Simplicity

By Chris Enger

Last fall I had the opportunity to visit Devon, England and to see the summer home of Agatha Christie. The party I was with had a tour guide who went into detail about the home, Agatha’s life, and her success amongst other details during the visit.

While we were traveling there, our guide mentioned his favorite Agatha Christie thriller, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. The hook to get me to read it was, “You’ll never guess who did it.” Instantly I knew I had to read it. I’ve only read one Christie book and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was my first experience with her famous detective Hercule Poirot.

The book was engaging, and our guide was right, I didn’t guess the culprit. What I did take away from the book wasn’t just the great story but how the detective operated throughout the story. Poirot focused on the facts, analyzed alibis, and carefully examined the evidence. Poirot often dismissed nonessential information that did not logically contribute to solving the mystery, thereby indirectly applying a form of Occam’s Razor–the idea that the simplest solution is often the correct one.

Poirot’s detective work in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a classic example of his ability to cut through the noise and complexity to find the truth. His keen observation, attention to detail, and logical deductions lead him to the simplest and most plausible explanation, revealing the identity of the murderer in a surprising twist.

The deductive principles demonstrated by Poirot in the novel, especially the principle that the simplest solution is often the correct one, resonate beyond the realm of fiction. In the realm of business, the pursuit of simplicity can be transformative in many ways.

One of the benefits of working for and with Med One is their ability to simplify business strategies. Business strategies often muddled with complexity, can benefit immensely from that simplistic approach. By focusing on straightforward, clear-cut solutions and eliminating unnecessary complications, businesses can make more efficient decisions, foster better communication, and achieve objectives more effectively.

Focusing on the principle of simplicity will help us to find more effective solutions. Over the last couple of years, I’ve been writing about the Med One Way. Applying every principle shared in the Med One Way is how we pursue the simple and use it as a beacon, leading us towards more effective solutions.