We were lucky to catch up with Beorht Lewinski recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Beorht thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
So long story short I’m a manager now – and I don’t think I would’ve had the courage to go through the process if it wasn’t for my experience at my prior job. I work as a server at a restaurant well… I started off as a server and then became an expo, bartender, line cook, prep, take out person. There’s a quote I’ve heard that says every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for something that’s meant to come. What I know is God is the one preparing me for something greater!
In-depth (details) –
(SERVER) I did a little bit of everything. As a Server Assistant/Busser at a restaurant, your hard work helps the restaurant run smoothly. resetting tables, pre-bussing, providing refills, and stocking service stations.
Provide excellent customer services.
Greet customers and present menus.
Make suggestions based on their preferences.
Walk and serve food/drinks orders.
Keep tables clean and tidy at all times.
Deliver checks and collect payments.
(TAKE OUT)As a takeout I made sure everything that’s on the receipt (online order) was in the bag and ready to be picked up and delivered. Whether it was door dash, Uber eats, grubHub etc.
PREP) I prepped in the back and kept relevant dates on food so nothing goes bad in order to have fresh foods to use on the line the next day.
(LINE COOK) Being on the line i stay in the window and push food out accordingly.
EXPO) which lines up with line cook doing expo i make sure the food That’s being pushed out is the right food and is going to the right tables. Being an expo is the bridge gap between servers and the kitchen.
(BARTENDER) I bartended sometimes making drinks for tables when I served and for the guests at the bar. Sunsets passion coladas, strawberry margaritas on the rocks with sugar rims, fun size kid slushes, pouring 20oz draft beers. Etc.
In my head I’d like to think I ran that place lol because I did. I was the only one capable and willing to do what needed to be done. I learned every single job there even though I did gain a lifetime of restaurant experience the amount of pay was never enough to be doing what I was doing.
Of course I had help I would like to thank my mentor Erika. such an incredible and outstanding and independent black woman. She thought me everything I know, In the midst of doing all these positions Erika was also teaching me how she closes the restaurant at the end of the night, depositing money, counting the safe, cleaning the restaurant, collecting the register’s, labeling food dates, counting food items. Etc I knew how to do literally almost everything there if I had became a manager there instead I would’ve loved that because I genuinely liked my job and loved the people I worked with. So… call me red lobster.
word of advice to people who love to eat out STOP BEING JERkS!, Servers work really hard to provide great service and experience only to be get treated like dirt. In the state of New York as a server you make 10 dollars an hour your tips are what pays your bills. It’s not a requirement but eat at home if you don’t know how to act in public nor tip properly.
The customer is NOT always right. People always wanna get something for free and will go to great lengths to get ‘em. I have some crazy stories but we’ll save them for another time.
I just want to take a moment to talk about mental health. Mental health is super important. It’s sad that we don’t really see it as a priority in our lifestyle’s , there’s so much going on in the world that we tend to forget what our real issues are. Please take the time to breath, relax, detox, pray, smile, laugh, and enjoy life. You live everyday but you only die once make the most of it. Take care of yourself and those around you. Like ruPaul says “ if you can’t love yourself how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else” learn to love yourself first. look at yourself in the mirror and say I am beautiful, I am unique, I am worthy and I love me for me. Love starts within you.
If taking no for an answer was a person it would be me. I don’t say that to sound disrespectful or uncivil in anyway. I wouldn’t say I’m hardheaded but I don’t like being pushed around I’m the sweetest person you’ll ever meet I’m a Scorpio meaning my emotions are felt on a different level than others. My number one rule is to “treat everyone the way you want to be treated” and nobody wants to be treated badly. Don’t do things to others you wouldn’t want done to you. Be kind and try to put yourself in others shoes before you judge them you never know what someone is going through. The definition of resilience is the capability to recover from difficulties and or toughness. Being resilient doesn’t mean you’re untamable I am who I am because I have something to prove to myself.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I feel like I’ve said this before so I’m going quote myself. “First and foremost the names Beorht i am an actor and model based in the big apple (NYC) I’m on a show called Legendary on HBO Max. I’ve been published in several magazines. I own my own shoe brand handcrafted in Italy and it’s cruelty free. My feature film called Given Life was just released in theaters. A short film I worked on called “on the case” is out. I was nominated for an academy award”
What inspires you?
Me, myself and I – I’ve always wanted to be apart of something bigger than myself and that something is my dream. It moves me, it inspires me, it motivates me and it drives my passion for (acting and modeling) to pursue a happy for filling future for myself, my family and friends.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I chose this question because it was the closest thing to do use to talk about something personal without actually answering the question lol. There are books, Videos essays that impacted me but that’s not what I want to talk about.
I just want to take a moment to talk about mental health. Mental health is super important. It’s sad that we don’t really see it as a priority in my lifestyle, there’s so much going on in the world that we tend to forget what our real issues are. Please take the time to breath, relax, detox, pray, smile, laugh, and enjoy life. You live everyday but you only die once make the most of it. Take care of yourself and those around you. Like ruPaul says “ if you can’t love yourself how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else” learn to love yourself, look at yourself in the mirror and say I am beautiful, I am unique, I am worthy and I love me for me.
“We all go. What you leave should be bigger than you.”
– cam
I would also like to take this opportunity to say please go to https://www.thecameronboycefoundation.org
To help support the Cameron Boyce Foundation. A Fundraiser for The Cameron Boyce Foundation To End Epilepsy. The Cameron Boyce Foundation (est. 2019) honors the legacy of Cameron Boyce by aiming to cure epilepsy through funding research, education and awareness campaigns while still supporting causes that were important to Cameron. Visit their page to learn more.
Cam was apart of my childhood and I would like to honor his memory.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
If taking no for an answer was a person it would be me. I don’t say that to sound disrespectful or uncivil in anyway. I wouldn’t say I’m hardheaded but I don’t like being pushed around I’m the sweetest person you’ll ever meet I’m a Scorpio meaning my emotions are faults on a different level than others. My number one rule is to “treat everyone the way you wanna be treated” and nobody wants to be treated badly. Don’t do things to others you wouldn’t want done to you. Be kind and try to put yourself in others shoes before you judge them you never know what someone is going through. The definition of resilience is the capability to recover from difficulties and or toughness. Being resilient doesn’t mean you’re untamable I am who I am because I have something to prove to myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.flowcode.com/page/beorhtlewinski
- Instagram: @BeorhtSki
Image Credits
Photograper – Cliff Canon Photography Model – Beorht Lewinski