About

My name is Mary Haurilak

I'm originally a trained journalist - now working in marketing, public relations and event planning.

My true talent is writing.

I've lost count of how many jobs I have had over the years, but I always seem to find one when I need it.

I've seen and heard a lot over the years, and I'm sharing what I've learned here. I hope that it helps you.

Words that take flight

Welcome 2025. I do have to say that I am glad for the arrival of a new year. There are always so many goals, hopes and dreams that can come with a new year, and that's no different this year.

But first a look back on 2024. It was a hard slog in work for the first six months, with a job at an amazing non-profit but I was only there until the end of May, filling a maternity leave. I executed the responsibilities of the job well, but found it hard to make much meaningful change there - the team was made of long-term employees, as well as the board of directors, the organization was still bouncing back from some difficult times during the pandemic and it really was a "stay the course" job I was fulfilling.

I did experience some highlights - working with two very creative, talented direct reports, and having the opportunity to run my first Annual General Meeting, something that I had not done in many, many years. This experience has since come in handy, as I am now at another non-profit and will be responsible for running this year's AGM.

Also happy to have completed an online course from Seneca College - Introduction to Organizational Behaviour. Completed the course with a "A" and found it completely fascinating. It left me wondering whether I should have pursued something in HR over my career, as I have been a keen watcher of how teams operate, and, believe me, I know how they operate after having worked in over 15 of them during my career lifetime.

If you have visited my space before, you might notice I have removed my former "ranty" blogs where I talked about the similarities I've noticed on a number of my jobs - especially, start-ups, family-owned companies and the absolutely most challenging, the husband and wife leadership team (4X for me!). Suffice it to say that these companies took a huge toll on me the last five years, and that, in a lot of ways, really took away a lot of my confidence. It is safe to say that I do not want to work of any of these kinds of companies ever again, and if you want a list of "red flags" to look out for if you find yourself on a short list for a job at a place like that, just call or email me, I have a list.

So 2024 did end on a better note, with me starting to feel more like myself career-wise. Working under a strong and experienced leader, adhering to a strategic plan with set goals, a better understanding of my own strengths and weaknesses, learning from life lessons, and being grateful that my Dad taught me resilience and hard work - this is what I am bringing into 2025.

I am still not against arguing my point of view, bringing my 20 plus years of experience forward and doing what is right - that shit never goes out of style, but I'm shedding the last five years' baggage and filing it under "G". Finally. Hopefully.

Spring

Here we are, almost through February and adding 35 more minutes of light each week. I honestly don't mind the winter; I enjoy the peace in being able to rest and think, while staying warm and staying inside.

This week marks a start to the spring season, with a speaking event this month, then two large public events next month, followed by attendance at a national conference and then large events in May and June. While the current job has me working more on my event planning skills, I am grateful to being involved in advocacy and government relations for our organization during a time when Ontario and Canada are facing imminent threats from the US, and with global economic uncertainty running at an all-time high. "May you live in interesting times" has always been an adage for journalists (and former journalists like me) but at this time even free speech and true journalism is being threatened.

I stand resolved that I am the same and haven't changed. I believe in the power of the press (if you can find someone who speaks the truth), staying strong, fighting the naysayers and seeing people for exactly who they are.

I think about what has happened to me in my career over the past 5 years - what I have seen and more importantly, what I have learned. So many people who I once respected and thought were leaders were really just motivated by their own egos and greed (and possibly religious beliefs). Through it all, I remained humble and worked hard. I stuck to my guns and pushed through. I looked after my team members even when it meant that I was branded"difficult" and well, I once lost my job because of it.

Every day I get a little bit stronger, and more resolved in my ways. This will be an interesting spring, as I think I will likely run into old colleagues, co-workers and even bosses. I'm simply not all that interested in them anymore - they showed their true colours and are living with the results of their own choices. Their "bridges" are not ones that I will travel again on my career journey so whether they are burned or still standing is irrelevant to me, as I chose a different path - the path less trodden. Stay frosty!

March On!

Hey everyone! Here we are in March, and although the forecast for the month is more winter weather - at least where I am - the days are getting longer, I've seen some migrating birds and the horses are shedding out their winter coats. It's all good!

I do use this spot as a place to express my thoughts, not sure anyone out there is reading them - but it does feel good to write.

These days have not been without drama in the world, with everyone seeming to be taking the low road lately. With puffed up dictators attacking world heroes, to everyone poking and jabbing at each other in the press, it's not the happiest world for pie-eyed optimists like me. The negativity seems to have found a home in so many places and for me - when I am spending 7 hours plus every day in role, when it seems to have permeated your team it makes working every day just that little bit harder.

