Marie Kondo: What did you want to be when you were growing up? — FLAPSS

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

This is a standing question in The Guardian's decades-long The Q&A and also recurs independently in career and life interviews.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Marie Kondo said elsewhere, not written here

Housewife and mother of three, which I am now.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 January 2022 source ↗

Others on this question

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Matt Goss English singer-songwriter

I wanted to be like Vidal Sassoon and wear the three-piece suit and be part of pop culture.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 March 2022 source ↗

Harriet Walter English actress

An actor. When I was really young, I wanted to be a fishmonger’s wife.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 December 2017 source ↗

Martin Sheen American actor

Golfer, priest, police officer, teacher and, after going to the movies, actor.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 March 2017 source ↗

Andrew O'Hagan Scottish author

Most days, I wanted to be Albrecht in the classical ballet Giselle, dancing until I dropped dead.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 July 2026 source ↗

More from Marie Kondo

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Question If you could edit your past, what would you change? Failure & regret

I don’t have anything that I want to change. I’m sure I did in the past but I can’t recall, which means it wasn’t that big a deal.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 January 2022 source ↗

Question What would you like to be remembered for? Death & what remains

Tidying fanatic.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 January 2022 source ↗

Question What does love feel like? Relationships

Warm and fuzzy.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 January 2022 source ↗

Question What do you consider your greatest achievement? Craft & work

It’s still a work in progress, but I would have to say, organising the world. With all the KonMari consultants around the world, and those that read my books or watched the Netflix shows, we are definitely making a difference.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 January 2022 source ↗

Question What has been your biggest disappointment? Failure & regret

In elementary school: I opened my lunchbox and it was empty. I was devastated.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 January 2022 source ↗

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