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About Self-Made By Trade

Building stronger businesses through clarity, service, and intention.

At Self-Made By Trade, we believe strong businesses are built on strong experiences. When customers feel supported, understood, and valued, businesses grow with consistency and confidence.

Our mission is simple:
to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs build service experiences that are clear, intentional, and sustainable.

Too often, businesses struggle not because they lack passion or skill, but because their service experience is unclear, inconsistent, or unsupported by structure. Self-Made By Trade exists to change that.

  • Self-Made By Trade was created to support:

    • Small business owners who want to strengthen how they serve their customers

    • Entrepreneurs who are building from the ground up and want to start the right way

    • Business owners seeking clarity before making major changes or investments

    Our goal is to help you understand what’s working, identify what needs improvement, and move forward with confidence.

    We focus on clarity over complexity and insight over guesswork.

  • Clarity

    We believe businesses operate best when service experiences are clear, intentional, and easy to understand. Our work is rooted in helping clients see the full picture.

    Integrity

    We approach every business with honesty, professionalism, and respect. Our reviews are objective, thoughtful, and designed to support better decisions.

    Consistency

    Strong service experiences aren’t accidental. They are built through repeatable processes and thoughtful design.

    Genuine Care

    We care deeply about the businesses we work with and the people behind them. Every recommendation is made with your long-term success in mind.

  • Self-Made By Trade was founded by Monica Watkins, a service and operations professional with over 10 years of experience in banking and financial services.

    Monica holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Professional Development from Eastern Illinois University, where she developed a strong foundation in systems thinking, process improvement, and organizational effectiveness.

    Her professional background includes:

    • Over a decade in banking and financial services

    • Extensive experience working directly with customers and business clients

    • FINRA licenses, including:

      • Securities Industry Essentials (SIE)

      • Series 6

      • Series 63

    • Life Insurance licensing

    This experience provides a unique lens into how businesses operate, how customers experience service, and how small gaps can create big problems over time.

  • Monica is known for her genuine, thoughtful approach to client work. She believes that businesses thrive when owners feel supported, informed, and confident in their decisions.

    Every Service Experience Review is approached with:

    • Care

    • Professionalism

    • Attention to detail

    • A deep respect for the work business owners put into what they build

    The goal is not criticism, but clarity.
    Not pressure, but progress.

  • Small business owners deserve clear insight, dependable guidance, and honest feedback. Whether you’re refining an existing business or building something new, Self-Made By Trade is here to help you strengthen the experience you provide and the business you’re growing.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re ready to take a closer look at your service experience and build with intention, the Service Experience Review is the right place to begin.

Book a Service Experience Review

Questions before booking? Reach out at reviews@selfmadebytrade.com