Good afternoon and I hope that today you take some time for yourself amidst the noise and haste of life.

I was reminded of a great old joke yesterday. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go off for a weekend camping trip. After a day of fishing and hiking, a nice campfire dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night. A few hours later Holmes asks Watson, ‘Watson, are you awake?’

Watson groans, ‘I am now.’

Holmes asks, ‘tell me, what do you see above us?’

Watson replies, ‘I see the stars.’

‘And what does that tell you?’

Watson says, pulling himself up on one elbow, ‘Astronomically, I see the North Star and know that we are in the Northern Hemisphere, astroglogically, Jupiter is in the 7th house, chronologically, I make it to be about 3 am, and meteorlogically, I say we’ll have a clear morning. What do you think of that Holmes?’

‘Well, yes all of those are true, but you’re missing an important fact Dr. Watson.’

‘Yes, Holmes, what is it?’

‘Someone appears to have stolen our tent.’

Sometimes, in our race to find new methodologies, innovative ways and means, and perhaps even to try to impress ourselves or others we miss the obvious. When it comes to managing and leading people, it is frankly the obvious, or dare I say, the ‘elementary’ that is key: treat people the way you would like to be treated; try to understand first, then to be understood; silence is your friend, and people really want only four things; to belong, to accomplish something, to be able to make their own choices in life, and to have fun. All the rest is just commentary.

May we each take the time to find and act on the obvious this week.