EPISODE · May 6, 2026 · 31 MIN
He Turned Down Walmart and Built a Million Dollar Business Anyway
from Common Denominator with Moshe Popack · host Moshe Popack
He lost his childhood dog. His father worked at a print shop. And that combination sparked a business that now generates over $1M a month.I sat down with Oleg known as The Pillow Guy and what started as a conversation about business turned into one of the most honest talks I've had on this show.Oleg sold 20,000 pillows in a single 3-day Groupon event, walked into Walmart headquarters with a baby on his arm and no money for a hotel room, turned down a deal with 2,000 stores, and built a manufacturing operation from his father's garage with zero capital and barely any English.But the most powerful part of this conversation isn't the business. It's the philosophy.Health. Wealth. Family. In that order. And why getting that order right changed everything for him and why it should change everything for you too.What you'll take away:- How Oleg turned personal grief into a $1M/month business- Why he walked away from Walmart's 2,000 store deal- The health habits that transformed his business and family- Why health comes before wealth — and what happens when it doesn't- How to build a business that runs without you- His plan to sell for $100M in the next 3-5 yearsTimestamp:00:00 — Who is The Pillow Guy?01:40 — The origin: the dog pillow that made him cry03:10 — 20,000 pillows in 3 days (the Groupon moment)05:50 — Walking into Walmart — and saying no08:30 — The business today: manufacturing in Chicago, $1M/month13:30 — Diversification: never bet everything on one thing14:00 — Health, family & wealth: Oleg's 3 pillars16:00 — Quitting alcohol and running marathons instead22:00 — His wife: the real MVP behind the business26:00 — The plan: selling for $100M and what comes nextCommon Denominator is the podcast where real entrepreneurs share the mindset, habits, and hard lessons behind building something that lasts🔔 Like this episode? Leave a review here ➡️ https://ratethispodcast.com/commondenominator📩 Newsletter ➡️ https://moshepopack.com/newsletter/🎙 Follow Common Denominator Podcasthttps://moshepopack.com/podcast/@mpopackhttps://www.instagram.com/mpopackhttps://www.facebook.com/MoshePopack◾️ Follow Oleg https://www.instagram.com/thatpillowguy/https://www.youtube.com/@ThatPillowGuy-https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleg-lee-aka-that-pillow-guy-77a0b9a1
What this episode covers
He lost his childhood dog. His father worked at a print shop. And that combination sparked a business that now generates over $1M a month.I sat down with Oleg known as The Pillow Guy and what started as a conversation about business turned into one of the most honest talks I've had on this show.Oleg sold 20,000 pillows in a single 3-day Groupon event, walked into Walmart headquarters with a baby on his arm and no money for a hotel room, turned down a deal with 2,000 stores, and built a manufacturing operation from his father's garage with zero capital and barely any English.But the most powerful part of this conversation isn't the business. It's the philosophy.Health. Wealth. Family. In that order. And why getting that order right changed everything for him and why it should change everything for you too.What you'll take away:- How Oleg turned personal grief into a $1M/month business- Why he walked away from Walmart's 2,000 store deal- The health habits that transformed his business and family- Why health comes before wealth — and what happens when it doesn't- How to build a business that runs without you- His plan to sell for $100M in the next 3-5 yearsTimestamp:00:00 — Who is The Pillow Guy?01:40 — The origin: the dog pillow that made him cry03:10 — 20,000 pillows in 3 days (the Groupon moment)05:50 — Walking into Walmart — and saying no08:30 — The business today: manufacturing in Chicago, $1M/month13:30 — Diversification: never bet everything on one thing14:00 — Health, family & wealth: Oleg's 3 pillars16:00 — Quitting alcohol and running marathons instead22:00 — His wife: the real MVP behind the business26:00 — The plan: selling for $100M and what comes nextCommon Denominator is the podcast where real entrepreneurs share the mindset, habits, and hard lessons behind building something that lasts🔔 Like this episode? Leave a review here ➡️ https://ratethispodcast.com/commondenominator📩 Newsletter ➡️ https://moshepopack.com/newsletter/🎙 Follow Common Denominator Podcasthttps://moshepopack.com/podcast/@mpopackhttps://www.instagram.com/mpopackhttps://www.facebook.com/MoshePopack◾️ Follow Oleg https://www.instagram.com/thatpillowguy/https://www.youtube.com/@ThatPillowGuy-https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleg-lee-aka-that-pillow-guy-77a0b9a1
NOW PLAYING
He Turned Down Walmart and Built a Million Dollar Business Anyway
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m