Author Archives: Rusty Rueff

About Rusty Rueff

Rusty Rueff, author of purposed worKING. Rusty Rueff is the former Chairman Emeritus of The GRAMMY Foundation in Los Angeles. He most recently completed the successful 16 month leadership role as Coordinating National Co-Chair for Technology for Obama (T4O) for the reelection of President Obama and ten-years of Board service and President of the Board of Trustees of the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Corporately, most recently Rueff was the Chief Executive Officer at SNOCAP, Inc. until the acquisition of the company by imeem, Inc. in April 2008. Before joining SNOCAP in 2005, he was Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Electronic Arts (EA) from 1998 until 2005. He was also with the PepsiCo companies for more than ten years, with the Pratt & Whitney division of United Technologies for two years, and in commercial radio as an on-air personality for six years. Rusty holds an M.S. in counseling and a B.A. in radio and television from Purdue University. In 2003 he was named a distinguished Purdue alumnus, and he and his wife, Patti, are the named benefactors of Purdue’s Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts. He is a corporate director of Glassdoor.com and runcoach. He is the co-founder and Executive Committee Member of T4A.org, serves on the Founding Circle of The Centrist Project and a founding Board Member of The GRAMMY Music Education Coalition. He is also the co-author of the book Talent Force: A New Manifesto for the Human Side of Business. Rusty and his wife, Patti, reside in Hillsborough, CA and Charlestown, R.I.

day 2289: YIMBY

purposed worKING No Comments

“A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

We well know NIMBY (Not in my back yard), but we don’t always know YIMBY (Yes in my back yard). Well, at least not very well. Every now and then we get a glimpse when someone or an organization opens themselves up to assist others by giving up a little of themselves.  YIMBY happens when we share our learning and experiences with others, even though it means we might not be able to keep the information all to our own use and purposes.  YIMBY happens when we take time to serve on a community board or committee.  YIMBY happens when we join a non-profit Board.  YIMBY occurs when we offer our home or office for a neighborhood or cause meeting. YIMBY happens when we stick our neck out as a company and commit to giving back our company resources of time and money.  NIMBY is easy.  YIMBY is hard.  YIMBY causes us to give of ourselves and probably be a bit uncomfortable in that we have to subordinate our own agendas and priorities for the good of others.

Was YIMBY what Jesus was telling us when He told us to love others?  The backyards of our lives; our time, our love, our gifts and talents.  When we open ourselves to others and give of ourselves, we are welcoming them into our own backyards and saying, “Yes” to what Jesus asks us to do.  For the same reason that YIMBY is uncomfortable, it is why we must continue to ask God to give us the courage and encouragement to be open to the needs and care of others, who are right here in our own backyards.

Reference:  Matthew 22:39 (New Living Translation)