs sex and rock and roll. Would you tell your candidate to belly up , it's tiger blood baby. I know this client is a a drunk, screams at his employees, is an arrogant asshole and sleeps with all the girls in A/P but hey he's making money and the company stock is up. he's one of a kind and the company stock is way up there. Not me. I chunked a client company two years ago when the new CFO turned out to be exactly what i have described. He's very good at venture capital, investor relations, and keeping the stock prices level. in the office he acts a lot like Charlie Sheen. He's a foul mouthed puke, sexually and verbally harrasses the gals that work there. When the feedback started i didn't want to give up what had been a good client for over 20 years. But i felt i had a responsiblity to my candidates not to send them into the Charlie Sheen environment. I quit recruiting for that company and threw some pretty big stones when i did. They now have 118% turn over. He is still there. I'm not and my candidates won't be. Holier than Thou. Perhaps. but i dont' want to work for Charlie Sheen or this CFO and i won't put anybody else in that position either..

Would i bash the guy who made bad career moves? If he were a drunk, druggie screw everything that walks and breathes that caused his bad career moves. I wouldn't bash him i would pack his sorry butt right out of my office. Tell him to go clean himself up and call me when he got over his narcissistic delusions of being above the rules or decent society. Judge him personally, that's up to somebody far above my pay grade. Represent him to one of my clients. I would go get back in the fountain and stay there before i would send him to anybody.

It's a two way street. If you wouldn't work for ole Charlie and you wouldn't send your candidate to him why consider him or anyone like him anything but a freak of nature.

Comment by Sandra McCartt on March 25, 2011 at 6:59pm: I missed the P. S. Now does everybody understand why i do not go to events. When i did my "Diving Diva" act was long before the internet...thank God. Are there any amongest us who do not believe that social media is a million times more lethal than "murder by Memo.

On Second thought, How much are you willing to pay Christopher? All of us can be bought, some of us are more expensive than others. If i am going to go out Charlie Sheen style i want it to count. :)

Comment by Sandra McCartt on March 25, 2011 at 7:11pm: While we are having some late Friday afternoon giggles about outrageous behavior. I once put a real live sheep in the backseat of the car of a client who was about 30 days past due on a fee. Left a copy of the statement in the front seat.

When i came to work on Monday morning the sheep was in my office and the check was on my desk. Neither one of us ever talked about it. The word about that one got around with the cattle guys and the oilies. I have never had a collection problem with any of them since.

Comment by Christopher Poreda on March 25, 2011 at 7:13pm: @ Sandra...no better way to end this string...BRAVO! PSS...name you're price, now I'm intrigued!

Comment by Sandra McCartt on March 25, 2011 at 7:13pm: How did i get in his car and how did he get in my office.?..one of those don't ask ..don't tell things on both sides. We both know what it's like to clean sheep poop out of a car and an office.

Comment by Sandra McCartt on March 25, 2011 at 7:19pm: @Christopher...I agree, how much do think it would cost to rebuild all the homes lost in Japan or start a nationwide horse rescue facility. Like i said, some of us are more expensive than others. If you are still intrigued, let's see some TIGER BLOOD. WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Christopher Poreda on March 25, 2011 at 7:22pm: ;)

Comment by Paul Alfred on March 25, 2011 at 8:06pm: Sandra to the rescue just when I was getting started ... Damn ... So I its after 6pm I guess we can get drunk as recruiting professionals but we will keep it in the Family ... :)