I'm generally the person that brings sunshine with her to work and now I actually am thinking that maybe, this is the reason I get hired in some cases. Certainly my positivity and ability to always see the positive side of situations has served me well over the years, but when your tank never gets filled up by those around you, it's hard to keep up that brave face and keep smiling.

Then I think, well, it's work, it's actually not supposed to be that fun. It's a job that keeps me in my happy house, pays for my sweet little horse, and allows me a few little treats from time to time - maybe that is how I should view it and be grateful. But man, do you remember the last time you actually had a decent belly laugh with someone at work? Mine goes back more than a couple years at least, to the great little local team I worked with in SW Ontario - they were young, smart, hopeful and probably had a better outlook on work than I did.

I'm curious to any of you who read this blog - how do you keep positive about what you are doing? Especially when surrounded by difficult news, low energy and negativity? Do you go inward (which is where I am sourcing my energy from now) or do you reach out? Do you carry on knowing that it's the little things in life that bring joy, or are you sad because you want a higher purpose? Do you get tired of being everyone's inspiration, or do you just soldier on? As I continue through spring, I continue on this journey to find joy in work, to fulfil a purpose, to do the right thing and stay authentic. Remember to stay frosty! This is the way.

Spring Has Sprung

Whew. What a killer month March has been, but now I have found myself on the other side of two very large events, spaced two days apart, appealing to two very different audiences and being completely different in scope. Basically, requiring two very different "Marys" but with the expectation that both be organized, media-friendly, member-friendly, within budget, with company branding, inclusive, full of positivity, social media worthy, healthy with lots of fruit and vegetables, and well, with an expectation of perfection. Were they perfect? I'm going to say fairly close. Social media worthy? Yes. Inclusive? Yes. Did I ever look upset, worried or grumpy? No. (maybe making 1,000 boxes the night before I may have experienced some frustration, but only for a few seconds.

Did 70 women have a fantastic time at a women's only event. Yes. Did 1,000 families across Ontario receive (or will in the next day or two) a full box of fresh produce? Yes, they will.

Mission accomplished. There is a tiny little feeling in my gut I am getting a bit too old for event planning but maybe that is just because these two were so close together. Had I had say, even two weeks' space in between the events, would the events have been even better? Right now today, I'm not sure I deserve to put that on myself.

Is this what I want to do the rest of my career? Also a good question. Now I have two days to rest and recover - although it's mostly just my mind that is tired - then it's back to outlast, outplay, outperform and do what I always do - get shit done.

I've strayed a bit far from writing this past year, spending more time on events and honestly, people. My goal is to get back to the work I love to do, to have less issues with people and to forge on being my authentic self. Stay frosty, everyone.

April Flowers and Showers

It's never great to see people getting laid off or let go, or to see companies flounder and even fail. Yes, certainly the economic times are tough, and with a big orange ogre as our main trading partner in the U.S., outcomes that seemed more hopeful, are now seeming more hopeless. I don't necessarily revel in watching organizations fail but - and that is a big BUT - there are always reasons. Anyone who reads this babble from me (and you are quite few, which is fine) knows that have had a lot of disappointment in my career over the past few years, and I have made some bad choices - or what turned out to be bad choices, due to my naivety or hey! hope for something better, and not always on the money side.

All I can say is if you run a company, whether it is a start up or an international office, I hate to tell you this, but you might just not be the best thing since sliced bread. Now, your team might tell you that (but they get paid), your investors might tell you that (they are waiting for dividends and returns) - heck - your family might even tell you that (hmmm, they have to listen to you every night) but these people all have something to gain by being basically your flying monkeys. I'm sorry if that hurts.

The only way to succeed is to listen. Listen to your competitors. Listen to the team members who aren't afraid to ruffle your feathers. Listen to someone who is not in any way benefiting from "The Greatest Thing Ever Created" - that you have made. Listen hard. Don't discount them because you don't think they are smart enough, educated enough, technical enough, refined enough - because those are the people who don't care to placate you, they are the ones who are actually interested in business, in making things work, in ironing out the wrinkles, in telling you what they know and what they have heard, - the ones who pull your heads out of the clouds and give you a nice dose of reality. Of course, it is your choice to listen. And if you don't listen and you flounder, there are a million different reasons - especially in today's times - to blame that flounder on something else - the economy, the low dollar, the fact that no one understands just how great your thing is - but all I'd like to ask is - did you listen to those who tried to tell you to change, to tell you what your competitors were saying - to understand that some changes might be necessary? I'm just asking. Stay frosty, everyone.

Stay frosty, everyone.

March On!

Hart, hopeful and probably had a better outlook on work than I did.