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 3K125: While It Was Still Dark

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“Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.”

One of the hardest times to think and plan for the future is when we are being faced with current challenges and obstacles that feel like we have a cloud over us or are in the darkest of times. It’s not unusual for some in this circumstance to just fold up and quit.  But, we can’t do that.  We must persevere with what we believe is right for our employees, our customers and our shareholders.  I’m loving the stories of the resurgence of Barnes and Noble bookstores.  For all intent and purposes it appeared to them and everyone else that trying to retail books, music and paper goods out of a big box store was like operating in the dark ages.  But, out of the darkness, they are reemerging and having great and growing results.  Yes, just because it feels and looks dark doesn’t mean great things can’t happen.

While in Easter service at Southeastern Christian Church in Louisville, a member of the Preaching team (in a short sermon before communion time) spoke about how she had been reading the resurrection story and was struck by five words that she had glossed over in the past; “While it was still dark”.  Mary had come to the tomb in the morning before the sun was up and lo and behold she found that the Son had already risen, while it was still dark.  And, isn’t that what God does for us?  While it is still dark for us and wow, does it ever feel dark these days with all that is going on around us, Jesus shows up for us as the light of the world that we need.  We may be feeling in the dark today, but if we look for Him, He is risen and shining. Can we take that assurance with us to work today?

Reference:  John 20:1 (New Living Translation)