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 255: Employment Agreements

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Certain companies give certain people employment contracts. I have never been much of a fan of these agreements as I believe that what can happen is somewhat like sports athletes who have their best performance in the years that their contracts are up for renegotiation and the other years, well, we many times perceive that they are not giving their all and their best. That can be just a perception, but as we know, perception can also become reality. Employment agreements are also only just as good as the paper on which they are written and the consideration that backs up the contract. I have seen many times when the pressure to live up to the contractual terms was so high that the company and the employee never felt like the deal was the best. So, to my liking is to not have any artificial terms in the employment relationship and for everyone to perform to their highest level knowing that they may move on at any time they so choose, and for the company to recognize the same and tailor their treatment of employees respectively. If we each do all we can to perform to our highest level, give our full effort, go the extra mile in our work, and treat others as we want to be treated, then we probably don’t need to worry about having a piece of paper for security. As believers, we have the ultimate agreement with God since He is always there for us and giving His all to us at all times. We read in 2 Samuel 23:5 of the agreement that God gives to Samuel and passes on to us; “Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.” This is what God wants to give each of us. He wants us to know His safety and His success. Unlike an employment agreement, we don’t have to negotiate for the best deal. All we need to do is accept His terms and then hold ourselves within those parameters. Today, as you start the week, consider the terms by which you are working and living. Are you following the example and life of Jesus? Have you found His footprints to follow and walk in? These are the terms that He asks us to work within. There is no better agreement to be written for any of us!

Reference: 2 Samuel 23:5 (New Living Testament)