make one’s own way—follow one’s inclinations; act independently:
- He wanted to find a new direction but could find no clues in contemporary art and had to make his own way.
make one’s way—
1. proceed forward, especially with difficulty:
- As soon as he saw us, Henry made his way through the crowd to greet us personally.
2. make good progress; achieve success:
- But David was not discouraged: he was young, enthusiastic, determined to make his way.
3. (of a custom, tradition, etc.) become generally accepted:
- The papers don’t yet talk of it, but the idea is making its way into even the best-balanced minds.