“I’d seen amazing things… but I never got under the skin of the destination until I built that house.”
That single sentence, dropped casually in a conversation with Christopher Hill, caught my attention.
The Moment Everything Changed
Six years into a high-flying career at Barclays in London—IPOs, privatizations, the works—Chris took a trip to South Africa.
Safari. Wine tastings. Cape Town sunsets.
And then: a day building a house in a township.
“I got to sit with the family. Hear their stories. Watch their kids play on the dirt floor we were about to cover with concrete.
I’d traveled the world before. But I’d never touched it.”
That day planted a seed. A dangerous, beautiful, world-changing seed.
From Ladder to Legacy
Chris quit. Not in a dramatic, burn-the-bridges way. But quietly. With intention.
He took a year off. Studied theology in Vancouver. Wrote his first business plan in a class called “The Soul of the Entrepreneur.”
And in 2006, Hands Up Holidays was born.
Luxury travel. But with a twist.
Every trip includes: ✦ 5-star lodges, private guides, Michelin-level dining ✦ And a hands-on service project—building stoves, rescuing girls from trafficking, relocating rhinos.
Wait. Relocating rhinos?
Yes. Through his brand Impact Destinations, you can:
Fund and witness a rhino being airlifted from a poaching hotspot in South Africa to a shoot-on-site reserve in Botswana.
You’re in the helicopter. You’re with the vet. You’re there when the dart hits. You spend time up close and personal with the rhino.
And you get to say: “I saved a rhino.”
I’m not making this up.
The Thailand Raid (World Exclusive)
Chris leaned in toward the camera during our recording:
“This isn’t on the website yet… but we’re launching a trip where you fund a police raid to rescue underage girls from prostitution in Thailand.
You brief with the team before they go in. You debrief after.
You see the girls you helped free.”
I lost my breath.
This isn’t charity from a distance. This is being the answer to someone’s prayer.
The Morning Routine That Keeps Him Grounded
Chris appreciates the power of a strong morning routine, and it’s something I’ve been crafting myself for 15 years, the morning routine can make or break a day, imo. I couldn't help but ask how he starts his day.
* 500ml water
* Gentle yoga (to preserve his tennis game)
* Book of Common Prayer (modern version)
* 5-Minute Journal: What would make today great?
* Walk the Labradoodle, Zola
* Protein + creatine coffee (he’s experimenting)
And yes—he intermittent fasts. I told him I’d rather cold plunge than skip breakfast. He laughed.
The Faith Thread
We didn’t plan to talk faith. But it kept coming up.
“I don’t know if you can live with deep fulfillment without something bigger than yourself.”
Chris isn’t preaching. He’s just living it.
And the data backs him:
* His Catholic friend—wildly successful, spiritually adrift—returned to Mass this year.
* Now? He’s funding Catholic orphanages in Africa.
Faith, purpose, generosity—they’re not accessories. They’re the operating system.
Your Move
Here’s the truth:
You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow. But you do need to ask:
“Is my ladder against the right wall?”
If not—start small.
Try a 24-hour fast. Do a local service project with friends or family.
Or just send Chris an email. He answers every single one.
Connect with Christopher
🌍 handsupholidays.com – Luxury + Giving Back
🦏 impactdestinations.com – Save a Rhino. Literally.
🏢 handsupincentives.com – For Companies
🎒 handsupschooltrips.com – For Students
Final Thought
“Fulfillment isn’t a destination. It’s a direction.” — Christopher Hill
Keep climbing. Just make sure you're climbing the right ladder.
P.S. If this moved you, forward it to one person who’s stuck on the wrong ladder. Let’s start a chain reaction.
Listen to the full episode: The Fulfillment Project #30 (coming soon) Subscri
be free: fulfillmentproject.substack.com
Let’s build a world where giving is the ultimate luxury.
