With the recent series finales of such popular TV series as Law and Order, 24, and Lost, television executives have got to be looking desperately for the next home run. Why not take a cue from Hollywood and instead of reinventing the wheel, take an old hit and reinvent it? It’s fast becoming the most successful recycling program of all time.

On that note, I think a great TV series would be about Tonto and his counseling sessions. He always acted like it didn’t bother him, but I bet deep down it got under his skin that his partner called himself the “Lone” Ranger. I bet there were some nights around the campfire where Tonto hovered over Kemosabe with a pillow in his hands contemplating smothering him and riding off on Silver.

The Lone Ranger always seemed to save the day and get all the credit. He got the fancy powder blue shirt, white hat, red scarf, black leather holster with silver bullets and trademark black mask (what no cape?). To my knowledge he remains the most fashion accessorized hero of his day. The black mask was always sort of an odd accessory (these were in the days before Zorro could file trademark infringement lawsuits). There probably weren’t too many cowboys riding around the old west wearing powder blue outfits. You’d think that would have given him away.

What did Tonto get? The distinction of being the sidekick with the most fringe on his buckskin outfit. It’s sort of odd that Tonto didn’t even get a mask. What did that say about how important The Lone Ranger thought his sidekick was?

Where The Lone Ranger’s faithful steed was a solid white horse named Silver, Tonto rode a paint named Scout. I’m told that originally Tonto didn’t even get a horse but had to ride double, on the back of Silver. Apparently that didn’t work out so well. Then he was supposed to have a white horse like Silver, but they worried it would make Silver less impressive. Tonto is probably just lucky he wasn’t following The Lone Ranger around riding a burro.

Tonto worked in the background as the sidekick to a hero who got all the credit. He made The Lone Ranger possible. There is a business lesson to be learned here: No matter how successful you have become, you probably have not earned the right to parade around the office in a powder blue cowboy outfit. Oh, and chances are you have a faithful sidekick who helped you succeed.

Ask any business owner or manager and they will be quick to tell you how their employees are their most important asset or competitive advantage. This statement has become so mainstream in today’s business culture that in many cases organizations are in danger of paying lip service to this important truth without truly believing it or demonstrating it.

As business owners or managers, do your employees know how much you value them? It has been said that a true leader absorbs criticism and passes any kudos on down to his staff. Are you such a manager? Or do you absorb the praise and only pass down the criticism? Does your staff see you as a true leader or just the guy that gets all the credit?

It would behoove each of us to assess our own lives and identify those to whom we owe a debt of gratitude who make our successes possible. Make sure they know their contributions are noticed and appreciated. At the very least, let them ride the white horse now and then. What could it hurt?

This post originally appeared in The Idaho Business Review.

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