Rolling Stone Culture Council
Writing
Across five years, I’ve written these columns for Rolling Stone’s Culture Council, exploring gratitude, leadership, and the human connection at the heart of my work with 7:47. The column was shut down in 2026, but we wanted to compile the articles together for ya'll!
Culture Council
GiveMaxxing: The Art of Giving in a World Built on Taking
In a world designed to eliminate friction, GiveMaxxing argues that some friction is actually the point.
By Chris Schembra June 8, 2026
Culture Council
The Man in the Hole: A Leader’s Guide to Reading the Arc
Leaders who change cultures, who retain talent, who build loyalty, they can look at another human being and diagnose where that person is in their arc.
By Chris Schembra April 9, 2026
Culture Council
The Loneliest Uphill Climb Is Also the Highest Ground
The market is telling you to chase efficiency. AI is getting faster. Teams are getting leaner. But efficiency alone is a crowded market.
By Chris Schembra March 5, 2026
Culture Council
Earned Connection: Why the Future of Human Connection Lives at the Point of Friction
When disagreement is avoided, bad decisions travel faster. When presence becomes optional, trust never has time to form.
By Chris Schembra January 28, 2026
Culture Council
The Future of Leadership Belongs to the ‘And’ Generation
Professionally and culturally, we are trapped in a binary mindset, a system of "either/or" thinking that is no longer serving us.
By Chris Schembra December 30, 2025
Culture Council
The Courage to Give in a Take-First Economy
Companies don’t just need better strategies; they need a better way of being.
By Chris Schembra November 24, 2025
Culture Council
The Way We Communicate Is Holding Back the Way We Think, and How to Set It Free
Let’s build a new ladder, one that moves us from compression to expansion.
By Chris Schembra October 22, 2025
Culture Council
Community Builders Are the New Rockstars
We’re heading into a future where much of what fills our feeds will be algorithmically generated. Competent, yes, but soulless.
By Chris Schembra September 8, 2025
Culture Council
The Inconvenient Way: Why the Future of Leadership Is Slower, Deeper and More Human
For those of us who’ve built our identities around propositional knowing, our intellect, our cleverness, this shift doesn’t just feel professional. It feels existential.
By Chris Schembra July 30, 2025
Culture Council
The Law of 1,000 Conversations: What If Connection, Not Time, Was the True Path to Mastery?
What if the most profound measure of mastery isn't measured in hours of isolated repetition but in meaningful conversations?
By Chris Schembra June 26, 2025
Culture Council
Dinner Tables Will Save Democracy and Business
America doesn’t need another debate stage — we need more dinner tables.
By Chris Schembra May 28, 2025
Culture Council
The ROI of Radical Generosity
Nothing has matched the ROI of giving a darn.
By Chris Schembra April 29, 2025
Culture Council
Making Human Connection Your Purpose to Thrive in 2025
This recipe for life became the foundation for our PASTA framework: Pause, Ask, Shift, Take Action, Appreciate — a model for making human connection your purpose to thrive in 2025.
By Chris Schembra February 6, 2025
Culture Council
The Four Archetypes of Transformational Leadership
As we step into 2025, the need for transformational leadership has never been greater.
By Chris Schembra January 10, 2025
Culture Council
The Unseen Threads of Gratitude
So now, I invite you to reflect: Who or what have you never thought to thank?
By Chris Schembra October 9, 2024
Culture Council
Intelligent Selfishness: How Giving to Others Enriches Your Own Life
In a world that often feels like it’s moving too fast, where success is measured by personal achievement rather than collective well-being, intelligent selfishness offers a different path.
By Chris Schembra September 5, 2024
Culture Council
An Unlikely Duo: How a Legendary Actor and a Determined Young Dreamer Changed Each Other’s Lives
The world needs more of this type of mentorship and connection — lessons from the past that continue to inspire and transform lives.
By Chris Schembra July 29, 2024
Culture Council
Turning Adversity into Your Superpower
Recognizing and sharing the tough stuff can help teams grow their understanding of one another, build trust and get closer.
By Chris Schembra July 5, 2024
Culture Council
Gratitude: The Cornerstone of Excellence, Leadership and Engagement
By slowing down, organizations can navigate the tumultuous seas of change with resilience and agility.
