Charlie Sheen's Financial Example: A Sign of Hope for Others?

Ever since the days of movies such as Wall Street and Young Guns I've been a fan of Charlie Sheen. And let's just say his latest role has intrigued me even more than those undertaken during his film career.

I'm not here to commentate on his sanity, his family life, his choice of bed partner, his alleged drug use, supposed self-destructive practices, or anything of that sort. In my opinion, that is his personal business and if he chooses to air it with the general public, that's up to him. What intrigues me the most about Mr. Sheen are his personal finances and recent financial decisions.

What Exactly is He Doing?

Personally, I can't figure out exactly what Charlie Sheen is doing or how he's playing this situation when it comes to money. And not knowing his personal finances intimately (I wish I did), it's hard to speculate on why he may have let a 1.8 million dollar per episode contract slip away. And unless he wins his $100 million dollar lawsuit, it seems a poor financial decision.

However, what's done is done, and for the moment, like many of us over the last few years, Charlie Sheen has been handed his pink slip. And again, like many of us, he is turning to income earning strategies that are available in the here and now, and while they might not immediately make up for the full amount of lost income, provide an immediate influx of cash, don't take extensive amounts of time to develop, and have growth potential.

Education or Lack Thereof

Charlie Sheen does not have a college education, and he actually left high school before graduating. To my knowledge, I've never heard of him having had any extensive Internet training, and he has probably never taken a college level computer class, yet here he is reaping the rewards of the Internet and social media age, and not in years or months but in a matter of days.

Talk about a "rocket ship to Mars"! This guy is suddenly blasting off everywhere you look on the Internet and social media sites. And while that ride might have a bumpy landing when it finally touches down, it's hard to deny it has certainly had a successful launch with very little, if any formal training.

Charlie's Example to Millions of Americans

Again, I'm not here to debate whether you think Charlie's recent actions regarding his personal life are right, wrong or otherwise. Instead, I'd prefer to look at the example he is setting for millions of Americans who are now unemployed.

You could say that Charlie is being quite proactive about his financial situation. He is making the most of an opportunity that many would let shove them into a deep dark place. Although I don't expect his current level of energy to continue, at least not without some severe health related repercussions to accompany them, I do find that through his radio, television, Internet and social media efforts, at the moment, Charlie Sheen is showing us how a recently unemployed individual can still take the bull by the horns and find new and innovative ways to provide multiple income streams for himself.

As a famed actor with a wide fan-base Charlie certainly has a distinct advantage over the average American when it comes to cashing in on Internet revenue sources. Still, his example illustrates the power of leveraging the Internet to one's advantage after a job loss. And while these income streams may not make up for the previous income that was lost, they can help provide a monetary cushion and keep a person fresh, active, and up-to-date during a period of unemployment until they can get back on their feet.

More From This Contributor:

Guess What? Your Underwater on More Than Just Your Home

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The Value of Multiple Income Streams

Disclaimer:

The author is not a licensed financial professional. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For financial advice, readers should consult a licensed financial advisor. Any action taken by the reader due to the information provided in this article is solely at the reader's discretion.