Ten years ago, Chris Schembra stood in a 350-square-foot Manhattan apartment with a pot of red sauce and a question that would change everything—not just for him, but for hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

He had just returned from producing a Broadway show in Rome. By most accounts, it was a success. But inwardly, he was running on empty: disconnected, anxious, and out of sync with a deeper purpose.

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That’s when the idea hit.

Inspired by how Italians gathered around the table—laughing, crying, lingering—Chris invited 15 strangers into his tiny home. He handed out tasks, shared the kitchen, and together they co-created a meal. At 7:47 PM, they put the pasta in the pot. Then, halfway through dinner, he asked:

“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?”

One by one, stories poured out. Walls came down. And something cracked open—honesty, belonging, gratitude.

That night sparked what would become The 7:47 Gratitude Experience. Ten years later, Chris Schembra’s pasta-fueled dinner has grown into a global movement:

• 750+ Gratitude Experiences
• 361 corporate clients
• Events across 6 continents
• A #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller
• 100+ articles in Fast Company, Rolling Stone, and more
• A question that still breaks open every room it’s asked in

And through it all, Chris has learned what works for him—and what doesn’t. He’s made mistakes, built systems, found community, and shaped his life by a unique code. He calls them his 19 Rules.

Key Takeaways

• Vulnerability creates trust; trust creates connection.
• You don’t need to be fearless—just willing.
• True success often comes from building systems, not relying on talent.
• Human connection can be designed intentionally.
• Sometimes you have to write your own rules to live a fulfilled life.

Who Is Chris Schembra?

Chris Schembra is the founder of 7:47, a company that helps individuals and companies spark gratitude, build connection, and deepen trust through shared experiences—often beginning with a single dinner and a powerful question.

Over the past decade, he’s guided organizations like Dell, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google through his Gratitude Experiences, helping teams build community in the most human way possible: by being real, not perfect.

He is also the author of Gratitude and Pasta, a book that blends neuroscience, storytelling, and life lessons to inspire deeper relationships in business and life.

Chris Schembra’s 19 Rules for Life and Leadership

These aren’t motivational slogans. They’re his lived truths—forged through wins, losses, and 10 years of showing up to the table. Read them, reflect on them, and see which ones resonate with your entrepreneurial journey.

1. The goal is not to overcome my fear.
   It’s to live alongside it, and act anyway.
2. It’s okay to have a complete lack of gratitude during the good times.
   Gratitude isn’t performance. It’s practice.
3. Healing, for me, wasn’t therapy. It was putting one foot in front of the other.
   Progress doesn’t always look profound.
4. I never criticized others.
   Judgment limits understanding. Curiosity expands it.
5. You can’t chase two rabbits at the same time. Focus = growth.
   Choose one goal. Give it your full weight.
6. I’d rather be stomped by the bull in the arena than be peachy keen on the sidelines.
   Engagement matters more than safety.
7. I never pretended I was too good to learn.
   Ego kills momentum.
8. I focused on how, not the why or the what.
   Action leads to clarity.
9. I separated Chris LLC from Chris the son, the friend, the boyfriend.
   Identity needs boundaries to breathe.
10. I prayed for the serenity to accept, the courage to change, and the wisdom to know.
    Stillness can be more strategic than hustle.
11. I reminded myself daily: I have no talent. I have systems.
    Systems are scalable. Talent isn’t.
12. I replaced “I” with “we” to tap into community, soul, muse, and divine.
    Life is more powerful when shared.
13. I told every story in 3 acts: present, past, future. Skip no steps.
    Wholeness requires context.
14. It’s better to be the man in the hole than the one pretending not to fall.
    Honesty is more credible than image.
15. I did the work I believed in—not what would “work.”
    Integrity over optics.
16. I wore a fanny pack. Always.
    Authenticity looks like whatever you want it to.
17. When I failed rule 15, I shared my hypocrisy before it curdled into shame.
    Transparency is a tool for healing.
18. I fought fights with questions, not volume.
    Inquiry changes minds more than argument.
19. Life is one big AND, not an OR.
    You can be bold and gentle. Driven and spiritual.

What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Chris

Chris Schembra’s life work reminds us of something too easily forgotten in the grind of growing a business: human connection is the foundation of all success.

His rules are especially meaningful for entrepreneurs because they flip conventional wisdom. He doesn’t tell you to be fearless, hustle nonstop, or “fake it till you make it.” Instead, he offers an alternative: be present, be real, and build systems that allow your truth to flourish.

You don’t need a massive audience or a million-dollar product to make impact. Sometimes all it takes is a meal, a question, and a willingness to show up.