Gratitude Through Hard Times

Rick Sems: Heart at Peace
"The get-rich-quick scheme is actually to do a couple of things really well for a sustained period of time, and you set yourself apart." — Rick Sems
Real leadership isn't about running fast in every direction—it's about building deep human relationships, compounding wisdom over decades, and choosing peace over perpetual conflict.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down with Rick Sems, CEO of Equity Bank. Rick reflects on his family's immigrant roots, leading a multi-billion-dollar regional bank, applying the Influence Pyramid from The Anatomy of Peace, and why mastering three core focus areas beats chasing endless shiny initiatives.
The 5 Levels of the Influence Pyramid (From The Anatomy of Peace)
Shift Posture: Heart at Peace (Base): See people as human beings rather than objects or obstacles.
Build Relationships: Invest in deep personal trust with those you wish to influence.
Listen & Learn: Create space to authentically understand what others are experiencing.
Teach & Communicate: Share your vision, values, and expectations with clarity.
Correct / Fix (Top): Address behaviors—which becomes much easier once levels 1–4 are firmly established.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"The get-rich-quick scheme is actually to do a couple of things really well for a sustained period of time, and you set yourself apart." — Rick Sems
"People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care." — Rick Sems
"Vulnerability actually makes you stronger." — Rick Sems
"Every time you say yes to something, you're saying no to something else." — Rick Sems
"When you shift from seeing people as objects to seeing people as people, you shift from a heart at war to a heart at peace." — Chris Schembra
"Compounding happens in everything we do—it happens in your decision-making." — Rick Sems
"Change is loss, loss is grief, and grief creates anxiety. As leaders, we have to sit with people in their grief and anxiety." — Rick Sems
"Fear and gratitude cannot coexist." — Chris Schembra
"Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances; it changes your capacity to carry them." — Chris Schembra
"If you can put two things together that are diametrically opposed, you create a differentiation that is hard to beat." — Rick Sems
10 Key Takeaways:
Heart at Peace: Stop seeing colleagues and clients as obstacles; view them as human beings.
The Influence Pyramid: Solve issues by building trust and listening before trying to correct behavior.
Help Things Go Right: Shift focus away from crisis firefighting toward building foundational trust.
Rule of Three: Focus on 3 core strategic goals rather than executing dozens of superficial tasks.
Confidence & Humility: Balance strong executive drive with genuine personal humility.
Empathy in M&A: Recognize that corporate acquisitions create loss and anxiety for acquired teams.
Compounding Wisdom: Real expertise is built over sustained time through repeated, hands-on reps.
Proactive Mentorship: Encourage rising leaders to raise their hands and ask for guidance.
Genius of the "And": Combine organic growth with profitability to build sustainable advantages.
Physical Co-Creation: Recharge resilience through manual labor and shared offline activities.
About Our Guest:
Rick Sems is the Chief Executive Officer of Equity Bank, leading day-to-day operations and growth across its regional footprint. He previously served as Chief Banking Officer at First Bank in St. Louis and President/CEO of Reliance Bank. Rick holds a B.A. from Grove City College and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

