Leadership, Learning, and the People Who Make It Worth It

by Mori Salquist

Do you know what’s so great — and also wildly challenging — about being a business owner? You never actually reach the top of the mountain. There’s always something new to learn, even if you’ve been doing this for over a decade like I have. And honestly, if you’re not learning, you’re probably not growing. That realization has shaped the way I approach leadership and company culture, especially in a business where my team isn’t in an office together every day.

Simply Clean Spokane started in 2012 as a way to pay the bills. I never imagined it would turn into a full-on company with a team of incredible people serving Spokane and the surrounding areas. The heart of Simply Clean has always been about giving people back their time. Life is full — sometimes too full — and we offer a service that helps lighten the load for our clients.

Along the way, giving back to the community has become just as important to our mission. That’s why I’m so excited about our newest partnership with Rick Clark of Giving Back Spokane. Together, we’re donating free home cleanings to two teachers every month for the rest of 2025. Teachers give so much of themselves, and this is one way we can say thank you and make their lives just a little easier.

When it comes to culture — this is the part I still feel like I’m learning. We don’t have a traditional office. My team is spread out, working in homes across the city every day. We don’t have daily check-ins in a conference room or shared breakroom chats. And I’d be lying if I said I’ve totally figured out how to build perfect company culture in that kind of environment. But here’s what I have learned: one of the most important things you can do is hire a team you trust — people you believe in so much that even when you’re not around to reinforce culture or expectations, they carry the torch anyway.

Culture isn’t just about what’s said in meetings or written in handbooks — it’s about the energy your team brings to their work, how they treat each other, and how they show up when no one is watching. And when you hire right, that culture lives and breathes on its own.

So no, I haven’t “arrived.” But I’m learning, growing, and incredibly proud of the people I get to work with and serve every day.

About the Author:

Mori Salquist, owner of Simply Clean Spokane, moved to Spokane from Israel when she was just three years old and has lived in the area for over 35 years. As a mom and business owner, Mori knows how hard it can be to keep a clean house. “When people don’t have the time, energy, or circumstances to clean as much as they’d like to, I love being able to provide a service that makes their life easier and gives them a sense of relief. I also love being able to help not only our clients, but our great staff as well. By offering flexible schedules that are often difficult for students and single parents to come by, it feels like another contribution to the community."