We love connecting with people through Social Media - this community is so amazing! Maria reached out to us to be featured and we couldn't be more thrilled. To hear her honesty about her hard times and how she came out so strong on the other side is so inspirational to us all. It's just a constant reminder to never lose sight of what makes you happy and keep working hard.
We are excited to feature Maria Morrone! Enjoy!
Name: Maria Morrone
Title: Maria May Marketing, Canadian Blogger
Your elevator pitch:
Maria May is a blogger from Waterloo, Ontario who focuses on lifestyle, sustainability and activism in her posts.
One word to describe yourself:
Ambitious
Why did you choose that word?
No matter what challenges life has thrown at me, I also persevere and try to reach the next milestone or goal that I have.
Why did you start the business that you did and what was the inspiration or reasoning of how it came it life?
In late 2017, I was given some feedback from one of my managers. She told me that if I wanted to continue to be successful in marketing, I should practice my writing. 3 months later, Maria May Marketing was born. It started as a way for me to just write all the time but has become something I use to express myself and start meaningful conversations with in the community.
First thought when you officially became your own boss:
I have to completely keep myself accountable! This means that the only person I can disappoint is myself. I mean, it keeps me motivated to do a great job, but was a super scary thought at the beginning.
When you’re not hustling, what do you do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my pets Murphy and Pin. Murphy is a calico senior cat and Pin is my hedgehog! I also enjoy trying new vegan restaurants with my friends or supporting local activism events such as attending rallies and protests for animal rights and climate action.
Describe a day in your life:
There is no typical day in my life. Some days I love structure. I will plan out my time down to the minute to make sure I get all of my work done. However, sometimes I can be much more breezy and just go with the flow. This makes for some pretty interesting weeks!
What is your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment has been graduating university. I am the first person in my family to attend university and was raised by a single mom. Unfortunately, I have dealt with hardships in my past due to my parent’s very difficult divorce. As a sociology major, I know that statistically it’s rare for someone like me to make it to the finish line. With lots of determination and ambition, I was able to make it through! I will be attending convocation in June 2019.
What are your top 3 bucket list items?
1. Start my own company
2. Travel to destinations like Iceland, Spain, Greece and back to Paris!
3. Write a book
What or who inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing?
My mom is my number one inspiration. Some may say it’s cheesy, but when a family goes through as much as ours did, you can’t help but want to stay motivated. I have constantly fought to not be seen as a “damaged” kid from a divorced family, so much so that most of my circle don’t know my personal family situation. I watched my mom work several jobs at once, while raising teenagers, and always putting us first. Without her determination for us to be successful, I would not have had the motivation to pursue the opportunities I have.
What is your daily mantra?
This may sound cinicle, but my mantra typically is “fake it ‘til you make it.” I feel like all of us can get pretty worked up and worried when trying something new. However, if we act with confidence, we will be able to power through the obstacles we face. There have been so many learning opportunities that I had to force myself to attend in order to better myself, and if I didn’t think as highly of my abilities, I probably would have never attended them!
What are some tips and tricks you use to stay motivated?
I’m a huge believer in making sure you take some time to rest. For me, I know I can overwork myself to the brink of never wanting to work ever again! This is such a common mindset and is completely unhappy. I think for overall motivation, we should all strive to take some time for ourselves, practice some self care, and this will better our work and ourselves in the long-run.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt along the way?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to always do things for yourself. If you constantly live in a shadow of wanting to impress other people, you will always be disappointed. Don’t go to university because your parents forced you. Don’t write that blog post because it’s what’s trendy. Do what you love. If you focus on the areas that other people care about as opposed to what you truly want, you will always feel like you’re missing something.
What’s next for you?
As a recent university graduate, I am on the hunt for a full-time marketing gig. I’d love to continue doing agency work or focusing in higher education. In my 3-year blog plan, I’d love to start a podcast. Since we’re in year-two, I’ll be thinking more about this over the next year. I also would love to collaborate more with amazing creators in KW, or even travel to meet some of my favourite creators in North America. I’m always open for collaborations, so I’d love to hear if anyone has any requests!
How can our readers find you?
Instagram: @mariamaymarketing
Website: mariamaymarketing.com
Maria is already thriving in the first few years of her venture - we can't wait to see what this year brings her!
We are constantly looking to promote local businesses and freelancers in the community, so if you are interested in sharing a bit about your life and your journey, send us a DM or email us at hello@mintandpoppy.com.
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