Professional Multidimensional-> Highlighting The Art Of The Side Husstle with Amber Zaharchuk
If you have an eight-hour job, one-third of your day is devoted to professional endeavors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that another eight hours of your day be dedicated to sleep (Hirshkowitz M, Whiton K, Albert SM, et al., 2015). In the last eight remaining hours, a person is supposed to take care of their family, maintain friendships, foster new relationships, exercise, unwind from stress, and stay updated on the latest geo-political and pop culture trends. With so much happening in this short window, how do you define yourself beyond just being a cog in the machine?
How do you want to be remembered if financial KPIs and increasing ROIs do not measure our legacy? Do you want to be the main character of your life? Entrepreneurs are the new archetype. Their Mount Olympus rested almost the same on Silicon Valley or New York skyscrapers. They pursued a passion. They hustled. They devoted time out of their professional and personal responsibilities to work on something. If you want to find a side hustler, you should meet Amber Zaharchuk.
Amber Zaharchuk works for a media company where she manages streaming app partnerships to bring you more ways to watch your favorite movies, shows, and sports. In her free time, Zaharchuk is a certified personal trainer who coaches athletes looking to improve their game through strength and conditioning. I spoke with Zaharchuk to learn more about how to embrace the hustle.
How do you define a side hustle?
A side hustle is more than just a way to make extra money—it's an outlet for your passion and creativity, a space to share the skills that may not always shine in your day job. In my case, as a strength & conditioning coach, it's enriching to see the impact on young athletes' confidence when they nail a new skill or hit a personal record. Whether a few extra dollars or the first step toward turning a passion into your full-time career, a side hustle allows you to explore what excites you and build something meaningful.
2. Why did you start your side hustle?
I've been passionate about fitness since I was an 8-year-old grapevine across my basement to Jane Fonda's VHS workouts. I even presented a school report about her in the form of teaching an aerobics class—in legwarmers. Over the years, fitness has been woven into my life in so many ways, from learning strength and power as a gymnast to endurance as a runner and motivation as a collegiate coxswain.
I got my first group fitness and personal training certifications in college and an Exercise Science degree, and I have been hooked ever since. For several years, I worked full-time in fitness, managing facilities and traveling as a Master Trainer, teaching and certifying other trainers through BOSU, Total Gym, Gymstick, and AFAA. But when I transitioned to a media career, I realized how much I missed the energy, connection, and fulfillment that fitness coaching gave me. Starting my side hustle was about rekindling that passion and harnessing my talent to help other athletes achieve their goals.
3. How do you balance your side hustle with your professional and personal responsibilities?
It's a challenge. Some days, I feel like I'm mastering it; other days, I wonder if I've taken on too much.
I prioritize and plan ahead as much as possible, and I'm also incredibly fortunate to have a supportive teammate at home. My husband and I coordinate our schedules daily to find balance, and that teamwork makes all the difference. It's not always easy, but staying connected to my passion for fitness, even in the midst of a busy life, is what keeps me energized and motivated.
I have to be incredibly disciplined with my time. If I have morning clients, I'm working backward from the time I need to be at the office. I've got a set window to fit in my own race training, walk the dog, train clients, and pack my snacks before driving off to a full and intense day at the office. Mostly, I just make wardrobe changes from one Athleta outfit to another.
4 What advice would you give someone wanting to start a side hustle?
I do not have it all figured out yet—I am still learning and needing advice, but I think that is the journey. My advice would be: if you have a passion you feel will be fulfilled by pursuing a side hustle, go for it. Just be intentional with your time and realistic about what you can achieve. Set small, manageable goals, and make sure it is something that genuinely excites you. A side hustle should add meaning to your life, not just another layer of stress, and remember, it's okay to be a work in progress; I certainly am!
5 What is the next chapter of your side hustle journey?
I often daydream about opening a massive athlete training center—creating a space where athletes of all levels can reach their full potential. But before I take that leap, I already have a pretty fantastic training space. My focus is on continuing to build my roster and working with my current athletes to build strength and confidence. There is much young talent, especially in central Connecticut, where we have state champions in various sports and kids striving for prep school spots to propel them to the collegiate level. I am eager to get out into the community more. I am always excited to connect with anyone who is ready to take their performance to the next level.
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