"The more that you learn about what is, the more it frees you up to think about what could be." — Kimberli Carroll
In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down with Kimberli Carroll, President and CEO of Ruiz Food Products. Kimberli reflects on her leadership journey—from working in California's Central Valley packing houses to stewarding over 3,800 team members at the largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer in the United States. She breaks down why human intelligence and emotional safety matter more than ever alongside rapid AI adoption, how leaders can cultivate psychological safety before crises hit, and why bringing diverse people together to solve hard problems creates lasting joy and organizational resilience.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"The more that you learn about what is, the more it frees you up to think about what could be." — Kimberli Carroll
"When you're pushing up against something hard and making a real effort, accomplishing things that are hard is joyful." — Kimberli Carroll
"My obligation to myself is to figure out how I put myself in situations where I can help people come together to solve problems." — Kimberli Carroll
"Real currency in a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort." — Chris Schembra
"AI doesn't replace us; all it does is create a better opportunity for us to get better faster." — Kimberli Carroll
"We don't want technology to replace human relationships—we want it to augment and enhance them." — Kimberli Carroll
"At the end of the day, when a life is well lived and it's over, people won't mention your business metrics—it's more about the interaction they had with you." — Kimberli Carroll
"A leader's responsibility is to figure out how to create that level of engagement to get the best out of folks." — Kimberli Carroll
"Fear and gratitude cannot coexist." — Chris Schembra
"Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances; it changes your capacity to carry them." — Chris Schembra
10 Key Takeaways:
Human Intelligence Alongside AI: Using artificial intelligence to rapidly synthesize existing knowledge ("what is") so human minds are freed up to imagine novel solutions ("what could be").
Building Psychological Safety in Advance: Cultivating deep, in-person trust and emotional safety across teams long before relying on it during times of organizational pressure.
The Leader as a "Brave Gatherer": Leveraging the superpower of convening people with diverse backgrounds, cultural norms, and perspectives to solve complex enterprise challenges.
Joy in Overcoming Hard Obstacles: Reframing workplace friction and difficult goals not as drudgery, but as the essential source of genuine professional growth and shared victory.
Believing in Others' Unrealized Potential: Instilling confidence in team members by painting a picture of who they can become, transforming doubt into self-efficacy and bold execution.
Navigating Misaligned Performance with Grace: Accepting when individuals are not in the right season or fit for a role, handling transitions with generosity while holding a consistently high performance bar.
Mitigating "Jevons Paradox" and Cognitive Decay: Consciously resisting digital isolation, remote fatigue, and screen dependency by intentionally designing face-to-face gatherings.
Cascading Human-Centered Leadership: Structuring leadership development so direct reports experience personalized stewardship and, in turn, extend that care down to front-line workers.
Community Stewardship & Philanthropy: Connecting corporate mission with local community support through active engagement with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club.
Honoring a Legacy of Service: Carrying forward foundational life lessons learned from family—such as showing up for others without expectation of reward—to ground executive decision-making.
About our Guest:
Kimberli Carroll is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ruiz Food Products, Inc., the nation’s largest manufacturer of frozen Mexican foods, including flagship brands El Monterey and Taquis / Tornados. Raised in California’s Central Valley, Kimberli began her career working in agricultural packing houses before joining Ruiz Foods, where she has served for more than 25 years in various executive roles spanning sales, marketing, supply chain, and general management.
Under her leadership, Ruiz Foods operates manufacturing and distribution facilities across the United States, employing over 3,800 team members. Kimberli holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. Beyond her corporate steward duties for the third-generation, family-owned business, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Collin County in Texas. She resides in Frisco, Texas, with her family.

"If you stop learning, you stop growing." — Philip Schembra
In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this landmark 300th episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra welcomes his father, Philip Anthony Schembra, owner and Broker-in-Charge of Schembra Real Estate Group. Philip reflects on his roots in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, his record-breaking 50-year career in Hilton Head Island real estate, and his lifelong commitment to sales as an act of service, connection, and mentorship. He breaks down the importance of specialization, reading social styles with empathy, and balancing high ambition with family, lifestyle, and philanthropy.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"If you stop learning, you stop growing." — Philip Schembra
"I don't think work is defined by the way people think. If you let work be fun, enjoyable, and rewarding, it's not work. I stopped working forever ago." — Philip Schembra
"When you're in need, ask for help. From an efficiency standpoint, it gets you to where you want to go a heck of a lot faster." — Philip Schembra
"Be a specialist, and then be the best that you possibly could be at whatever product you have." — Philip Schembra
"Real currency in a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort." — Chris Schembra
"You don't want to be the richest guy in the cemetery." — Philip Schembra
"In anything you do in life, if you don't believe in it, don't do it." — Philip Schembra
"If you get out of your world and get into your client's world, everything opens up." — Philip Schembra
"When you give, you get." — Philip Schembra
"Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances; it changes your capacity to carry them." — Chris Schembra
10 Key Takeaways:
Embracing Specialization Over Generalization: How narrowing focus exclusively to Palmetto Dunes, Shelter Cove, and Leamington built a record-breaking, resilient real estate practice.
Reading Social Styles with Empathy: Applying Wilson Learning's social styles model (Amiable, Expressive, Analytical, Driver) to step into the client's world through active listening.
Asking for Help as Trust Building: Overcoming ego to proactively seek guidance from mentors, colleagues, and experts to strengthen teams and accelerate growth.
Translating Athletics to Enterprise: Carrying the mindset of preparation, positive mental attitude, and team culture learned under legendary Glen Ridge High School coaches into business success.
Selling Experiences Over Mere Investment: Positioning real estate around family memories, lifestyle, and community enjoyment rather than transactional numbers.
The Power of Mentorship: Drawing lifelong strategic wisdom from senior executives, including former RCA Victor President Norman Racusin.
Balancing Work, Lifestyle, and Philanthropy: Creating a "diversified happiness income" by intertwining business achievements with community service, sports foundations, and charitable causes.
Pivoting Priorities for Family: Cold-turkeying extensive national speaking circuits to prioritize being present for family milestones and raising a child.
Human Connection as Tomorrow's Edge: Reclaiming interpersonal relationships, active listening, and face-to-face communication as digital technology and AI expand.
Grit as Passion and Perseverance: Maintaining a 50-year commitment to a single community to achieve over $1.25 billion in individual sales through market cycles.
About our Guest:
Philip Anthony Schembra is the Owner and Broker-in-Charge of Schembra Real Estate Group, specializing in luxury oceanfront and resort properties in Palmetto Dunes, Shelter Cove, and Leamington on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Since 1976, Phil has achieved over $1.25 billion in individual sales across 2,000 transactions, making him the #1 all-time listing and selling agent in Hilton Head Island history for a single community.
A Glen Ridge, New Jersey native and LIU Post graduate, Phil was inducted into the Glen Ridge High School Athletic Hall of Fame for football and track. Beyond real estate, he co-created sales training programs such as THE TOTAL SALESPERSON® and co-founded major national philanthropic initiatives, including the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner and the Golf World | Palmetto Dunes Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. Phil resides on the ocean in Palmetto Dunes with his wife and business partner, Carol.

