Ep 66 Recap & Lessons w Kasey Compton | #MUIYB Mike Up In Your Business Podcast
In this episode of the Mike Up In Your Business podcast, host Mike Michalowicz and co‑hosts Jeremy, Amy, and Kelsey start with a light‑hearted reminiscence about school lunches—discussing sandwich cuts, thermoses, and the infamous "chocolate milk once a week" rule. The conversation then shifts to a deep dive into the entrepreneurial journey of therapist‑turned‑business leader Kasey Compton. The panel highlights her key principles: using adversity (a pregnancy bed‑rest) for strategic planning, leading by example, empowering employees to operate without her, deliberately choosing supportive people (including a spouse), and distinguishing purpose from profit goals. They also discuss the importance of surrounding oneself with high‑performing peers through groups like Vistage or EO, or simply curating personal networks. After unpacking these lessons, the hosts play a Southern‑dialect trivia game, exploring terms like "finna," regional meanings of "Coke," and pronunciation quirks ("radar" vs "ray‑our" podcast). The episode concludes with typical podcast housekeeping: a call for ratings, reviews, and listener questions, plus a humorous word‑pronunciation skit that devolves into a tongue‑in‑cheek discussion of "labial" versus "labia" anatomy terms. Throughout, the tone remains conversational, humorous, and reflective, weaving personal anecdotes with actionable business advice.
Chapters
When you brown bagged, like, what was your most common food item that you had? Or what was the composite of the.
Stuff you mean in the bag? Like, what was the lunch?
Yeah.
What'd your mom or dad or no one send you with?
So if I brought lunch, it was usually majority of time it would be either a peanut butter or jelly sandwich or an egg salad, too.
And it smells.
Oh, my God. You open the bag and it's like everybody looks at.
And.
You know, I always used to really annoy me that my mom would never cut on a diagonal. I always. I'm like, just, can you please cut? Everybody else has a diagonal cut, and I get the straight cut. And you just look. It just looks so uncool.
Yeah, it is the vertical cut.
I had the vertical cut, too. Just a fat little wedge that. Little rectangles. Yeah.
Oh, it was awful. The other thing, I always made my lunch.
I don't think my mom ever made my lunch.
I had.
Really? Even in grade school.
Yeah. I don't think.
What a hard one.
I can't remember.
Yeah, I don't. I only remember making my own lunches.
Kelsey was the fourth child. There was nobody making her lunches. They were over it by then.
My mom. Oh, sorry. I was saying this is off topic, but this just reminded me one thing that I always did. I got yelled at by my mom because she would say I was only allowed to have chocolate milk once a week. Right. And I distinctly remember being in eighth grade. I was in eighth grade, and I was drinking white milk, and everybody at the table was drinking chocolate milk. And they're all making fun of me, and they're like, why aren't you drinking chocolate milk? I was like, my mom told me I can only have it once a week.
And they're like, she wanted to know if you guys.
She's not here.
And I was like, eighth grade?
Yeah. And I was like, you're right. What the heck? I've been drinking regular milk, and I'd be having chocolate milk.
Eighth grade is when you retaliated against the milk.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
He put his foot down. Oh, God, that's so funny. What did your mom make, Mike?
So there was always a fruit snack. So it was an apple already sliced.
Oh, that's good.
Sometimes an orange already peeled.
Wow.
Whoa.
Wow. Then there would be a sandwich, which was usually peanut butter and jelly or maybe turkey or something. And then the treat snack would be, like, one cookie or one of those, like, little nutrition bars or whatever. And then the drink would be A thermos. It's always a thermos or something. Which was usually probably orange juice.
I never had a thermos.
He said, those are the important parts. Was it a metal lunchbox with the mattress?
Well, when it's young, it was a metal lunchbox all the way till 8th grade. When I took out my milk. My friends are like, why don't you eat chocolate milk or drinking chocolate milk? And I'm like, what?
Oh, that's so funny.
My mom wants me to do it once a week.
I love you are so integral. Like, I'm not allowed to.
I tried. I know I tried. Well, I mean, hey, I was doing. She gave me money for school, so I figured I could at least respect her. One milk, you know? But here's the other thing that I just remembered. And I just remembered this. I had a Pee Wee Herman lunchbox. A lunchbox and a thermos. And I was too young at the time to understand, but then he masturbated in a movie theater, and my mom refused me to let me take it to school. And I was so upset. And I was like, why not mom?
