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 989: Persuasiveness

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“I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments”

I recently had a conversation about truth in advertising and the reliance that consumers have on corporations keeping themselves in check as it relates to telling the truth about their products and services.  It seems once every few years there will be news about a company that is making false claims and their advertising comes under scrutiny or is recalled.  What is amazing about this is that so many times the advertising messages are very far-fetched and it seems clear that they cannot be true, but still we purchase over and over as if our sensibilities have been left behind.  It could be lots of reasons, but one is that the advertising is so persuasive. Madison Avenue (and all other advertising companies) have our number.  They know what we fall for, what makes us cry, what our insecurities are, what are our fears, what makes us feel powerful, strong and attractive.  They know us, at least in the general, and they get to us over and over again. That said, we as business people have to be sure that we don’t allow our marketing and advertising teams to make up a story that is not true. Each of us need to temper our persuasiveness to be sure we are always telling the truth and being consistent in that truth.

Our world of work, society and people all around us are constantly trying to persuade us to to do, try, and change. As believers, especially in our workplaces we have to be able to stand true and not fall for the persuasive arguments that counter our beliefs and convictions.  This week we will all be faced with these tests and Paul tells us to stand strong.  Consider today that the power of persuasion cannot overpower the Holy Spirit and that He will be there with us to countermand any persuasions if we only rely on Him!  Be strong this week!

Reference: Colossians 2:4