"Living a life of gratitude eliminates entitlement and eliminates so many obstacles to success." — Kevin Jones
In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this special 299th episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down with Kevin Jones, founder and CEO of Celero Commerce. Kevin reflects on building Celero into a top-10 non-bank payments processor, steering through black swan market events, and combining high-tech platform innovation with high-touch human connection. He breaks down why respect and humility are essential cornerstones of leadership, how genuine followership makes better leaders, and why holding low ego allows teams to achieve extraordinary scale together.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"Living a life of gratitude eliminates entitlement and eliminates so many obstacles to success." — Kevin Jones
"You cannot be a good leader if you're not a good follower. Followership is something everybody should spend a little time on." — Kevin Jones
"Respect and humility are cornerstones... if you remain respectful and humble, you can solve incredibly difficult problems with people who have different backgrounds and beliefs." — Kevin Jones
"Your job as a leader is really to facilitate outcomes, not dictate them." — Kevin Jones
"For every five years, expect at least one black swan. As part of being a good leader, you need to hone your skills at managing through it." — Kevin Jones
"Real currency in a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort." — Chris Schembra
"When you take on a challenge, you burn your ships and go chase that challenge. You don't have one foot in and one foot out." — Kevin Jones
"It's okay for leaders to allow themselves to be vulnerable and have some fun with their teams." — Kevin Jones
"Fear and gratitude cannot coexist." — Chris Schembra
"Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances; it changes your capacity to carry them." — Chris Schembra

10 Key Takeaways:
High-Tech Meets High-Touch: Balancing cutting-edge fintech payment integrations with deep, relationship-driven partner care to build sustainable competitive advantage.
The Power of Respect & Humility: Eradicating entitlement in business culture by focusing on merit, continuous learning, and mutual respect across diverse perspectives.
Practicing Genuine "Followership": Understanding that effective executives must first know how to align with, support, and execute under other strong leaders.
Navigating "Black Swan" Market Events: Developing leadership muscle to maintain composure, protect employee families, and protect investor trust through unexpected macroeconomic downturns.
Leading with Love over Machiavellian Fear: Shifting away from rigid top-down authority to collaborative environments built on trust, psychological safety, and productive dissent.
Granting Permission to Pause: Recognizing that while M&A transitions and high-growth phases demand intense sprinting, leaders must proactively grant teams permission to rest and recharge.
Managing the "Silence Tax": Encouraging open dissent and diverse voices within leadership teams to avoid costly, unexamined strategic missteps.
Surrounding Yourself with Superior Talent: Maintaining low ego by hiring specialists who are smarter in their respective operational domains than the CEO.
Carrying the Invisible Weight of Responsibility: Acknowledging the heavy, unsaid burden leaders carry to safeguard the livelihoods of employees, families, and pension investors.
Anchoring Strength in Personal Relationships: Recognizing how unshakeable support from family and partners builds the confidence required to take bold entrepreneurial risks.

About our Guest:
Kevin G. Jones is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Celero Commerce, a top-10 non-bank payment processor and one of the fastest-growing financial services companies headquartered in Tennessee. Founded in late 2018, Celero combines business management software, data analytics, and modern payment solutions to serve over 50,000 small-to-midsized American businesses through financial institution partnerships, software integrations, and direct merchant strategies. Under Kevin’s leadership, Celero executed 12 strategic acquisitions alongside organic growth, culminating in its acquisition by Deluxe Corporation.
Leveraging over two decades of fintech experience, Kevin began his career at Chase Paymentech building strategic partner solutions before driving growth at First American Payment Systems. In 2013, he founded Anovia Payments, delivering an 8.5x investment return and driving organic growth to over 10,000 customers.
Kevin previously served as President of the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), advocating for government relations and member initiatives on Capitol Hill. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Carol, and their three children.

