Why Following Your Passion Makes Life Easier | Christopher Hill - Founder of Impact Destination & Hands up Holiday

Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to the Journey To Legacy podcast Episode 146 with Christopher Hill for even more insights and stories from his remarkable entrepreneurial journey.

Why Following Your Passion Makes Life Easier

Most people think following your passion will make life harder.

More risk.
More uncertainty.
More pressure.

But in reality… it often does the opposite.

Christopher Hill spent years in investment banking - long hours, high pressure, constant grind. From the outside, it looked like success.

But it didn’t feel like alignment.

Everything changed after one trip.

That experience led him to build purpose-driven travel companies - specifically Impact Destinations and Hands Up Holidays - and more importantly, it showed him something most people never realize:

When you’re aligned with what you care about, the work doesn’t feel the same.

You still work hard.
You might even work more.

But it feels lighter.

Because you're not fighting yourself anymore.

The Difference: Effort vs Alignment

When you’re not aligned:

• Work drains you

• Progress feels forced

• Motivation comes in waves

When you are aligned:

• Energy feels natural

• You enter flow more often

• You actually enjoy the process

That’s the shift.

Not less work -
just better energy behind it.

You Don’t Have to “Jump”

One of the most practical lessons from this:

You don’t need to quit everything overnight.

You can:

• Build on the side

• Test your interests

• Reduce risk while exploring

Passion isn’t something you wait for.

It’s something you build through action.

The Bigger Lesson

Following your passion isn’t about chasing happiness.

It’s about creating alignment.

And when you're aligned,
life doesn’t necessarily get easier…

But it feels easier.

Full episode on Journey to Legacy

This blog post is based on Episode 146 of the Journey to Legacy podcast with host Wayne Veldsman.

At Journey To Legacy and the JTL Community, we focus on educational communications coaching to help you build stronger relationships and sell better. Join us and take your business and life to the next level, guaranteed.

Transcript: 

Here is your FULL interview transcript, properly labeled and cleaned for readability (no filler words, structured, ready to use):

WAYNE (Host – Intro):

What if your next luxury vacation could do more than help you relax?
What if it could change someone else’s life — and even your own?

Welcome back everybody. I’m your host, Wayne Veldman, and in today’s episode of Journey to Legacy, I sit down with Christopher Hill, founder of Impact Destinations and Hands Up Holidays, to talk about how one trip to South Africa completely changed the direction of his life.

That experience took him from investment banking into building purpose-driven travel experiences that create real impact.

Today, we talk about how travel can shift your worldview, why meaningful experiences shape people, and how following your passion can lead to a more aligned and fulfilling life.

If you’ve ever wondered how to build success that actually means something, this episode is for you.

I hope you enjoy.

WAYNE (Host):
So Chris Hill, you're the founder of Impact Destinations and Hands Up Holidays. Thanks for being here today.

CHRISTOPHER HILL:
It is an honor, Wayne.

WAYNE (Host):
Tell us a bit about Impact Destinations and Hands Up Holidays. What are you working on?

CHRISTOPHER:
There are two brands I created, both centered around luxury travel that makes a difference.

With Impact Destinations, your philanthropic donation enables experts to do what they do best, while also unlocking a unique experience for you as the traveler.

For example, on a safari in South Africa, you might participate in a rhino relocation. You’d join the veterinarian in a helicopter, witness the process, and help relocate the animal to a safer reserve. It’s about leaving a legacy — being able to say you helped save a rhino while on safari.

About 80% of our experiences are focused on wildlife conservation, with some humanitarian projects as well.

Hands Up Holidays is more hands-on. You’re directly involved in service projects — building homes, helping at schools, working in wildlife rescue centers.

Both combine meaningful impact with luxury, tailored travel experiences.

WAYNE (Host):
That’s fascinating. I’ve never heard of combining luxury travel with real impact like this. Where did the idea come from?

CHRISTOPHER:
It started with a trip to South Africa.

I had been working in finance in London for six years. On that trip, I went on safari, explored Cape Town, and also helped build a house in a township.

That experience added two new dimensions to travel for me:
First, connecting with local people and hearing their stories.
Second, actually making a difference.

It completely changed how I viewed travel — and ultimately, my life.

WAYNE (Host):
That’s incredible. I’m actually in Cape Town right now, so this hits close to home.

Did you expect that trip to change your life like that?

CHRISTOPHER:
Not at all.

It actually started with a friend who had become a tour guide in Cape Town. I joined him on a trip, and we began brainstorming ideas.

I suggested combining sightseeing with volunteering. He connected me with someone from Habitat for Humanity, and that’s how I ended up building a house.

That experience sparked everything.

WAYNE (Host):
It’s amazing how one connection can change everything.

What is it about travel that shifts people’s mindset so deeply?

CHRISTOPHER:
It’s not just travel — it’s the mindset you bring.

You need openness. Openness to other cultures, other ways of life, and the possibility of having your worldview challenged.

If you have that mindset, travel becomes incredibly powerful.

WAYNE (Host):
So it’s not just where you go — it’s how you experience it.

CHRISTOPHER:
Exactly. You could go to a resort and never leave — and nothing changes.

But if you engage, connect, and stay open, that’s where the transformation happens.

WAYNE (Host):
Who are the people you typically work with?

CHRISTOPHER:
Initially, I thought it would be young professionals — people with money but limited time.

But surprisingly, families became our main audience.

Parents want their kids to understand how fortunate they are and experience other ways of life.

Those experiences create powerful perspective shifts early in life.

WAYNE (Host):
That must have a massive impact on kids.

CHRISTOPHER:
It does.

We’ve seen kids come back from trips and choose to give away their Christmas presents to children they met abroad.

That’s the kind of impact that stays with them.

WAYNE (Host):
That’s incredible.

You went from investment banking into this completely different path. Was that scary?

CHRISTOPHER:
Not as much as you’d think.

It was a calculated risk. I didn’t have a family or mortgage at the time, so the downside was low.

And I knew I could always go back to finance if needed.

WAYNE (Host):
That’s a powerful perspective.

What would you say to someone who wants to take that leap into entrepreneurship?

CHRISTOPHER:
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

You can build something on the side while keeping your job.

Use your time intentionally — especially the time you might be wasting.

WAYNE (Host):
That’s such practical advice.

What’s the bigger vision for what you’re building?

CHRISTOPHER:
Awareness.

Most people don’t even know this type of travel exists.

If purpose-driven travel became a normal option — like safaris or cruises — that would be a huge shift.

WAYNE (Host):
I love that.

You mentioned earlier that following your passion makes life easier — why?

CHRISTOPHER:
Because I’ve lived both sides.

In finance, it was hard, draining, and misaligned.

Now, I wake up excited. I’m in my flow.

The work is still hard — but it feels lighter and more meaningful.

WAYNE (Host):
That’s such an important distinction.

What does legacy mean to you?

CHRISTOPHER:
Leaving the world better than you found it — and preserving it for future generations.

And doing that not just personally, but by enabling others to make an impact too.

WAYNE (Host):
That ripple effect is powerful.

Where can people learn more about what you’re doing?

CHRISTOPHER:
ImpactDestinations.com and HandsUpHolidays.com.

And I personally handle every inquiry to create tailored experiences.

WAYNE (Host):
Chris, I appreciate your time. Thank you so much for being here.

CHRISTOPHER:
Thanks, Wayne. It’s been a pleasure.

WAYNE (Host – Outro):

What a powerful conversation that was with Christopher Hill.

My three biggest takeaways:

First, purpose changes everything.
Second, travel can shift your worldview — if you’re open to it.
Third, legacy is about leaving the world better than you found it.

If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs it.