5 Surprising Business Ideas from Seinfeld

Don't be rude to your customers.

No soup for you!

The Soup Nazi is one our all time favourite Seinfeld moments. However, more than being hilarious, this episode has a great lesson that can be directly applied to your business. If you rule over your customers like a tyrant, you will get your comeuppance.

The Soup Nazi treated his customers like crap, and in the end the disgruntled Elaine brought down his entire empire. Even if you have a superior product, as the Soup Nazi did, poor customer service has been the downfall of many businesses.

Customer service excellence should be a priority for your business. Don’t be your market’s Soup Nazi.  

Persistence is key.

If you would have told me twenty-five years ago that some day I’d be standing here about to solve the world's energy problems, I would’ve said you’re crazy… Now let’s push this giant ball of oil out the window.

Though Kramer’s Kramerica Industries suffered a failure when his giant bouncy ball failed to successfully hold his gallon of oil (when he dropped it off the balcony in “The Voice”), what did he do? He didn’t give up on his dream - he went back the drawing board to find another way.

Persistence is key in the business world. On the road to your goal, you’ll no doubt hit many roadblocks, but you have to be able to find your way around them. Giving up gets you nowhere.

Success is like knocking over a coke machine.

Elaine, breaking up is like knocking over a Coke machine. You can’t do it in one push; you gotta rock it back and forth a few times and then it goes over.

Though this was applied to ending a relationship, we think it’s a great metaphor for success. Goals aren’t achieved easily, and they often aren’t achieved right away.

You have to make a consistent and methodical effort to reach them; this takes time and effort, but by consistently rocking the machine it will eventually fall.

Honesty is the best policy.

Hi, I’m George. I’m unemployed and I live with my parents.

Tired and fed up with his (non) success rate with women, George decided to change strategy. Instead of putting on a front and trying to be someone he wasn’t, he’d give honesty a try. And what happened? He landed a date.

Customers can tell when you’re not being honest with them, and in today’s world where customers have all the power, trust is hugely important. By getting consumers to trust you, you bring them down the sales funnel and into a purchase opportunity. With trust comes sales - whereas lying will get you little gain.

With unification comes power. 

A George divided against itself cannot stand!

Much like George in “The Pool Guy”, it’s important for you to realise that a business is not strong if it’s divided.

If it is, there can be confusion, tension and stress, making for one massively inefficient business. Take the time with your employees to ensure that they share the goals and visions for the business - you’ll be grateful for it.