I made $144,000 last year as a virtual assistant working flexible hours. It cured my burnout.

• Rebecca Morassutti went from corporate burnout to being a successful virtual assistant.
• Adopting a retainer-based model increased Morassutti's earnings and allowed for a more flexible schedule.
• She made six figures last year and is using skills learned from clients to start her own business.

This is an as-told-to story with Rebecca Morassutti, a virtual assistant. Morassutti’s income has been verified by Business Insider. The following has been edited for clarity and length.

I climbed the corporate ladder in a large multinational company from intern to associate director within a few years. In 2011, my friends and family thought I was living the dream — I had a nice car, a good salary, and a growing savings account.