Gordy Rush, Vice President and General Manager of Guaranty Media was featured in this month’s Executive Spotlight. Here is a quick exert:
What was your very first job, and what was the biggest takeaway from the experience?
My first job was doing a sports radio show and producing other shows in Port Allen for WIBR. The biggest takeaway was that I learned how to do every job in the building, which gave me a foundation to grow in the business.
What is one thing about your job that might surprise people?
The amount of phone calls, texts, and e-mails I receive on a daily basis. I played golf with some clients recently and after a four hour round I picked up phone to see 186 calls, texts and e-mails. I was tempted to throw my phone on the pond.
You’re leading a big meeting today but you’re not feeling it. How do you get your head back in the game?
I think of the pain of a wasted opportunity and that I’m going to probably have to go through this again. At that point, I’m able to dial in and focus through the task at hand.
Who inspires you and why?
My father will always be my hero and role model. I recently had a chance to see Simon Sinek in person and read two of his books. The simple exercise of defining the ”why” personally in my life and for our company has a tremendous impact on me. I would strongly recommend reading Start with Why.
What do think the elected officials and community leaders in our city need to do to ensure our local economy continues to grow?
We desperately need a leader to stand up, drop their parties’ agenda and commit to meeting “somewhere” in the middle. We need some sort of compromise. Unfortunately, we continue to hear the same old broken record locally and in Washington, D.C. The biggest issue in our community is fixing education which is the backbone of any community.
What’s the greatest personal or professional obstacle you’ve had to overcome, and how did you do it?
In 2007, my father passed, my mother was in the hospital the next day with 245/186 blood pressure and could have passed, and 10 days later my first son was born. It was the worst and best thing that ever happened to me. I overcame it by putting on my big boy pants, put my head down and got after it every day. It helped form who I am today.
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Baton Rouge Business Report
September 11th, 2017
