The deep South where Chris Schembra is from once had massive oak trees in a central part of each town. They were the gathering places, the locations where people would come together to learn news from the outside world, to share their experiences, to receive the help and advice they needed. In other parts of the world, the gathering place may have been a coffee shop, church, or local tavern. In the modern world true gathering places of that kind are becoming fewer and fewer, but Chris Schembra wants to change that. On this episode of Real Relationships, you can learn how Chris has developed The 747 Club in an attempt to bring people together for the sake of building relationships that serve the greater good. It’s an amazing concept and you’ll enjoy hearing Chris’s vision and enthusiasm - and how it translates into business.

In a relationship-driven world the greatest thing you can do is be of service.

The thrust of relationship marketing is connection between people. It’s a focus on the real relationships that exist behind every interaction instead of the interaction itself. As people are cared for they build trust and cooperative relationships with each other. It’s a simple principle that drives Chris Schembra to create gathering places where those relationships can begin, build, and benefit the world. It’s an example of what he’s doing to be consistent with one of his favorite lines, “In a relationship-driven world the greatest thing you can do is be of service.” Find out more about what Chris is doing and be inspired to create your own gathering places, from this episode of Real Relationships.

Why you have to make yourself a person worth knowing.

In the personality focused world of social media, it's easy to get caught up in the rush to become an expert or notable personality. But Chris Schembra believes that trying to become an influencer or expert is getting the cart before the horse. Instead of focusing on becoming known, Chris believes it’s more important to become a person worth knowing. As you grow in skill, knowledge, and compassion for people, you will become a resource that others notice and seek out. Chris’ story is a prime example of how that works and you can hear it on this episode.

What you can do to build relationships in contexts of safety.

As Chris Schembra guides the growth and work of The 747 Club he’s not looking to build an organization. He’s focused on building relationships in contexts of safety. For him, those contexts of safety are gathering places, invitation-only events where people who need to know each other are invited to come, take part in the event together, and discover each other in fresh, new ways. You can do the same thing in your area and Chris Schembra gives an open invitation to anyone who would like to know more about how he’s done it, on this episode - so be sure you listen.

Why focus equals growth. Every time.

It’s easy to say “yes” to the myriad of opportunities that come our way in the digital age. We don’t want to miss out on the possibility of getting in on the ground floor of something big or hitting a home run through one of those opportunities. But Chris Schembra believes that it’s more important to learn what to say “No” to because that enables you to stay focused on the things you are really about. And focus equals growth, every time. Find out how you can narrow your focus and keep yourself on track to accomplishing the goals you really care about, on this episode of Real Relationships.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:28] My introduction to Chris Schembra and this episode about
• [2:07] Why 747 Club is what Chris has chosen to dedicate so much of his life to.
• [5:00] How Chris discovered himself in a relationship driven world.
• [6:46] Instead of breaking into other circles, Chris became an attractor himself.
• [10:46] Why people open up and share more at Chris’ dinners.
• [13:55] How to give opportunities for shared activities in business contexts.
• [17:13] More tips for building good relationships in business.
• [20:11] How to be sure you are focusing on the right people in your network.
• [25:45] Chris’ biggest ask for the listeners.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

• http://www.747club.org/ OR Chris(at)747Club.org
• The Shared Activities Principle
• BOOK: Mastermind Dinners