Success = Connections x (Niche knowledge + Skills)

For connections:

Given the current state of the world networking is hard but not impossible. However you go about it, you need to build trust with people rather than hard sell them which doesn't work in 2020 (unless what you are selling is a commodity). Note that I said people, you're selling to people - not businesses.

You can shortcut this by leveraging existing contacts, ideally in a niche that you already have knowledge in because you worked in it.

For niche knowledge + skills:

With your connections at first you might need to find ways to cheaply provide value. Build up trust. Grow relationships. Get referred.

You'll make your life easier by specialising in a niche. So for example mine is financial services. A niche in a niche is even better. Again, for example mine is asset management, which sits within financial services.

So now you have your niche in a niche and detailed knowledge of that niche. You know what problems they have (the knowledge), and you can add your skills to solve their problems.

It's not easy, it takes years - but it's possible. Once you have all the elements of the above formula, you can switch your pricing from by the hour to by value.