Why?
And she's like, I'll tell you when you're older. And I was like, so upset and distraught.
God is hysterical. Mike. We were grown ass people when we found out that he masturbated in a fake.
I know, I know. That was fun.
Jeremy was still going to school with a lunchbox. Oh, my God. That's so funny.
Well, this, I think, is perfect timing for therapy. And go figure. That's who I'm interviewing. Casey Compton is a therapist who has applied her entrepreneurial skills to the therapy industry. But you'll find out a lot more businesses. This is a story of how you go from struggling to, you know, I think it was 6.5 million plus in 10 years. That's not it.
So there.
There was Casey Compton in her 30s. I mean, just a whirlwind of energy and commitment and devotion and passion, purpose. What do you guys think?
I love her. I mean, I thought, like, that in and of itself is so inspiring. The fact that she's 36, and it's basically been within the last six years that she's built up this empire, this conglomerate of businesses. And she does it in such an integral way and in service to everybody who utilizes her businesses, but also all of her employees.
It's just super beautiful. Smart, too. I liked how so with the salon, she. She's kind of hands off, but then she makes sure that she handles the social media. And marketing for them. So she's taking care of her other business. She's taking care of business in that sense. So. But just everything she did and it was just really mind blowing how much she has accomplished already and how much she tackles, how much she has to tackle daily in order to run these businesses so well. It's amazing.
Yeah. And I love when she said that she's driven when she has clarity around what she wants to do. I think that's such a like important thing to hear because it's easy to get down on ourselves when we feel like we're not driven. But if you're not motivated towards something that you're really passionate about or really have a clear direction even if you're not passionate about it, it's. It's hard to be driven and it's hard to sometimes find that thing.
Yeah. So that really hear it is nice. And that spoke to me too. Somebody called me lazy once and it was so hurtful. I mean it like pierced me to my core. And the person who called me lazy because I feel that way about myself too when I know what it is that I would like to create. Oh my gosh. I don't stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I don't get hungry. I just, I go, I go. And I love that, that momentum and that passion. But often it's artistic things that are my visions. So the person who called me that was very business minded and business focused and I assume I look lazy compared to them. It was like, I just love that she said that. It sort of like highlighted for me about how important it is to have that passion. That picture basically to help you feel.
The passion.
I thought was fascinating was. I think it was a turning moment for her was when she's lying flat in her back, she's pregnant and she's on bed rest. And so she says this is maybe not the exact word she said to herself, but this is a time to think and plan. Regardless of the circumstances around you.
You.
Had the opportunity to think and plan. She was working diligently on her business when she couldn't move. I think that's how she always is, is when she's inactive, she's highly active planning. And I attribute that a lot to the results that she's seen. Jeremy, anything you took from this?
Oh yeah. Two things that she said that I really think that, you know, kind of go with anybody who's running a business. She said she's not going to tell someone to do something that she won't do or she hasn't done so setting an example. And then she wants her employees to want her but not need her. So she tries to make sure that they have the tools they need and empowers them, but, you know, they don't have to have her in order to run the business.
And I think the. Even more than the time to think perhaps the biggest defining moment was when she said she's gonna select the people she surrounds herself with. And so she was surrounded by five people that were not serving her life's purpose. And it sounded like it was going to go down a path that she did not want for herself. So she actively decided who to be with and her husband included. Right. And I think the results speak for themselves.
Yeah. And I think that's super true. In general, like, think about the people who surround you. Obviously, everybody is valuable and everybody brings you lessons, but there are some people who fuel you, who, you know, ignite a spark for you, and there are people who drain you. So try to be cognizant of that and very, like, intentional with how you spend your time with people.
Yeah.
I think, like, when I think about programs like, you're in Vistage, Kelsey. I participate in EO for almost two decades, that these organizations are a way to intentionally surround ourselves with people that have maybe parallel visions to us, people that are perhaps playing at a better or higher level, whatever that's defined as in different elements, where we're also playing at a higher level in a different element from them. And then it starts this collective elevation. I think it's really important. And the nice thing is, like Casey pointed out, you don't have to join a paying organization to experience that. She just selected the people and started hanging out with them. So it's available freely for you. But you have to make that hard decision, I think, to abandon or reduce your time with those other. You got to, you know, you got to make a cognitive cut off to cognitively join.
