The lesson that Charlie Sheen failed to learn from Tiger Woods that still applies to the rest of us.

It's news that could have been predicted.

Last night CBS and Warner Brothers Television announced that they were calling a halt to the production of more episodes of Three and a Half Men that stars Charlie Sheen.  This decision was made specifically because of Charlie Sheen's recent outrageous public statements as well as reports in the press regarding his rather racy personal life.  The headline about all of this was above the fold on some major newspapers, including USAToday.

What's interesting about this news is that the TV serial is immensely popular and garners a very large audience--yet the decision to stop was made despite the show's popularity and profitability.  Based on news reports in the media over the past several months, it is difficult to imagine that someone could be a model employee who is reported to abuse adult beverages and illegal substances as much as Mr. Sheen reportedly has.  

Nonethelss, the decision to cancel was based on what Mr. Sheen reportedly did and said in a public way that reflected poorly on himself, the brand, and all associated with it.  My sense is that it would have been just a matter of time before sponsors would have pulled back or interest groups would have protested.  CBS and its affiliates just decided to act before the end became fully fixed.  

Mr. Sheen isn't the only one to miss the point.  

What Charlie Sheen failed to appreciate is that while we live in a fairly permissible society, there are limits to what others--personal and professional--will tolerate in terms of approval, patronage, endorsement, and ultimately compensation.  This is the same hard lesson that he could easily have learned from the experience of others in the culture, like Randy Moss, Michael Vick, Lindsay Lohan, and, of course, Tiger Woods.  

What he failed to acknowledge is that we live in a merit-based society in which one's success at some point is a function of what one does--and how a person represents himself.  Indeed, this reality most certainly affects what one gets paid--or, as the case might be, not paid!

Let's face it, not very many of use will be fired [or traded] from a major sports franchise, have multinational sponsors leave us, or have our television program canceled.  Nonethelsss, there is a similar component in each of our professional and commercial lives that is an outgrowth of personal choices on our part.  The effects are potentially subtle--and maybe at some level unknowable--but real nonetheless, like qualifying for a promotion, getting a raise, being hired in the first place, getting a plum assignment over others; you get the idea.

All those who get money for services rendered--which includes me and I bet you as well--ought to mindful of these realities, less dramatic as they might be for us as noncelebrities.  The lesson to be learned is exactly the same one missed by Tiger, Lindsay, Randy, Michael--and as of yesterday, Charlie.  
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