Profile:
Name: Lewis Kent
Born: Scotland, June 21, 1994
Raised: Mississauga
Education: Kinesiology – Western University
World Record Holder: Beer Mile
Entrepreneurship: Student Maintenance Company (owner)
Occupation: Freedom 55 Financial
How are you able to balance a full-time job while running a business?
I feel that a lot of people get into this mentality that you need to work 40 hours a week.
While I do work a 9-5, every waking moment apart of that, I am working on my passions. I have no loss of energy because I love every moment of what I do. Whether it’s handing out flyers or speaking with clients, I know that my efforts will always pay off. Even after this interview, I am going to do some work to grow my business.
“Whenever you work hard, it will always pay off. No matter if it’s that day or a year from now.” – Lewis Kent
What is the Beer Mile Run?
Since the early 1990’s, track athletes and runners have typically ended off the year with a “Beer Mile Run.”
After a few tries, I ended up holding the world record for the Beer Mile for about a year and things started to take off:
- Brooks contacted me and wanted to sign me.
- Ellen Degeneres featured me on her show
- ESPN featured me
- TMZ featured me
November 2015 – How did you pull that off?
I held the world record and someone beat me. I feared Brooks wasn’t going to sign me but then I re-broke the world record.
I had almost 40 interviews in a span of 2 weeks all while I was trying to study for my midterms.
During those times. I didn’t watch Netflix. I was focussed 100% of the time. I had 8 hours of sleep, so that gave me 16 hours to take full advantage of.
Who do you model yourself off?
He is a distance runner in the States. He is 33 years old and came 4th in the 2012 Olympics for the 800m run. In the sport of running, most athletes aren’t vocal but Nick was. Nick stood up for runners’ rights.
He recognized that money was being taken out of runners’ pockets and was being sent to corporations. He stood up for what he believed in and that’s what I try to emulate every day.
What advice would you give to yourself 5 years ago before the hype?
Continue to pursue the things that you enjoy and not what others think that you enjoy. Continue to put your time into the things that you love, and the effort will come easily.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Athletically: According to statistics, runners reach their peak at 30 which means that by then, I can be in my peak physical form.
I hope that 5 years from now, I am in better shape than I am today. I hope to still be one of the top Beer Milers in the world.
Professionally: I plan to have my business franchised in multiple cities. I want to create a symbiotic relationship where I can pay students and have some profit of my own left over too.
Can you define the term: grind?
To be willing to work when others aren’t, whether that be during the 9-5 work day or after hours. When people aren’t working or don’t want to, that’s when you’re putting in the work.
Is there anyone who has been close to you through this process?
My dad.
My dad came to Canada at 28 years old with no promise of a better life. He came with a 3-year college degree and started out working a basic accounting job. Today, he is now the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Mississauga.
My dad once said to me: You can put the work in if you are passionate about it.
Since then, that has translated into everything that I have done whether it has been dealing window cleaning customers, running, or sponsorships.
Special thank you to Lewis Kent for taking the time to speak with the Influence Digest team!
