make one's way

Also, make one's own way . Advance in life by one's own efforts, His family hasn't much money so he'll just have to make his own way in the world . [c. 1600]

Go in a particular direction or to a particular destination, as in I'm making my way to the china department , or How are we going to make our way through this underbrush? This usage was first recorded about 1400.