By Karen Axelton
Ever since my son was 3 years old, my family has pretty much started every morning with an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. By now, if you name any episode, chances are we can act it out. That’s why I was so thrilled to read Geoff Williams’ insightful article, “5 Things SpongeBob SquarePants Can Teach You About Business,” on AOL Small Business.
Geoff’s writing about small business is always insightful and funny, and this was no exception. I won’t reveal all 5 lessons here, but #3, “Quality Counts,” will resonate with every SpongeBob viewer who can recall the many times the Krusty Krab restaurant’s cheapskate owner, Mr. Krabs, has tried to make do with a lesser quality version of the signature Krabby Patty.
A sixth lesson I can think of: Originality counts. As any regular SpongeBob viewer knows, Mr. Krabs’ arch-enemy, Plankton, is continually trying to get hold of the secret recipe for Krabby Patties so that his own restaurant, the Chum Bucket, can copy it and dominate the Bikini Bottom restaurant world. Of course, like Wile E. Coyote against the Road Runner, the miniscule Plankton is always defeated–usually in some humiliating way that involves ending up squashed on the bottom of someone’s shoe (or worse). The lesson? If you’re number two, don’t try to copy someone else–try harder.
Be sure to check out the other 4 lessons from SpongeBob on AOL Small Business.
