Avoid Apu-Like Hours: Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is the Indian business owner of the local Springfield convenience store. He is an overly dedicated businessman who says “Thank you, come again!” to all customers good and bad, even armed robbers. Apu is a chronic workaholic who once worked a continuous ninety-six hour shift causing him to hallucinate he was a hummingbird.

It’s far too easy as a small business owner to be constantly busy.

Overwork can impact your decision-making skills and wreak havoc on your family life - not to mention turn you into a hummingbird. At the onset of building a business, long hours are required. Put systems in place, hire staff, automate, and outsource so you don’t have to be a workaholic like Apu.

D’Oh! Yourself: Who can forget the funny, catch-phrase of Homer when things go wrong? This phrase has led to memorable show titles including “C.E. D’Oh” and “We're on the Road to D’ohwhere.” So powerful is the expression that 20th Century Fox applied for trademark protection.

Every small business vying for attention in today’s information glut society can use a memorable, catch phrase to stand out. Taco Bell’s “Think Outside the Bun” promotes Mexican Food. A good catch phrase can make you unforgettable.

Protect Your Flaming Homer: In one episode, Homer reveals his drink recipe to Moe's failing tavern business when the bar's taps run dry. The Flaming Homer soon becomes Moe’s knock-off, the Flaming Moe, and business booms.

Every good business has a Flaming Homer. A special product or method of achieving great results. To succeed in business; sharing ideas, and getting feedback is necessary. But don’t reveal your secrets to a competitor. When disclosing sensitive information, use a non-compete agreement. Don’t get carried away and have everybody sign it. The business lesson here is to protect your money winners.

Spread the Ned: Ned Flanders' venture into the retail business teaches an important business lesson. Homer becomes jealous of Ned’s new left-handed product store, the Leftorium. Homer doesn’t support his friend’s business and watches as the operation fails. Feeling guilty, Homer steps up and starts telling all the lefties in Springfield of the Leftorium. Spreading the word of Ned’s business brings the retail store newfound success and a saved friendship.

Word of mouth marketing can mean the difference between success and failure for any start-up, as Homer learned. Friends telling friends create higher credibility and sales than a one-off ad. Build the word for your business by actively networking. Create excitement and buzz around your company. Connect with influential contacts and trendsetters in your market.

Don’t Krusty a Promotion: Krusty the Clown is hardly a business role model. Krusty’s business ethics run beyond unethical, his products include bubble gum containing spider eggs and a home pregnancy test that may cause birth defects. Krusty runs a promotion to capitalize on the Olympic Games and boost sales at his chain of burger joints. Krusty rigs a scratch-and-win promotion offering a free Krusty burger to people who scratch the matching event to a U.S. gold medal win. The problem was that the cards were stacked favoring Soviet-dominated events. Krusty ends up losing when the Soviets boycott the Olympics.

Running contest and sweepstakes can provide a boost to your business. Take precautions to abide by the law. For instance, the Federal Trade Commission states, "when a 'free' offer is tied to the purchase of another product, the price of the purchased product should not be increased from its regular price." Be safe, not a Krusty.

Apply these Simpson business lessons to your company and you will be colored yellow but full of green.

- Article by Wale Bello