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How this entrepreneur went from a crack addict to a self-made multimillionaire
CNBC ^ | September 24, 2017 | Jane Wells

Posted on 09/24/2017 2:08:25 PM PDT by Kaslin

Mike Lindell says there aren't many crack addicts who've become successful, but he's one of them.

"It can be done, people," he laughed.

The self-made multimillionaire and infomercial superstar created the MyPillow empire from scratch in 2004. He did it while addicted to drugs. "People say all the time that's one of the biggest miracles ever."

He's been clean and sober for over eight years, but his path from rags to riches — and almost back to rags — is an amazing American success story.

It is also one long, strange trip.

From college dropout to aspiring entrepreneur

MyPillow is located in Lindell's hometown of Chaska, Minnesota, outside Minneapolis, a place he's always stayed close to. Back in 1979, "I went to the U of M (University of Minnesota) for one quarter, and I was working two jobs," he said. "I felt like I was just wasting my time."

He quit school and continued working both jobs, including one at a grocery store. "I actually got fired at the grocery store," Lindell said.

He clashed with the manager, but he believes the manager sparked his entrepreneurial spirit. "He says, 'Well, Mike, if you don't like it here, maybe get your own company someday.'"

Lindell did, but only after several failures.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: mypillow; trumpsupporter
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To: sparklite2

Obstructive Sleep Apnea forced me to try such a pillow (different brand).

It changed my life dramatically for the better. I would pay far more for relief from years of torment.


41 posted on 09/24/2017 4:01:21 PM PDT by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - JRRT)
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To: chrisinoc

Tell us about the pillow. I have problems with pillows not being firm enough and not staying firm throughout the night, especially in summer. I have 2 TemperPedeics that are ok if the outside temp is 40 degrees or less. We heat mainly with wood and the house stays at 65 most of the winter. Above that, the pillow are too soft. Even in winter, I wake up and switch my pillows because TemperPedic softens with body heat.

I’m serious. For me it is a problem. Is MyPillow firm? Extra-firm? My husband says I need a foam-wrapped brick and I’ve actually considered it.


42 posted on 09/24/2017 4:08:58 PM PDT by reformedliberal
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To: YogicCowboy

My sister bought one and didn’t even tell me. She didn’t like it so she sent it back, I would’ve tried it if I’d known.


43 posted on 09/24/2017 4:11:21 PM PDT by Not gonna take it anymore (Now that Trump has won, I don't have to post about halfwit anymore)
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To: newfreep

Dang, and I scored some really good rocks too. From this old science teacher. The blue ones are supposed to be the best.


44 posted on 09/24/2017 4:19:05 PM PDT by Yaelle (Socialism, faithfully implemented, delivers anguish and devastation. - President Trump)
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To: ViLaLuz

Bed Bath&Beyond has them from $50 to $60


45 posted on 09/24/2017 4:29:31 PM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero))
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To: Will88
Your pillow is a very personal thing.

I bought their 2-for-1 offer and the pillows I received were very thick compared to what I was used to.

So I returned them after speaking to their customer service and received two new pillows that weren't as thick. But still too high for my liking.

I returned them and got my money back. Bought a new Tempur-Pedic pillow to match my original.

The My Pillows were just not suited to me.

46 posted on 09/24/2017 4:31:52 PM PDT by HotHunt
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

I bought a Serta memory king size pillow on sale a year or so ago, and I love it


47 posted on 09/24/2017 4:33:06 PM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero))
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To: newfreep
Now I find out the secret to becoming a multi-millionaire....first become a crack addict.

You can put in some looong hours that way.

When you get out of rehab three or four years later, you got a million-dollar business waiting for you!!

p.s. I listened to Imus interview Lindell the other day. Mostly they talked about their charity foundations and what they were doing for the hurricane victims.

Still it was interesting listening to the two former drug/booze/burnout survivors, and the prosperous lives they managed to make for themselves.

48 posted on 09/24/2017 4:41:08 PM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: Fightin Whitey

psssst.....it was a joke.


49 posted on 09/24/2017 4:44:49 PM PDT by newfreep ("INSIDE EVERY PROGRESSIVE IS A TOTALITARIAN SCREAMING TO GET OUT" @HOROWITZ39, DAVID HOROWITZ)
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To: HotHunt

Sleeping on my side, I need a higher pillow. Now I put two together, one fairly thick and one thinner and I need that much to keep my head from falling below parallel.


50 posted on 09/24/2017 4:55:42 PM PDT by Will88
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To: RBStealth

of course


51 posted on 09/24/2017 4:58:51 PM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero))
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To: Kaslin
His ad has gotten better from the way it used to be, if only he would get rid of the stupid music at the end of it.

If you've ever listened to Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion on NPR, or read his books, you'd think he was an ironic genius.

He's not: he's just remembering what much of Minnesota was actually like (and still is) -- like Mike Lindell.

52 posted on 09/24/2017 4:59:59 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Will88
My wife and I *love* them. They're soft like a regular down pillow, but they don't clump up or mash flat.

(Granted, I've been told you can revive an ordinary pillow's fluffiness by running it through the dryer on the lowest heat setting with a tennis ball, but still...)

53 posted on 09/24/2017 5:02:08 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: sparklite2

Buy your wife one and you’ll likely get a lot more than reach-arounds. :-)


54 posted on 09/24/2017 5:04:07 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Will88
I sleep on my right side only with my arm under the pillow. Left shoulder is arthritic, and sleeping on it is impossible.

The My Pillow made my neck feel like it was too far off the bed. Too high.

But each to his own. It's a decidedly personal preference.

55 posted on 09/24/2017 5:12:24 PM PDT by HotHunt
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To: grey_whiskers

Hey, if I had a wife, I wouldn’t need the pillow! :)


56 posted on 09/24/2017 5:14:53 PM PDT by sparklite2 (I'm less interested in the rights I have than the liberties I can take.)
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To: Will88

We’ve had them for the last three years. I travel a lot, and get to try out lots of different pillows. The My Pillows seem to be the best (I specifically got the stiffer type, as I sleep on my side). They are also machine washable.


57 posted on 09/24/2017 5:23:02 PM PDT by TexasBarak (I aim to misbehave!)
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To: neverevergiveup
“Dog poop goes into the sewer system, just as if you’d flushed it down the toilet.” Well, that’s better than those who use it to fertilize their tomato plants and zucchini..

What ever happened to just putting it in a paper bag and setting it on fire on a pain in the a$$ liberals porch and ringing the bell?

58 posted on 09/24/2017 5:25:31 PM PDT by WhirlwindAttack (Calling blm & intifa low life scumbags is an insult to the low life scumbag community.)
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To: newfreep

Pssst...yes I understood that you were making a funny.

As it is I find Lindell’s success amusing, in that he largely did what I described: stoned and cranked and miserable, he laid the foundation of an astonishingly successful business.


59 posted on 09/24/2017 5:31:50 PM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: reformedliberal

Your mileage might vary but here is my opinion.

My Pillow feels very light to the touch but when you lay on it it is quite firm for my neck and head. It comes in medium and firm, not sure about extra firm. If there is a Bed Bath and Beyond store in the area you can check them out there.

Another option is to check out the Costco pillows. One I purchased there was extra firm but I think My Pillow is better.


60 posted on 09/24/2017 5:36:33 PM PDT by chrisinoc
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