Calculate the amount of money you will need to make each week in order to meet your financial obligations. Be sure to consider the unexpected. You will need the financial resources to cover emergencies, car repairs and any other incidentals that arise.
Decide how you will bring in an income. Obviously, even if you don't have a traditional job, you will need to work if you expect to meet your financial obligations. Will you produce a product that you will market to others? Will you work for hire, completing freelance work at your leisure? Will you provide a service to others?
Make a list of all your marketable skills. What are you really good at and what do you like to do? Don't worry that some are unrealistic, just get them all down.
Take a good look at your list and brainstorm ways to put those skills to work for you. The chances are unlikely that anyone will pay you to watch and identify birds; but, if you can write, you just might find freelance work writing about birds. If you have an artist's eye, you may make a living photographing or illustrating birds.
Narrow your list down to two or three possibilities. Research these topics to see what others are doing along the same lines. Brainstorm ways to provide something no one else does. Perhaps you will want to specialize and deal only with cardinals. If so, what can you provide to a customer than is worth their hard-earned cash?
Enlist others to help you brainstorm ideas. They just may come up with ideas you haven't thought of and can become your biggest supporters.
Be willing to accept freelance or temporary work that will work as a stepping stone to where you want to be. These little jobs may be what pays the rent while you work your way to independence.
Build a reputation for being reliable and professional in your dealings with others. If you accept work, be sure you follow through with it, even if you decide you can do better with another deal.
Maintain a positive attitude and believe in your ability to transition from the traditional workforce to independence. Don't let minor setbacks get in the way of your success.