Today we’d like to introduce you to Robbie Vorhaus.
Hi Robbie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in New York City and spent my teen years in Levittown, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. My father left our home when I was young, and my mother worked. Storytelling occupied both my head and heart. To keep sane, I imagined stories about happy families, fun vacations, long dinners filled with relatives and laughter, homework help, financial prosperity, and lots of loving hugs. None of this was real, but my imaginary world was rich and filled with loving light and goodness. Still, always reaching for happy thoughts gave me the strength to thrive in the real world. I got a paper route, which led to a job as a darkroom assistant at the newspaper, which led to a staff job as a photographer, which soon included writing. Onto a job in radio, then TV, eventually landing back in New York City working for Dan Rather at The CBS Evening News. I went on to found and build an award-winning communications agency and soon became busy helping notable people through crisis and reputational events. Over time, my imagined stories became true. I’m now happily married for 34 years. We have two perfect grown children and one gorgeous new grandchild. I’ve become a bestselling author, a college lecturer, a public speaker, a pre-marriage and intimacy counselor, and best of all, as The Austin Celebrant, I have the honor and joy to marry couples in love in and around Austin, Texas.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Although I’ve experienced obstacles and life challenges, I’ve learned it’s not what happens to you but what you choose to do with those events. It’s true that in childhood, I came from an abusive family environment. But I decided to be a chain-breaker and, with my wife’s help, raised our children in a loving, caring, compassionate home. As a teen, I was addicted to Valium, but kicking the addiction gave me the insight and compassion to counsel other fine people on emerging from that harmful behavior. I don’t have a college education, and obtained a GED for my high school graduation. Still, because I’ve gone through life curious and voraciously interested in effective communications, personal growth, and authentic leadership, I became an advisor to some of the most important and influential leaders in our lifetime. Obstacles are opportunities to define your life and, ultimately, your legacy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have the best job in the world as an ordained interfaith minister and certified LGBTQ-friendly wedding officiant here in Austin, TX. My work also includes pre-marriage and intimacy counseling. I am also a communication, crisis, and reputation management strategist. I am an expert in managing potentially damaging reputational and career-threatening events for notable individuals and organizations. I am also the author of the bestselling transformational book, One Less. One More. (Storytelling, 2014). I am a contributor on CNN and CNBC and frequently appear as a commentator on reputation management, public opinion, and current events in other major media, including ABC News, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
-Foreseeability is my benchmark for risk. What are the possible outcomes of taking this risk, and is the return commensurate with the potential loss?
-Are short-term losses (market fluctuations) worth the risk of regularly investing small amounts of capital over a long-term basis to benefit from compounded, exponential growth? Yes.
-Is the risk of investing all my capital in a get-rich-quick scheme worth it? No.
-Is the risk of an exciting extramarital affair worth the possibility that your marriage and family will be forever scared? No.
-Consider the type of risk you’re considering. Financial? Personal? Professional? Psychological? Social? All have varying degrees of risk and potential outcomes. Further, what’s the degree of risk you’re considering? Will making a series of choices harm your reputation or enhance it?
-Also, what is your motivation and context for taking risks? Will the potential reward from the risk-benefit your career, family, and finances? Or is the reward that someone will be fired, hurt, deported, lose something, or be diminished? Remember, as the ancient Chinese saying goes, “If your motivation is revenge, dig two graves.”
-Still, if you want to act, skydive, explore a new country, learn a new language, or follow your heart, the risk to reward is unmeasurable. When you pursue happiness to make things better than you found them, you can’t lose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theaustincelebrant.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.austin.celebrant/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbievorhaus/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vorhaus