Yeah, definitely.
That's the word. The use of cognitive inappropriately twice in a row.
I also like how she made the distinguish between goal versus purpose.
Yeah.
Like, so your goal is to make money as a business, but your purpose.
Can be that, to help these people, and you're not going to be able to help these people until you reach your goal. So purpose comes after goal, which was. That was interesting, right?
That's right. Jay, Shlomo, you got a little. Little game time for us?
Yes, I do. All right, so this is a Southern trivia quiz.
All right. Yeah.
A little bit different. And honestly, Some of the stuff I never heard of. A lot of them were common, I thought. So I had to sift through and, like, really pick out the. The ones that were different. But. And this relates because obviously she has a Southern accent. I love it. It's great. So in the south now, I don't know which region this is, but this is just Southern in general. What does the term finna f I n n a mean? Is it finishing something, preparing a meal, or preparing to do something? Okay, okay. When Southerners say Coke, what are they referring to? A root beer, Dr. Pepper, birch beer, or any soda? Okay. All right, question three. What does might could mean tomorrow, later, maybe, or never. How do you think you guys did?
I want to say.
Yeah, I say two out of three.
I say one out of three.
Okay. So the term finna, does it mean finishing something, preparing a meal, or preparing to do something?
I said preparing a meal. It just seemed the most specific.
I said preparing to do something.
I put finish.
Oh, Amy, you got it. Preparing to do something.
I have family in the Ozarks. I think I've heard it before.
What would be. Give me an example of a sentence with finna.
I'm finna get to market. It's almost like a combination of I'm figuring to and gonna.
It's a verb.
Oh, so it's plant. I got you. That makes sense. It's a combination of two words.
Gotcha.
Well, I don't know if it really is, but that's, like, how I thought it'd be. That's how I hear it.
I'm fixing to do something this perfect.
That's.
Yeah, I'm fixing to head out, you know, in a couple hours.
I think it's. I think it's like that. I think it's a lot like that.
Yeah.
We're such northerners. Like, you think it's funny when someone's like, oh, you have a Southern accent. Like, dude, you got a northern accent. Listen to our accents. I don't really understand what the hell you're saying.
Even with the four of us in New Jersey, we could all have, like, the different. Yeah.
Oh, I'm the. I'm the southernmost one.
Yeah. Can we talk about how Jeremy keeps saying R like our.
As R. What?
When you say radar podcast.
Radar podcast.
R rate R podcast.
I said Radhour podcast.
Yes.
Ray our. We say Ray our podcast. You say radar.
Interesting.
Radar. Sounds like radar.
Okay, let me ask you this. What do you call the item that you put your head on when you go to sleep?
Pillow. Yeah.
Pillow.
Pillow. What do you say?
A pillow.
What were you expecting?
I used to say pillow.
Pillow.
Yeah.
Wow.
So in South Jersey, it's water, it's not water, right?
Yeah.
So I had to actively correct and learn to say water. Cause everybody. Water.
What about the surface of your house at the very top? What is that called?
Oh, yeah. Northerners say.
I say roof. But, like, a lot of people say roof.
Yeah. We say roof.
Yeah. I say roof.
I do say water. I do.
With a D. W. A D. I do, too.
I think my wife's like, well, you can't pronounce it. I'm like, is it water? She's like that.
Even worse.
Like, I can't get that word right.
You say root or route.
It's funny. I switch it up. I notice that I say Route 46, but you take that route.
Route 23.
Route 23.
Yeah, that's funny.
It's Route 23. Route 46.
All right. Okay, here's the best one. What do you call the thing in your car that cools the engine down?
I don't know what that is.
You don't even know what that is.
That was way too technical. Radiator.
A radiator. Radiator versus radiator.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah. Radiator.
That is hysterical about the route, because I didn't even realize you guys say it separately. And maybe I do, too, for two highways and one you call route, and one that you call route.
Well, Jerry Seinfeld did a in on joke. He's like, you ride in a taxi, but you don't ride in the train. You ride on the train.
That's true.
His whole thing, like, it makes sense.
It doesn't.
