Jan. 15, 2025

🏆 10 Powerful Lessons from 2024 to Transform Your Life, Money, and Travel

Over the past year, through over 60 podcast episodes, I’ve explored strategies, stories, and insights with incredible experts to help you upgrade your life, money, and travel. Here are my 10 most impactful takeaways from 2024, covering essential lessons on investing smarter, making time for what matters, building healthier habits, mastering travel hacks, and much more.

1. There’s No One Right Way to Invest

Investing is personal. What works for one person might not work for another because your risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and goals are unique. Even the most seasoned investors will tell you that there is no perfect investment strategy, so whether you prefer real estate, private credit, or index funds, always choose a strategy you can stick with long-term. Simplicity often beats complexity, and consistency is key.

Episodes mentioned: #19, #168, #186, #191, #199.

2. Deals Can Be a Lucrative Side Hustle

A side hustle doesn’t have to mean starting a business (which is how I used to view side hustles). It can be as simple as leveraging deals to save or earn extra money. From credit card bonuses to buying groups to leveraging discounted gift cards and even profiting off gold, these strategies can add up significantly. I also send out a weekly newsletter with all the best deals I find, so make sure to sign up here.

Episodes mentioned: #154, #177, #181, #184, #206.

3. Move Beyond Checklist Travel

Transform your travel experiences by focusing on immersion rather than ticking off destinations. Leave room for flexibility, revisit favorite places, and prioritize meaningful moments. I spoke to a few travel experts last year who also inspired this shift, proving that your second or third visit to a destination often feels richer and more rewarding.

Episodes mentioned: #187, #179.

4. Award Travel is Still the Best Deal in Travel

Points and miles remain a powerful way to save thousands on travel. Flexibility is key—whether in dates, destinations, or booking windows. Today, there are so many different tools and award booking services that make it easier than ever to maximize your value; for example, last year, we saved over $20,000 on a single trip to Europe.

Episodes mentioned: #192, #166, #167, #176.

5. Cash Back Can Be Better Than Points

2024 was the year that I really processed and understood that you can disassociate earning points from redeeming points because one, points and miles are constantly on sale, and two, there are newer cash back cards that earn up to 4%, and in some cases, these can be so much better than points. I also built this card optimizer tool that will help you maximize your rewards and/or cash back by helping you find the ideal mix of credit cards, personalized for your spending patterns.

Episode mentioned: #170.

#170: Cash Back vs. Points: Are We Playing the Wrong Credit Card Game?

6. Spend Time with the Right People in the Right Way

Time is a limited resource, so it’s so important to spend it with people who uplift you and bring positivity to your life. My friend Sahil put together these charts that show how time with family and friends diminishes as we age, making it even more important to be intentional with how and with whom you spend your time. Prioritize relationships that energize you, distance yourself from negativity, and focus on meaningful connections.

Episode mentioned: #190.

#190: Why High-Performers Focus on Energy, Not Time with Sahil Bloom

7. You Can Make Time in Your Life

Delegation, automation, and outsourcing can free up time for what truly matters. From hiring assistants (I hired mine from Oceans ← you can get $1000 off for mentioning ATH) to leveraging AI tools, there are endless ways to offload tasks and create space, which can transform both your work and life. Use the time you’ve gained to be present, reduce distractions, and build more meaningful relationships.

Episodes mentioned: #98, #155, #169, #185, #207, #209.

8. Prioritizing Your Health is Easier Than You Think

Your health is the foundation for everything else in life, and prioritizing it is easier than you think. Start by taking inventory—whether it’s through a blood panel, a DEXA scan, or VO2 max testing—and focus on the area that matters most to you. Simple changes in sleep, diet, or exercise can have a big impact on your well-being

Episodes mentioned: #151, #165, #175, #178, #196, #204.

9. The Key to Good Communication is Listening

Ironically, great communication starts with listening, not speaking. Listening fosters deeper connections, builds trust, and creates better outcomes in all conversations. Whether it’s adopting a “learn it all” mindset, practicing the three levels of listening (me, you, and us), or asking open-ended questions, active listening can transform your relationships, so let’s make 2025 the year of better communication by truly hearing others.

Episodes mentioned: #17, #159, #162, #174, #190.

10. Building Good Habits Takes Time, But It’s Worth It

Building good habits is challenging at first but brings lasting benefits. Shifting to an early wake-up routine gave me 1-2 hours of focused morning time for exercise, work, and more. The key was creating consistency with cues, routines, and rewards. Focus on keystone habits that spark positive ripple effects, and try an approach that works for you, like the 30 for 30 method: 30 minutes a day for 30 days to build momentum.

Episode mentioned: #159.

#159: Masterclass on Habits and Becoming a Super Communicator with Charles Duhigg

These 10 takeaways are more than just insights—they’re practical strategies to help you thrive in every aspect of your life. My hope is that they inspire and empower you as much as they’ve transformed my own perspective. Start with just one actionable step today to live better, travel smarter, and achieve your financial goals. Make 2025 the year you turn these lessons into lasting success!

Hi, I'm Chris Hutchins 👋

Founder / Host

I love sharing my quest to optimize and upgrade my life. Previously I was Head of New Product Strategy at Wealthfront, co-founder and CEO of Grove (acquired by Wealthfront), co-founder of Milk (acquired by Google) and a Partner at GV, where I focused on seed and early stage investments.

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