I work as an IT Program Manager. I joke (maybe every day) that I'm still a bartender and still direct children's theatre, but my entry to project management came when I described what I did as a production stage manager (non-union, little theater, not very much money).
I worked contracts for almost 10 years with increasing responsibility & rates.
I am full-time (or more), and salaried, and I love what I do.
Things I did that got me to where I am:
saying yes
saying thank you
saying "I did this thing!" when I did the thing
and
clarifying that "[these people] did that thing!" when I'm given credit for projects that I manage.
I would like to add that I'm boringly honest, I rely upon critical/literal/logical and I don't salt food before I taste it.