The last 'real' job I had was decades ago. My boss, who wanted me to stay on, was overridden by upper management, so I was canned in a 'trimming' project. Turns out nearly every company I ever worked for either folded, or 'trimmed' me out of a job. On that last day at my last job my boss asked, "what will you do then?". Jokingly I said, I'm gonna start my own business so I can have job security!" -- it was a total jest on my part, but in hindsight was one of the most accurate things I ever said. 

I had acquired some remodel skills by working on my own houses + had helped my dad maintain the home in which I grew up. My engineering education was also helpful in a background way: engineers know how stuff works. Also: my dad was an entrepreneur, so the idea of being self employed was not at all new to me. 

So I knocked on my neighbor's door (who was a friend besides) and offered to fix his front stoop for pay. My first gig. 30 years later, after acquiring a great deal of varied skills, and flipping several homes I've 'hung up my hammer'. 

Still looking for income though, so my wife and I now buy and sell furniture - I have the skills to repair antiques, and she's great at selling. I put stuff on eBay too - hate their fees, but the wide number of customers is worth it. 

Bottom Line Advice: never too late for 'percussive radical change' based on your confidence to survive and succeed without a corporate structure of any kind.