I know what you're going through. When I graduated high school, the only thing I knew was that I didn't want any more school. I HATED school. I didn't mind learning, but I hated school. I'm not saying every class was that way, but for me, I learned better by self-study, and if I needed some help, asking for it.
So, I started working. I was lucky, I loved doing what I did at work (I worked or an insurance company). Every time something new came around, I went and learned it. I had a knack for figuring stuff out, so I would help the bookkeeping department and I would tell the programmers where the problem was in a program so they could pinpoint where to look. That got me a transfer, then another transfer, and then I quit (my husband got transferred to Texas, where we wanted to live), but then that office there called and offered me a job. Why, I found a niche. I was good at it and I enjoyed it.
Eventually I quit to have a family, but I never went back to a regular corporate job. Instead I used the skills I had to work from home. Except for the first one, where someone I knew said they needed someone with my skills, all my clients have been word of mouth.
I've added a few things to my skill set, so I'm able to do a variety of things for my clients, so they don't have to get another contractor for it.
The thing is, I never had to "walk through a door," because it just kept finding me and I kept doing.
However, I do know that soon I am going to have to make a decision as to what ONE thing I really want to continue doing and stick with that. I don't ever plan to retire, but I do plan to work less. That's why I need to make a decision.
There was a time when I was doing IT work. I had low prices, which kept me busy. But I wasn't thriving. I was just going from job to job. Finally, I raised my prices. I got less work. But the work I did do was less frenetic. My income didn't change. But my quality of life did.
I don't know if this has any application to you, lower volume, higher margin. It just popped into my head.
I understand. I've had to "fire" some of my clients who took too much patience. My pricing is within the standard, and I believe I am paid well. However, I don't want my entire day filled with always working, so I keep my client list manageable. If I want to make more money for something, I take on a short term project which people are still trying to get me to do.
I don't believe in "giving away" my work. For a friend, I'll give a discount, but no one else. But even my discount is only 10%, and most of my friends don't need my kind of work.