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 1455: Meeting and Exceeding

“…All ate as much as they wanted”.

When a mediocre table server brings water for the table, he or she will bring the pitcher of water over to the table and fill the empty glass and then walk back to the serving station to put the pitcher down.  But, the great server does more than that.  She or he brings the pitcher to the table in need and then on the way back stops at every table and refreshes the water until the pitcher runs dry.  The great server realizes that everyone can be serviced and some will have their needs met and others will have their expectations exceeded.  We could all take a lesson from the great servers and start trying ways to exceed expectations while we are meeting the needs of others.  When was the last time your electrician knocked on the door and said something to the fact, “I was in the neighborhood finishing a job for your neighbor and I had a few extra minutes so I thought I would just check in and see if you needed anything?”  Imagine your response?  That electrician would have just earned a customer for life.

Ever wonder about the 5000 that Jesus fed with five loaves and two fish?  Were they all hungry?  It wouldn’t have been normal if they all were hungry at the same time.  But, Jesus didn’t stop and ask, “Can I get a headcount for who is hungry?”  No, he met the needs of many and exceeded the expectations of maybe just as many.  All were fed.  This is what we are to do with others around us.  Let’s not just focus down on those who are in the most need.  Let’s serve all and know that God will serve through us.

Reference: John 6:11 (New Living Translation