Who you choose to be

It’s not always about the cards. Sometimes, it’s about the journey — and who you become along the way.

You’ll see hundreds of influencers on social media showing off luxurious flights, promising that if you “follow me, you can do it too.” You might save that post or hit follow, only to find yourself staring at your next trip itinerary wondering, where do I even start with points and miles?

I started the same way. I dove in headfirst, listening to hours of podcasts before ever booking a single flight. Just getting familiar with the language and the different programs gave me enough confidence to try. I didn’t ask for advice or expect shortcuts — I learned, experimented, and kept learning.

Who you choose to be along the journey — in churning or anything else — is up to you. You can be frustrated by endless credit card offers or overpriced flights that make the world feel out of reach, or you can take it piece by piece, learning as you go.

Be Curious

Curiosity is where everything starts. It’s what leads you down rabbit holes you didn’t even know existed — reading about airline alliances, learning how transfer partners work, or finding out that some business cards don’t count toward 5/24. Every bit of curiosity adds up over time.

The best part is, curiosity compounds. The more you learn, the more connections you start to see. Suddenly, a random Reddit post or a one-line comment in a forum makes sense because you’ve built the foundation to understand it.

But curiosity also takes effort. Don’t expect to be spoon-fed answers. Every churner started somewhere — confused, lost, and probably a little overwhelmed. You’ll learn faster by doing your own research, trying things, and even making a few small mistakes along the way. Those experiences stick.

Be Focused

It’s easy to get lost trying to learn everything — every airline program, every new deal, every obscure redemption. The truth is, you don’t need to know it all. You just need to know what matters to you.

Start local. Learn the programs tied to your home airport. Understand the general rules of the game — things like 5/24, application limits, and transfer timelines. Then, go deeper into the areas that actually make an impact for your goals.

Focus is what separates people who dabble from people who master. You don’t need to chase every promo or follow every buying group. Learn your lane and stay sharp in it.

Be Intentional

Before opening another card or chasing a bonus, ask yourself why.
Do you want to travel more? Earn side income? Build something long-term? Each goal demands a different approach.

Intentionality gives your effort direction. If you’re chasing experiences, flexible points and strong transfer partners matter most. If you’re building a side hustle, it’s about systems, volume, and sustainability.

Without clarity, it’s easy to waste time chasing deals that don’t move you closer to what you actually want. Points are just tools — they only matter when they serve a purpose.

Be Patient

It’s tempting to rush — to grab every new offer, hit every bonus, and see instant results. But most real wins take time. Some of the best redemptions and money-making setups are built slowly through trial, observation, and consistency.

Patience is what keeps you grounded when deals dry up or programs change. It lets you see the bigger picture instead of reacting to every short-term shift.
The churners who last aren’t necessarily the smartest — they’re the ones who can wait, adapt, and keep building quietly over time.

Who You Choose to Be

At some point, this hobby stops being about cards, offers, or the next big redemption. It becomes about how you approach things — how you learn, adapt, and think. The same traits that make you good at this translate far beyond points and miles: curiosity, focus, patience, and intention.

You can look at this hobby as a grind, chasing bonuses and deadlines, or as a practice — a way to build habits that compound over time. The truth is, you’ll make mistakes. You’ll miss a bonus, cancel the wrong card, or forget a payment. But those moments teach you just as much as the wins.

Who you choose to be through it all matters more than what you earn. If you stay curious, keep learning, and move with purpose, the results — whether that’s a flight, freedom, or something entirely different — will follow naturally.