Second Acts and Side Hustles
How Heinz Alfredo Fernandez Found His True Calling
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What do you do now (or did most recently), and what made you realize it was time to do something different?
I currently work in Admissions in the field of Higher Education. Before working in Higher Education, I worked for 13 years in Hospitality, specifically Food & Beverage, working my way up from dishwasher to Operations Manager. However, I decided to get myself back into school and work in a position that allowed a bit more flexibility and free time. I knew I had to make a career change where I could still engage with people, but didn’t physically need to be on my feet 60+ hours a week. After earning my degree, I started my career transition to Higher Education and haven’t looked back since!
Do you think this next chapter is a simple job change or a reinvention?
It was a reinvention, looking back at it. All I knew for a long time was working in F&B and running a business, but I was now in a completely different space. In this field, I have a more direct impact on others, specifically their future. I wasn’t here to sell anything per se, but rather, to provide resources that would improve their professional and academic journey.
What skills or strengths will you carry forward into the next phase of your career?
Hospitality taught me how to listen and form relationships, and it has been super beneficial in every position I’ve held since. My ability to de-escalate situations allows me to handle difficult conversations with students and families. But most importantly, Hospitality taught me how to work efficiently with a team. This has been super beneficial when collaborating across different departments and creating programming events.
What is the hardest part of starting over mid-career—and how did you push through it?
For me, it was starting in a new field without any direct prior experience. I was entirely scared to let go of over a decade’s worth of knowledge and skills for something I’d never done before. I interned everywhere I could as much as I could, and networked with every department. When the Vice President of Student Affairs offered me my first role in this space, I took it - and that role led me towards where I am today.
What does success look like to you now, and has that definition changed since your early career?
It’s looked different to me at different points in my career. Originally, success looked like just graduating from undergrad. When I got into a graduate program, success looked like graduating from that. After that, success meant getting a “good” salary. Now that I am working in a leadership role, success means doing what I love without killing myself (physically or mentally) and living my life in the way that I want.
How do you know your side hustle was more than a hobby?
I am now dabbling in consulting and college coaching, helping high school students understand the college application process. I also work with them on essay prep and resume building, helping shape their stories into recruitable talent at prestigious universities. I realized this was more than a hobby when I started getting offered money to do it.
What steps are you taking to make your side hustle sustainable and full-time-ready?
As I mentioned before, experience is everything. I have been doing my side hustle for the past four years, building my brand and capabilities. I am utilizing this time to network effectively and learn the ins and outs of what it means to build a business from scratch. In the next two years, I expect to be ready to take this to the next level and start my own consulting business, offering a variety of services.
What internal doubts or stories have you had to overcome? How did you overcome them?
The biggest one is the illusion that I have no idea of what I am doing, that I have never ‘explicitly’ done this, and am thus not worthy of charging someone for my time. The biggest help with this? People keep offering me money to do it, so clearly I am doing something right. And if my previous clients are bringing in new clients and word of mouth is what is helping me, then clearly I DO know what I am doing. Also, I have a wonderful support system in my wife, and I also wouldn’t have reached this stage without their love and support.
How do you manage the uncertainty of building something new while letting go of stability?
I remind myself that everything in today’s age is filled with uncertainty: the market, education, housing, food costs, etc. While building something new is scary and filled with tons of uncertainty, it’s also filled with your love/interest in doing it, the mission behind it, and your capacity to get it done. If we can remember that, the rest becomes easier to tackle. I also surround myself with individuals who are interested in supporting me in some way, shape, or form. Just hearing the verbal emotional support goes a long way toward making this a reality.
What’s one belief or expectation about careers that you’ve completely outgrown?
If the salary is high, nothing else matters.
If even a small part of you hates what you’re doing, you’ll never be happy or content. I have done career advising for a few years now, and have met so many folks who learn this the hard way. They leave a lucrative field for something else in less than three years for a combination of reasons: (1) burnout, (2) lack of interest/passion in the work itself, (3) toxic environment/supervisor, and/or (4) lack of growth. Sure, my salary isn’t the greatest and is a huge motivation for starting a side hustle, but it stemmed from doing something I love. I did it for free for the last three years simply because I loved doing it, and now I am blessed to get paid a little extra on the side for it. I love what I am doing, and getting paid for it? Win-win.
If someone were in your shoes five years ago, what would you want them to know now?
Surround yourself with people who genuinely love and support you, and don’t let others downplay your ambitions. Ambition will help drive you past the negativity and fund your creativity. And when possible, give back to your community. I know it sounds cliché to say that, but remember that the vast majority of us have needed help in getting to where we are today. There is no shame in that fact, and the sooner we embrace it, the quicker we can help others realize their dreams as well. Helping others will help you as well, emotionally and mentally.
Want to follow Heinz’s next chapter? Find him on LinkedIn
