She Quit Her 'Toxic' Job to Pursue a Freelancing Side Hustle. Now She Leads Her Team With Compassion, Makes 6 Figures and Even Bought a House. Today, Hannah Logsdon offers her services through Fiverr, Upwork and her own company Virtual Momentum.

It was 2020 when Hannah Logsdon decided she'd had enough of her toxic job at a real estate acquisitions company, where she faced a "complete disregard for work-life balance" and "lack of recognition and appreciation."

The final affront came with her company's response to a personal family tragedy.

"I was confronted with the heartbreaking situation of my brother being on life support," Logsdon tells BIZ Experiences, "and yet, I was coerced into continuing to work instead of being able to be present for my family and bid a proper farewell."

Logsdon needed a way out — and freelancing seemed like a promising path forward. She'd seen a series of TikTok videos touting the benefits and was interested in the "relatively low barrier to entry and flexibility it offered."

But Logsdon didn't have the typical freelance skill set: graphic design, writing, translating and the like. So she leaned into her existing expertise and the type of work that prospective clients "either disliked or deemed time-consuming."

"By positioning myself as a skilled professional in the realm of cold calling, lead generation and appointment setting, I was able to showcase the value I could bring to businesses seeking assistance in these areas," Logsdon explains.

Related: She Started a Side Hustle and Now Earns Up to $24k Per Month

Logsdon remained in her former position while she built up her new side hustle, then transitioned to freelancing full-time in January 2021. Today, she offers her services via Fiverr, Upwork and her own company Virtual Momentum.

One of the biggest initial challenges was setting up a reliable pipeline of clients, but Logsdon's specialized focus and leveraging freelancing websites and social media paid off, and she gained a reputation for her high-quality work.

Within four months, Logsdon decided she needed to hire a team to support her growing business, which included clients in the U.S. and Canada. The strategic move made it possible for her to "streamline operations, increase efficiency and ensure a smoother workflow."

Logsdon made more than $100,000 in sales during her first year and over $200,000 in her second, which has not only resulted in "significant financial freedom," allowing her to purchase her own home and car, but also in greater control over her time — the reason she dove into freelancing in the first place.

"The ability to make my own hours and prioritize my social and family life has become the most important aspect of my freelancing journey," Logsdon says. "It has brought me immeasurable happiness, reduced stress levels and enriched my relationships with loved ones."

And Logsdon made that a priority within her own leadership too, noting that an emphasis on work-life balance, open communication, professional growth, empathy and compassion are key as she aims to cultivate a "positive, inclusive and supportive work environment."

Related: 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Work-Life Balance | BIZ Experiences

As she looks ahead, Logsdon is excited about the possibility of helping others realize their own freelancing and BIZ Experiencesial goals and says she has a "clear vision for the future of Virtual Momentum," one that includes growing its team, adding more long-term clients to its roster and shifting her focus to higher-level strategic initiatives.