Motivational quote of the day by Charlie Sheen: ‘I went from making $2 million a week to making $1,700 a week, and I was never happier. So it ain't about the money,’ a powerful life lesson on happiness, success and finding what really matters

Money can make life easier, but it does not necessarily make you happier. That can be difficult to remember when success is usually measured by salaries, bigger jobs and the kind of lifestyle that comes with them.Charlie Sheen learned that lesson in a rather unusual way. At the height of his 'Two and a Half Men' career, he was making an enormous amount of money. Then, after losing the sitcom and moving on to another project, his weekly earnings dropped dramatically. Strangely enough, Sheen said he was happier.Today’s quote of the day by Charlie Sheen reads: “I went from making $2 million a week to making $1,700 a week on Roman's film, and I was never happier. So it ain't about the money.”Charlie Sheen said this during a January 9, 2012 Q&A with reporters at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. TheWrap published the conversation under the title 'Charlie Sheen Q&A: What He's Learned in the Last Year'. Sheen was asked what it was like to lose the huge salary he had been earning from 'Two and a Half Men', and he brought up the film 'A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III', directed by Roman Coppola.His answer was not really about pretending money did not matter. He was talking about what he had discovered when the money suddenly became much less important than the work itself.What does the quote by Charlie Sheen mean?Charlie Sheen's point is pretty straightforward: earning more money does not automatically mean you are enjoying your life more.At the time of the interview, Sheen had just gone through a very public split from 'Two and a Half Men'. The show had made him one of television's highest-paid actors, but he had lost the role after his highly publicised conflict with the show's production and network.Then came a much smaller job. Sheen told TheWrap that he went from making millions to earning $1,700 a week on Roman Coppola's film — and said he had never been happier.There is something interesting about that comparison. The number on the pay cheque had gone down, but apparently something else had gone up. For Sheen, at least in that moment, being able to work on something he enjoyed mattered more than earning the biggest possible salary.How is the quote by Charlie Sheen relevant today?It is easy to get caught up in the idea that the next raise, better job or bigger opportunity will automatically make everything better. And sometimes earning more really does make a difference. Financial security matters. But there is more to a good career than the number attached to it.You can have a well-paying job and still hate waking up for it. You can also work on something smaller and find that you actually enjoy your day more. That is what makes Charlie Sheen's answer interesting. He was not saying money is useless. He had experienced what it was like to earn a huge amount of it. He was saying that, after losing that salary, he realised there were other things he valued too.TheWrap's 2012 interview also showed Sheen talking about his new project and wanting to let the work speak for itself. “Just do good work and lead with that,” he said when asked how he would win back people who had turned against him.That part fits with the quote. Sometimes getting back to the work itself can matter more than everything surrounding it.Early life of Charlie SheenCharlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estévez on September 3, 1965, in New York City. He grew up in a family where acting was already a part of everyday life. His father was actor Martin Sheen, while his siblings Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez and Renée Estevez also went into acting.Sheen appeared on screen as a child and later started making short films with school friends, including Sean Penn and Rob Lowe. He was expelled from Santa Monica High School shortly before graduation and decided to focus on acting instead.His first major film role came in 'Platoon' in 1986, followed by 'Wall Street' the next year.How did Charlie Sheen rise to fame?'Platoon' was the film that really put Charlie Sheen on the map. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture, while Sheen's performance as Chris Taylor brought him major attention.He went on to appear in films including 'Wall Street', 'Young Guns', 'Major League', 'Hot Shots!' and 'The Three Musketeers'.His biggest television success came with 'Two and a Half Men', where he played Charlie Harper. The sitcom became one of television's biggest shows. Sheen reportedly made around $1.8 million per episode at one point. But the huge salary did not last forever.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!