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 3K22 – First Things First

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!

Lots of college graduates are now starting their new jobs.  I get asked frequently about what it takes to succeed, especially in a new job and even a first one.  It’s an easy answer for me; Whatever you are given, do your best and if you do so, then more will come.  But, if you take your eye off of what you have in front of you and don’t do it well, you can’t expect more.  It’s our tendency to look beyond what we are given now because we always want to think what is to come next is going to somehow be better.  Want to be given more responsibility, better assignments, promotions, recognition, etc.?  Then exceed expectations with what is on your plate today.

Jesus shows us that in the little things that we can find achievement and reason for celebration.  The good and faithful servant stuck with the small amount given.  We are going to always feel like we aren’t being given enough, or that somehow we aren’t be recognized for what we can do.  That’s part of our nature.  But, if we look at each bit of work, skill, opportunity and challenge as an assignment and gift from God, then we may find that what we have now is more than enough!

Reference:  Matthew 25:21 (New Living Translation)