By Chris Schembra May 16, 2024
Culture Council
Are Reading Parties the New Wellness Activity for Creative Leaders?
A designated time and place to read in communion with others could be a valuable tool for creative leaders working to mitigate burnout.
By Chris Schembra February 20, 2024
Culture Council
The Symphony of Success: Mudita in a World of Envy
Instead of wishing for what others have, let's celebrate their achievements.
By Chris Schembra September 27, 2023
Culture Council
Ubuntu: A Way of Life for Creative Leaders
Ubuntu led one sports team to their own pinnacle of success — and creative leaders can use it to find their own winning streak.
By Chris Schembra August 17, 2023
Culture Council
Four Ways to Create Human Connection in the Age of AI
So, if every employee or company has access to the wonders of AI, what makes you special?
By Chris Schembra July 3, 2023
Culture Council
GRAZIE: The New Rules of Gratitude
As a creative leader, it's essential to maintain meaningful connections with others to get your work done. Following these frameworks can help you along that journey.
By Chris Schembra May 23, 2023
Culture Council
Bringing Your Best: Making Monotasking Cool Again
By embracing gratitude in your daily life and by committing to monotasking, it is possible to break free and transition toward mindfulness.
By Chris Schembra March 20, 2023
Culture Council
On Ingratitude And Resistance: Steps To Break Your Mental Blocks
Both resistance and ingratitude are toxic forces because they prevent individuals from being content with what they have, and from taking positive actions toward their goals.
By Chris Schembra February 6, 2023
Culture Council
4 Reasons Leaders Feel Ungrateful After a Big Win
Taking the time to appreciate the journey you've been on can help recharge and replenish your spirit so that you can enjoy tackling your next goal with more gratitude and enthusiasm.
By Chris Schembra December 30, 2022
Culture Council
Why Gratitude Limits Entitlement
How often do we acknowledge our own entitlement?
By Chris Schembra December 2, 2022
Culture Council
Don‘t Wait for ’When’ — Experience Joy Now
How often in life do we convince ourselves to forgo something great in the present in the hopes of something better in the future?
By Chris Schembra October 20, 2022
Culture Council
What I Learned From Saying ‘No’ to My Second TEDx Talk
To be a successful leader, and/or a successful creative, you need to be in complete self-awareness at all times.
By Chris Schembra September 19, 2022
Culture Council
Develop Your Gratitude Rituals
We can all connect through a desire to show and share gratitude.
By Chris Schembra June 10, 2022
Culture Council
Finding Meaning Through Hard Times
As an entrepreneur, you're going to face many challenging times along the journey.
By Chris Schembra April 26, 2022
Culture Council
Why Receiving Gratitude Is Hard
Stop deflecting — you deserve gratitude too.
By Chris Schembra February 17, 2022
Culture Council
How Gratitude Triggers Flow
If anxiety's our default, how can we ever expect to find the positive in things?
By Chris Schembra January 14, 2022
Culture Council
How to Think of Gratitude as a Door Opener
Do you remember people because they’re interesting, or because they took an interest in you?
By Chris Schembra December 7, 2021
Culture Council
Turn Stubbornness Into Grace With Gratitude
You have the opportunity to meet your fears with grace and charm.
By Chris Schembra October 28, 2021
Culture Council
How to Practice Prosocial, Altruistic and Empathetic Gratitude
What benefits have you received from others that you've overlooked?
By Chris Schembra September 30, 2021
Culture Council
How Leaders Can Increase Emotional Intelligence Through Open-Ended Questions and Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is to practice curiosity.
By Chris Schembra August 23, 2021
Culture Council
What Getting Away Taught Me About Being Resilient and Adaptive as a Creative
Even when you prepare, life is in full control.
By Chris Schembra June 23, 2021
Culture Council
How to Turn Fear Into Gratitude
What does fear have to do with gratitude?
By Chris Schembra May 6, 2021
Culture Council
Why Gratitude Journals Are Only Part of the Practice
Leaders should encourage gratitude in a small-group setting, which can strengthen the relationships of all team members.
By Chris Schembra March 9, 2021
Culture Council
How to Strengthen Team Bonds in Tough Times
Investing in your team now will reap rewards for years to come.
By Chris Schembra February 4, 2021