How Colin Stroud Built a Biz Helping People Save Money on Travel via Credit Card Points
PodBlog #6 | Colin Stroud | Go Somewhere
Welcome back to Catholic Founders.
Today, we’ve got a PodBlog for you. Yes you read that right. We’re dubbing this a PodBlog, because Blog Version of a Podcast, doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Today’s PodBlog covers yesterday’s podcast with Colin Stroud. If you have not had a chance to listen to it all the way, I highly recommend checking it out, but if you prefer to read, here are some of the key highlights turned into a readable blog (ie, not a transcript).
Listen here 👇
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There was a time when Colin Stroud genuinely believed he’d never make more than $45K a year. Not because he wanted to take a vow of poverty, but because he thought the only thing he was capable of was ministry work.
Today, he runs a thriving business helping people maximize credit card points, travels the world, and has completely redefined what success looks like as a Catholic entrepreneur.
His journey? Not what you’d expect.
In this episode of the Catholic Founders Podcast, Colin shares how he went from bouncing between jobs and doubting his ability to build anything to taking a leap of faith into entrepreneurship. If you’ve ever wondered if business and faith can coexist—or if you’re stuck in a limiting mindset about success—this one’s for you.
The “I Guess I’ll Be a Youth Minister” Phase
Colin grew up in a Catholic family, but when he had a deeper conversion in high school, he hit a common struggle:
“How do I integrate my faith into my work?”
His conclusion? Ministry was the only way.
It wasn’t that he felt called to ministry—it was just the only model of “Catholic success” that seemed available. Meanwhile, his older brother was deep into finance and Wall Street dreams, which Colin had zero interest in.
By college, he didn’t have a career plan at all. But he did have that entrepreneurial bug. He became the highes paid student at Ave Maria University. He did this by offering to clean the vans for $50 a pop. This saved the university money from the contract they had and made him good money. In fact, that was the first taste he had of providing more value and capturing part of the difference.
Still, he wasn’t thinking, Oh, I’m totally an entrepreneur. He just didn’t want a boring job.
The Accidental Business Idea
Fast forward to 2023. Colin was married with a young daughter, working a corporate job that paid the bills but didn’t excite him. When he and his wife wanted to take a vacation, reality hit:
Travel is expensive. Too expensive.
So, like any good problem-solver, he started Googling ways to save money. That’s when he found credit card points and miles.
At first, it sounded scammy. But he dug in, tested some strategies, and within a few months, he had booked a trip to Italy—almost entirely paid for with points.
That trip sparked an idea.
Could other people use these strategies? More importantly, would they pay for help?
He posted about it on LinkedIn. The post blew up. People started DMing him with questions. That’s when he realized:
💡 People want to travel for less. They just don’t have the time or knowledge to figure it out.
He offered his first $75 consultation to help someone navigate their points. They booked.
Boom. First sale.
From Side Hustle to “Wait, This is My Full-Time Job”
At first, Colin was just running this as a nights-and-weekends side gig. He still had a job, but he kept refining his process, helping clients, and building momentum.
Then, something big happened:
He helped his own parents optimize their credit card strategy for their medical practice. They were spending $40K+ a month on a weak 1% cash-back card (ouch). After working with him, they saved over $20,000 in travel costs.
That’s when it clicked. If his parents—successful business owners—had no clue how to optimize points, how many other business owners were leaving money on the table?
His consulting business picked up speed. Eventually, in July 2024, his side hustle made more than his full-time job. By September, he had nearly tripled his monthly income.
It was time.
In October 2024, he quit his job and went all in.
The Reality of Running a Business
Quitting to run your own business sounds glamorous—until you realize:
There’s no paycheck waiting for you.
Time disappears FAST.
You need way better systems.
Colin’s biggest challenges right now?
Time Management & Scaling – He’s drowning in client inquiries (a good problem, but still a problem). He needs a model that doesn’t rely 100% on him.
Work-Life Balance – Running a business + two small kids = chaos. He’s learning to set boundaries and be present at home.
Keeping Faith at the Center – Business is dopamine-heavy. It’s exciting. But he’s actively working to make sure success doesn’t push out prayer.
Sponsorship
If you’re hiring for a virtual assistant or any sort of offshore talent to help you as you scale, consider hiring a Catholic from ParacleteVA.
VAs in the Philipines are seeking new employment with more ethical founders so they can both provide for their families and have work that aligns with their morals.
If you’re interested in hiring one, reach out to us today. dearcfpod@gmail.com - Either Karen or I will get back to you.
Pricing: You pay, $500 when we hire successfully, and $500 after 30 days if you’re still happy with them.
Faith, Trust, and Letting God Provide
One of the wildest things about Colin’s story is how God shows up—again and again.
Take this moment:
When quitting his job in October, Colin had a small freelance gig lined up. It paid him an extra $600/month. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a safety net to him.
Eventually, he realized he needed to go deeper. He decided to cut that freelance work too. It gave him so many second thoughts. “What if I need that money?”
No joke—one minute after quitting, a cold DM landed in his inbox:
🚀 “Hey Colin, I spend $100K/month on a credit card but feel like I’m not getting the best value. Can you help?”
He jumped on a call. Closed the deal. Got paid $600.
The exact amount he had just let go of.
Coincidence? No. Provision.
These are the types of stories that pop up for entrepreneurs all around the world, it just takes a searching heart to find them.
Key Takeaways for Catholic Entrepreneurs
Trust God’s Provision. Success isn’t about control—it’s about trust. If He’s calling you into something, He will provide.
You Don’t Need the Perfect Plan—Just Start. Colin’s business evolved through action, not overplanning. Momentum beats perfection.
Find a Way to Increase Your Value. Colin refused to work a job that paid him $8/hr in college. Instead, he found ways to increase the value of his time—and that’s a core business principle.
Faith and Business Work Together. You don’t have to choose between faith and financial success. God wants you to thrive in both. After all, how can we separate the spiritual part of us. It’s in our nature. To ‘separate’ it, is lunacy.
Final Thoughts
Colin’s story is proof that Catholic entrepreneurs aren’t limited to church jobs. You can build a business, support your family, and serve God in the process. And the best part, you can probably do this successfully in most random niches if you so choose.
As a side note, if you want to optimize your credit card points and travel for less, check out GoSomewhere.world or follow Colin on LinkedIn. I say this genuinely. This is not an ad. I worked with Colin and it was super worth it.
And if you’re building something yourself? Trust God, start now, and don’t create arbitrary limits on what’s possible.
What Do You Think?
In your work, what has been the biggest area for you to relinquish control to God? Comment below or share this with someone who needs encouragement in their entrepreneurial journey!
Until next time—God bless and happy building!
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