Ready for a battle of business minds? This episode pits the old-school, control-it-all mentality of Business Mogul Gerald Thompson against Elsbeth’s nimble, modern approach to strategy. It’s an all-out clash of vertical integration, outsourcing, and everything in between—with plenty of unexpected twists along the way.

What’s in store:

• Make or Buy? Thompson’s "do everything in-house" empire meets Elsbeth’s argument for flexibility. Which one really keeps the lights on?

• Spaghetti Logic: How does a business untangle its operations without ending up in a mess? Elsbeth has a few things to say about streamlining Thompson's spaghetti junction of tasks.

• Vertical Integration or Ketchup Overload? Is controlling every aspect of your business really worth it, or are you just spending too much time perfecting the ketchup while missing the main dish?

• Franchise or Flop? Thompson insists on owning every delivery truck and factory, while Elsbeth questions if that's really the best strategy for scaling—especially when local expertise could do the heavy lifting.

• Taking Over the World or Adapting to It? As they dive into global expansion, Thompson’s rigid approach might just hit a wall, while Elsbeth’s flexible mindset breezes through obstacles.

Here’s the kicker: combining Transaction Cost Economics with Zero-Based Thinking is like making the perfect soufflé—one part efficiency and smart cost management, one part letting go of the stuff that no longer works, and voilà! Your business is ready to rise. The secret’s in knowing when to cook in-house and when to order takeout.

Tune in to find out which strategy will conquer the world—or at least avoid turning your next business venture into a blooper reel of missed opportunities and bad decisions.