Sandy Wade had a 25-year career in high technology before abandoning computers for quilting. For the past 14 years, she has owned Pacific Crescent Quilting, on Spokane’s North Side. In addition, Wade currently serves as the chairwoman of the board of directors for the Spokane Public Facilities District, which operates the Spokane Convention Center and the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. She also is active in the Spokane Valley Sunrise Rotary Club.

Growing up in rural South Dakota, I was blessed with that most wonderful gift: a great teacher. My fourth-grade teacher, Miss Erdmann, said to me one day, “Sandy, you can be anything you want to be.” At the time, I wasn’t really sure what that meant, but the idea stuck with me. Throughout my life, when I was faced with a fork in the road where one path was easy and obvious and the other was more interesting but a bit scary, I thought, “Well, Miss Erdmann has been right so far.” And I opted for scary. Miss Erdmann hasn’t been wrong yet. This has given me the first attribute that works for me: belief in myself. This is a great advantage when you are faced with a new challenge and you can believe in your own ability to take it on.

One of the challenges and scary, new undertakings was starting my own business. I have a staff of eight marvelous folks, two of whom have been with us for the full 14 years we have been in business. The rest have been there for five years or more. I believe they stay for so long because they know they are trusted and valuable employees, which brings me to the second thing that works: belief in others. When you make it clear to someone else that you believe in his or her inherent goodness and value, it reinforces belief in the individual. Those mutual beliefs become self-fulfilling. You now not only have a good employee but in many cases a friend for life.

There are four other things that go along with these first two, and they are taken from the guiding principles of a most marvelous organization, Rotary International, of which I am privileged to be a member. These are called The Four-Way Test and are intended to be a guide for all that we think, say and do.

1. Is it the truth? Mark Twain hilariously wrote, “Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it.” We are not allowed this economy.
2. Is it fair to all concerned? If a deal is not good for both you and your customer, it’s not a good deal.
3. Will it build good will and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Answer yes to all of these when faced with a decision, and you are on the right track.

I have found these simple rules to be very effective in ensuring a smooth path not only at work but for life in general. I thank you for your time and allowing me to share this with you.

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