"When you're in need, you realize you need help. And when you're successful, you realize you got help all along." — James Farrin
In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down with James "Jim" Farrin, founder, President, and CEO of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. Jim reflects on growing up across 10 countries in 17 years, applying rigorous business principles to plaintiff representation, and taking on one of the largest civil rights litigations in U.S. history. He breaks down why authentic leadership requires intentional culture, why high metrics can distort purpose, and how focusing on service frees leaders from personal despair.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"When you're in need, you realize you need help. And when you're successful, you realize you got help all along." — James Farrin
"In a time of despair, turning attention outwards and focusing on the people you serve sets you free and gets you out of your own head." — James Farrin
"Culture is either defined intentionally by leadership or by the strongest personality in the room." — James Farrin
"Real currency in a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort." — Chris Schembra
"When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure." — Chris Schembra (referencing Goodhart's Law)
"No man is an island. We need people, we've always needed people, and we need them more than ever." — James Farrin
"Our clients aren't superheroes—they're ordinary people who overcome adversity through faith, perseverance, and getting the right help." — James Farrin
"In a world of everlasting change, find the constants and savor the constancy around you." — Chris Schembra
"We must step out of the tyranny of the 'or' and into the genius of the 'and'." — Chris Schembra (quoting Jim Collins)
"Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances; it changes your capacity to carry them." — Chris Schembra
10 Key Takeaways:
Navigating Constant Transition: Lessons from living across 10 countries in 17 years on leaning into family constants, building adaptability, and trusting that new chapters always work out.
Turning Despair Into Empathy: How refocusing on the suffering of marginalized clients during high-stakes civil rights litigation removed personal worry and provided purpose.
Building Culture via "The JSF Way": Translating abstract corporate values into 24 concrete, daily behaviors that are actively practiced, evaluated, and reinforced firm-wide.
Establishing a "South Star": Defining explicitly what an organization will not tolerate—such as greed, lack of accountability, self-centeredness, and "being a jerk".
Avoiding Goodhart's Law in Business Growth: Recognizing when aggressive numerical growth targets (like 15% annual growth) risk outkicking quality, and shifting focus back to client-centric meaning.
The Power of Confident Humility: Drawing inspiration from military leaders and achieving high-level legal success while maintaining unpretentious humility and honoring team contributions.
Resisting Digital & AI Isolation: Preserving human-to-human empathy and direct client relationships instead of outsourcing core human care to automated chatbots and scripts.
Fire Bullets, Then Cannonballs: Testing small strategic initiatives before making multi-million dollar or firm-wide commitments.
Finding Modern Heroism in Ordinary People: Celebrating everyday perseverance, vulnerability, and resilience over performative social media achievements.
Sustaining Unsaid Gratitude: Creating regular operational space to acknowledge the mentors, family members, and team members who make collective success possible.
About our Guest:
James "Jim" Scott Farrin is the founder, President, and CEO of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, one of the largest plaintiff's firms in the Carolinas. Since opening his doors in Durham, North Carolina in September 1997, Jim has grown the firm to more than 60 attorneys serving clients across North and South Carolina, recovering over $2 billion in compensation for more than 78,000 injured people. His practice areas include personal injury, workers' compensation, Social Security disability, and civil rights litigation, and he is best known in the legal community for applying rigorous business principles to the practice of law itself, an approach that has been the subject of guest lectures at his alma mater's Master of Judicial Studies Program.
Jim's path to the courtroom is not a conventional one. The oldest of five children, he spent his childhood in 10 different countries over 17 years while his father worked internationally for Colgate-Palmolive and other global brands, before returning to the United States for his last two years of high school at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He went on to earn a B.A. in Philosophy from Trinity College in Hartford, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. with honors from Duke University School of Law. He began his career at a corporate firm in California, but found the work lacking in meaning and nearly left the law entirely. In 1995 he returned to Durham, joined a plaintiffs' firm, and remembers to this day the first personal injury client he handed a settlement to. He has not looked back.
Jim played a leading role in In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, one of the largest civil rights cases in United States history. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the American Association for Justice's Leaders Forum, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the Public Justice Foundation, and the North Carolina Bar Association. He has been recognized on Business North Carolina's Power List for Law, named among North Carolina's Most Influential Leaders, and honored with a 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Award.