So, I got sucked back into eve. I'm not even playing missions or shooting ships like I used to.
I realized that just before I left, I did a lot of grinding to get enough reputation to max out my research agents. These guys passively create a few research points every day which you can convert to datacores. Datacores can be used to turn T1 item blueprints into T2 item blueprints, which sell for so much more profit. So, I flew to each of them and used their 10 years worth of built up research points to buy thousands and thousands of datacores. It only takes a couple of data cores to convert a blueprint. I'm not ever going to run out. lol
So, I'm constantly (about once a week) performing big T2 conversion jobs. Then I've been sitting in the main trade hub, setting market orders to buy products at low prices, and cranking out T2 ammo (which, as a consumable, is always in demand).
Selling about a half-million missiles per day, and making enough profit to slowly but steadily upgrade my fleet. Additionally, I have 6 colonies on planets cranking out rocket fuel, so that's one less material I have to spend much on, increasing profit margins.
I recently reached the threshold where I could buy a very nice T2 blockade runner ship (which can cloak without speed or warp penalties) which are pretty much untouchable in high and low security space. The only danger to a BR is if you are sloppy or if you go to null-sec (where warp bubbles are allowed that stop the use of warp).
With the BR, I've started taking courier missions on the side where I shuttle stuff around for people who are too afraid to do it themselves, for a tidy fee.