Chris Schembra is the Founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™ and a Wall Street Journal bestselling author. 7:47 Gratitude Experience™ is an evidence-based framework used to strengthen client and team relationships in profound ways.
He’s used the principles of gratitude to spark over 500,000 relationships around the dinner table, serving Fortune 50 CEOs, Olympians, Academy Award Winners, Grammy Award Winning Recording Artists, Super Bowl Champions, and more.
As a Viral Marketer, his gratitude campaign giving tribute and thanks to Veterans earned over 36 million views, 1.2 million shares, and 2 Emmy Awards. He is the best-selling author of “Gratitude Through Hard Times” and “Gratitude and Pasta.” USA Today calls him their “Gratitude Guru.” He’s a Founding Member of Rolling Stone Magazine’s Culture Council, and he sits on the Executive Board at Fast Company Magazine.
His direct work has been talked about in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, Inc, Entrepreneur, Bravo TV, Fox News Channel, Variety, and hundreds of other media outlets. Listen in for some great takeaways about Chris’s entrepreneurial journey and how gratitude should be used like a vitamin.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…
- Learn more about Chris Schembra [3:30]
- Why Chris founded the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™ [5:15]
- The mission of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™ [9:51]
- Why Chris says “The dinner table saved my life” [14:34]
- How Chris got the nickname “The Gratitude Guru” [17:18]
- Why Chris is passionate about gratitude impacting lives [18:55]
- What does gratitude have to do with leadership? [20:55]
- Why you should express gratitude when the moment strikes [24:33]
- What “Focus Equals Growth” means to Chris [29:08]
- Why “Leadership as a two-way street” is critical for success [33:24]
- What Chris did that put him in the mindset for success [38:53]
How a vacation in Italy made a positive impact
Chris was diagnosed with ADHD and put on medication at five. He grew up in a great community with a great home and wonderful parents. But he didn’t feel great. The medication rewired his brain. He doesn’t remember much—if any—of his childhood, from ages 5–20. He felt unheard. Today, Chris lives every moment trying to help people feel safe, seen, and heard.
In 2015, Chris was successful on paper. He had a nice home, girlfriend, family, and a great job. But just because your life looks good on paper doesn’t mean it feels good. Chris went on a life-changing trip to Rome, Italy. Italians talk differently, walk differently, they love differently. It was intoxicating. When Chris came back to New York, he was lonely and unfulfilled.
He hadn’t felt that way since his early 20s when he struggled with self-harm and depression and was in and out of rehab. He didn’t want to go back. But what about Rome changed his life? Community.
The 7:47 Gratitude Experience™
July 15th, 2015, Chris hosted a dinner party. Everyone worked together to make dinner. It was a moment of connection and camaraderie. It felt magical. Halfway through the dinner, he asked everyone a specific question that changed everything: “If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life—that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to—who would that be?”
They took turns sharing their gratitude for these people. Every single person cried. The 18 strangers left feeling seen, safe, heard, grateful, and connected. Each of them made positive changes in their lives. That dinner table saved Chris’s life and gave him purpose. What’s the mission today? Keep doing it.
Eventually, large companies called Chris to work with their executive teams and clients to create connection and belonging in the workplace. Whether in person or virtual, the goal is to help people connect in meaningful ways, help them shift into a positive mindset, and help them practice gratitude. Amazing things happen.
Why you should express gratitude when the moment strikes
The definition of gratitude is “The acknowledgment that you’ve received something of benefit or value from another.” To be grateful, you have to acknowledge that you’re working in a relationship with others. You don’t get anywhere alone. That inspires humility. Gratitude inspires you to be more empathetic.
But Chris doesn’t believe in creating gratitude habits or rituals. He’s a fan of expressing gratitude when the moment strikes. When you create rituals or habits, it loses its impact and power. It feels like a chore and leads to resentment. Instead, focus on what you can do in your daily life that helps you come into the present and acknowledge how you’re feeling in the moment.
When you are triggered by ingratitude, you have to drive conscious awareness to the negative thought pattern, lower its power, give yourself a micro-intervention, and focus on gratitude.
What “Focus Equals Growth” means to Chris
Chris Schembra stepped away from his theater work and had no direction of where he was going next. There were numerous directions he could take with his experience.
His friend—who had built a 500 million dollar sales agency—said: “You can’t chase two rabbits at the same time. They’ll both get away. Focus equals growth.” Doing the dinner parties would be the hardest thing for him to do—but would make the biggest impact. It was what he was emotionally connected to. And he failed, he had numerous other things to fall back on.
But Chris hasn’t failed yet. Listen to this episode of Mitlin Money Mindset™ to learn more about Chris and how gratitude changed his life.
Resources & People Mentioned
- Ted Talk: Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong
- Gratitude and The Witnessing effect
- Cope Notes® with Johnny Crowder
Connect with Chris Schembra
Bio
Chris Schembra is the #1 ***Wall Street Journal*** bestselling author of *Gratitude Through Hard Times* and *Gratitude and Pasta.* USA Today calls him their “Gratitude Guru”, he’s a Founding Member of Rolling Stone Magazine’s Culture Council, and he sits on the Executive Board at Fast Company Magazine.
He is the Founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™ — an evidence-based framework used to strengthen client and team relationships in profound ways. He’s used the principles of gratitude to spark over 500,000 relationships around the dinner table, serving Fortune 50 CEOs, Olympians, Academy Award Winners, Grammy Award Winning #1 Recording Artists, Super Bowl Champions, and more.
As a Viral Marketer, his gratitude campaign giving tribute and thanks to Veterans earned over 36 million views, 1.2 million shares, and 2 Emmy Awards.
His direct work has been talked about in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, Inc, Entrepreneur, Bravo TV, Fox News Channel, Variety, and hundreds of other media outlets.
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