Sometimes entrepreneurs can learn some valuable lessons from rather unusual sources. There was the recent posting in Mine Your Own Business describing how the Seven Dwarfs from Snow White could illustrate several productivity killers in your business. Now comes another unusual source in What You Can Learn About Entrepreneurship From SpongeBob Squarepants. My kids are too old to have grown up with SpongeBob, so I did a little research and found out that it is Nickelodeon's top rated show.
The article begins by describing an episode of SpongeBob Squarepants where SpongeBob and Patrick decide to start a business selling candy bars to get rich (there is a funny video clip from the episode showing how they get the idea in the first place). The article than describes all the mistakes they make such as not listening to potential customers, bad packaging, and budgeting - to name a few.
All the examples are good lessons for entrepreneurs, but one that made me really think of an example of bad packaging was some experiences I've had with purchasing electronic goods in the dreaded clam shell packaging. You know, the packaging that is almost impossible to open without sustaining injuries to your hands. I recently heard that Amazon.com has been listening to complaints and has come out with their Frustration-free Packaging. Something to think about if your business has any control of the packaging of your product.
The article begins by describing an episode of SpongeBob Squarepants where SpongeBob and Patrick decide to start a business selling candy bars to get rich (there is a funny video clip from the episode showing how they get the idea in the first place). The article than describes all the mistakes they make such as not listening to potential customers, bad packaging, and budgeting - to name a few.
All the examples are good lessons for entrepreneurs, but one that made me really think of an example of bad packaging was some experiences I've had with purchasing electronic goods in the dreaded clam shell packaging. You know, the packaging that is almost impossible to open without sustaining injuries to your hands. I recently heard that Amazon.com has been listening to complaints and has come out with their Frustration-free Packaging. Something to think about if your business has any control of the packaging of your product.
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