Is Your Business Like The Krusty Krab, Or the Chum Bucket?

In “SpongeBob SquarePants,” the immensely popular cartoon for adults kids, an ongoing storyline involves Eugene H. Krabs (Mr. Krabs) and Sheldon J. Plankton, Jr.

Mr. Krabs owns The Krusty Krab, a dining establishment in Bikini Bottom. Plankton owns a rival business across the street — the Chum Bucket.

The source of The Krusty Krab’s prosperity is the Krabby Patty, the most popular burger sold at the restaurant. Mr. Krabs has never revealed the recipe for the Krabby Patty. In fact, he guards the recipe as if his life depends on it (which it probably does).

The tension between Mr. Krabs and Plankton comes from Plankton’s never-ending quest to acquire — by whatever means — the Krabby Patty recipe. Plankton’s skullduggery has included: hypnosis, disguise, threats, lies, litigation, road construction, psychiatry, fake friendship, and even brain surgery.

Do You Have a Secret Recipe?

So why should we spend time thinking about these two adversaries?

I think it’s useful for all of us to hold our solo businesses up against The Krusty Crab and the Chum Bucket and ask: “Which does my business most closely resemble?”

Be honest with yourself.

Is your business more like the Krusty Krab? Do you have a signature product or service that attracts a fanatical following? If so, what’s the secret recipe for that product/service? What’s the mix of spices and ingredients that your followers can’t live without? Are you constantly experimenting with your business mix, or have you chosen one thing and perfected it? What steps do you take to protect your recipe from harm?

Or is your business more like the Chum Bucket? Do you hold a negative, jealous view of the world around you? Do you pay too much attention to your competition? Should you spend more time developing something that is yours, something that is wonderful and impossible to duplicate? Are you targeting the wrong market? Are in the wrong business entirely?

Spend Time In Your Creative Kitchen

If you don’t have a winning recipe, what can you do to develop one?

I can suggest a starting point. Read this article, “Solopreneur Business Conception: Mix and Match To Spark Ideas,” which was written for TheSolopreneurLife.com by Brooklyn- N.Y.-based small-business expert Rob Place.

In the article, Rob describes a process you can use to create a uniquely-positioned business. Give Rob’s method a try in your creative kitchen. You could emerge with a valuable secret recipe and dominate your corner of Bikini Bottom.

What Else Can We Learn…

…From the characters in Bikini Bottom? Share your comments below.