The Fulfilling Journey of Turning Passion into a Career – An interview with Kitty Wong, founder of an organising company, on the art of balancing entrepreneurship, family, and “Me Time”

Turning a personal interest into a career is undoubtedly a blessing. Yet, along with this comes the need for striking a balance between family, work and personal time – or “Me Time” – both an art and a challenge. We are honoured to speak with Kitty Wong, Founder of MCM Professional Organising and a mother of three. She shares her journey as an entrepreneur and how she navigates her many roles while pursuing her passion and dreams.

Since childhood, Kitty had a fascination in organising. As she grew older, her passion led her to explore various methods and techniques in organising and decluttering. Her first true encounter with the field came from reading books on decluttering and watching television programmes on organising. They inspired her deeply and sparked a thought: “Could I also help people in Hong Kong through this profession?” Motivated by this aspiration, Kitty enrolled in certified organising courses from the United States and Japan online. Upon completion of her studies, she took a bold step forward and established her own home organisation company, turning her passion into a meaningful career.

“Organising is far more than tidying up a home”

Many people struggle with organising not out of laziness, but due to emotional or psychological barriers. Kitty explained that people often lose motivation to maintain a tidy environment due to stress, family changes or emotional health issues. Understanding this, she pursued further studies in psychology to better help clients overcome these psychological hurdles.

“Some people cannot declutter due to depression or hoarding tendencies, but that doesn’t mean they are lazy or irresponsible,” she emphasised. As a professional organiser, she sees her role as not only managing the physical environment but also providing emotional support to her clients. She described herself as a “mother” patiently helping her “children” to develop positive lifestyle habits.

Among the many cases Kitty has handled, one involving a single mother left a particularly deep impression on her. The mother was raising two children by herself - one with autism and the other with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Overwhelmed by constant caregiving, she was physically and mentally drained, and her home became cluttered and disorganised. During Kitty’s visit, the mother broke down in tears. “As a mother of a child with autism myself, I truly empathised with her,” Kitty reflected. She stressed that such cases are only the tip of the iceberg. Kitty and her team are committed to helping these vulnerable groups through practical assistance and emotional support.

Career, Family and “Me Time”

Despite juggling multiple roles - a business founder, mother of three, and a member of her family business’s leadership team - Kitty manages to maintain a balance between her work, family and personal well-being. She attributed this to her self-discipline and effective time management.

A self-described early riser, Kitty usually gets up at around 5 to 6am to send her children to school - a precious opportunity for parent-child bonding. She then carves out her “Me Time” for exercise, which includes fitness training, hiking, or wake surfing during summer. “Exercise is not only good for health, but also a great stress reliever,” she shared. After her workout, she focuses on work, before picking up her children in the evening. Even while helping her children with homework, she seizes the opportunity to learn new things herself, growing alongside her children.

“I care more about my children’s character and worldview than their academic achievements,” Kitty remarked. She hopes to instil in them independent thinking, problem solving abilities and a strong sense of social responsibility. She believes that good character must be cultivated from a young age, and that parents must lead by example. To her, education goes beyond textbooks - it is about being a role model, because parents shape their children’s values and life perspectives.

Advice for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs

“Turning passion into a career is no easy feat,” Kitty acknowledged. She believes female entrepreneurs must be adept at multi-tasking, courageous to raise questions and learn about things they do not understand, while also valuing communication with their teams. “An organiser is much like a counsellor - beyond tidying spaces, we must also be able to engage with clients effectively,” she noted. While the early stages of starting a business are filled with passion, this initial excitement can fade, sometimes turning into fatigue or doubt. Kitty thinks it is vital for entrepreneurs to prepare themselves mentally, reflect regularly, and adjust their mindset accordingly. “No matter the outcome, never let one failure define you. Every experience is part of your growth,” she encouraged.

Epilogue

Kitty’s story reminds us that transforming passion into a career is possible and fulfilling. Her experience teaches us how to adjust our mindset, embrace the challenges of entrepreneurship, and find harmony between family and career. With patience and a positive attitude, we can achieve success and happiness across all areas of life.