Yeah, you park in it. You park in a driveway and you drive on the parkway.
There you go. I know, silly.
And inflammable means the same as flammable. What's with this language?
It's crazy.
And you know what I don't get? Like, regardless. And irregardless.
I don't think irregardless isn't a word. Yeah, yeah.
I get corrected every time I use that. There was this guy always, like, it's not a word, damn it.
Irregardless.
If it is or not exist. How did it get here?
All right, what's the last one? We're.
We're on number two. We're on number two. What do Southerners mean by Coke? Is it root beer, Dr. Pepper, birch beer, or any soda?
Any soda.
Any soda?
Any soda?
Yes. However, I thought it was pop.
Yeah, that's Normal pop is like Midwestern ish. And I was gonna say they call it pop.
Arizona calls it pop.
Okay. Okay. Interesting.
Yeah.
What do you guys call it? I just call it soda.
Right, Soda.
Yeah.
Here it's soda. To the Midwest, it's pop, I guess. And then in the south, it's Coke.
So weird.
You know what confuses people? We use seltzer up here.
Oh.
Instead of club soda or club soda, there's another word. Sparkling water.
Sparkling water. Well, there's a difference, though. One of them contains sodium, and I can't remember which one it is technically.
But if you ask for seltzer in some places, people are like, what's that?
Yeah, that's true.
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
And it's the exact same thing.
Yeah.
Okay.
What does might could mean? Does it mean tomorrow, later, maybe, or never Maybe.
Maybe.
Maybe.
Yes. Maybe Might could have been.
Maybe.
It might could be.
Might could be maybe. So I got two and we got three.
I got three.
I got two.
Good timing. I haven't had a. What is it called when you win all three?
Threesome.
No, no, no, that's not it.
Irregardless.
I haven't had a win all three in a while. That's what I was trying to say.
Oh, is that what you call it in the North? Win all three.
Win all three.
Trifecta.
Pretty sure that's not what you were looking for. Trifecta. Trifecta. That was the worst.
So Amy had to win all three. We hope this was a great episode for you too. Hey, why don't you go to RateOurPodcast who you are? RateOurPodcast.com Honestly, it's to serve us. If you go there and rate the show right now and give us a review, it gives us feedback that we can use to improve the show. Plus it spreads the word. And make sure you subscribe. I don't want you missing a single episode. I hope you don't want to miss a single episode. I'd love to hear any questions you have. Jeremy and I do a behind the mic episode every so often where we investigate the questions that are coming in and discuss some kind of tangential stuff. So send your question into ask mikemicalicz.com right now. I think we're done.
That's a good point. Tangential, I think I say tangential.
I don't use that word.
Transgenital.
I use the word tangerine. I say tangential.
Gentle. Oh, gentle. Transgentle, Tan.
Trans.
I'm adding trans tans. Gentle.
Transgentle, tan.
Tangental.
Transcendental. Wait a minute. Are we saying transcendental?
No, we're saying tangential. Tangential.
I said it. Tangential.
Tangential. Transgentle is when you're gentle across. You're gentle across the oceans.
Tangential is the proper pronunciation.
Transgentle.
From the south. I said the northern pronunciation.
Oh, lordy.
All right, can we leave now?
Don't you want to be with us, Mike? You don't want to leave us?
Amy and your three winner, Amy's face.
Lady is making a move.
That's a. We have to share that with our listeners one day.
How?
She told us the face labial issues. We have it on video, too. We have it on video.
Oh, you gotta labial folds, people. Labial folds.
But it's not. It's. The term is not labial.
We have to mark this podcast explicit.
Maybe it is labial fold. Is it facial labial fold?
Yes.
So it's not labia. It's labia.
She was saying labia fold.
Yeah, yeah, she was just saying labia.
You guys just didn't hear me, right? You shouted it, and I was screaming it and spitting it in your faces.
Interestingly, just for the share, I want to show you what a face labia looks like. That's the picture.
There we go.
Okay, so you're totally right.
And that is what you work the Oreo down to win the cookie in the mouth.
Yeah, but it says superior labial, facial labial, inferior labial. Interesting. All right, let's get out of here. We're really messing up, people. We're not gonna have a single single subscriber.
I don't even want to ask for.
A review right now.
Don't ask for a review.
All right, let's get out of here.
