About
Gayle Jacobs, Founder
I am Gayle Jacobs, a professional residential organizer servicing Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties. I formed my company Actually Organized, LLC in 2003. I am proud to say, six years ago, my daughter and I joined forces creating Actually Organized in two cites.
After a career in the field of Speech Pathology, owning two businesses (Forever Memories and Creativities) and raising two children, the field of organizing became a perfect fit. It fostered my desires to be supportive while working with different individuals and allowed me to be creative as a problem solver. I love the physical aspect of organizing. I see organizing as a puzzle. At first sight the pieces are not fitting properly. It is my job to find the right fit that works best for each client.
What makes a great professional organizer depends on knowledge, experience, perspective, compassion, confidentiality, non-judgment, ability to problem solve, diagnose, to set up flexible organized systems that grow with demand, and the ability to relate on an emotional and intellectual level to each client’s needs and concerns. Combining these skills along with our commitment to surpassing our client’s expectations result in a high percentage of our business coming from repeat customers and referrals.
Having worked with children and adults in my earlier field of Speech Pathology, my patience, compassion and ability to problem solve and
diagnose was always an integral part of my work. Working with my clients today, understanding the challenges and issues that disorganization, clutter, a life of overflowing schedules, and mile long to do lists, help me to diagnose and create systems that are user friendly, easy to maintain and fit the unique needs of each client.
Listening, understanding, compassion, trust, and nonjudgement are the cornerstones of working with and creating spaces that serve specific needs of each individual. Working as a professional organizer for over 15 years has given me the opportunity to work with many diverse groups and ages, from the very young, college students, families, new home owners, business people and seniors. Organizing can be different for each person, because there are different factors that create disorganization. As an organizer I must consider the needs, desires, how one functions and thinks and the emotional issues that may be present.
Organization isn’t just about the look of a space. It is about the kind of life you want to live. Let us help you live your best life.
Wendy Jacobs Barcelo
Co-Founder
I grew up spending my free time de-cluttering and categorizing the things in my bedroom. It meant I had to find the proper drawer, bin, shelf, and so on, for each one of my belongings that was out of place. I found solace and pride in folding my shirts, lining up my trinkets and untangling my jewelry. I found it empowering to be able to make decisions about items that no longer made me happy or brought me joy. When I came across an item I out grew, I was over it.
It wasn’t until 25 years later, that simple habit would become part of my passion for organizing, helping others make those same decisions.
Living in NY for 20 years has been a great opportunity putting the concept of small-space living into real life practice. I moved to Manhattan after graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Journalism. Prior to landing my first job in the corporate world, I found myself responding again and again to cries for help from friends in need of better-organized apartments.
Working as an account executive gave me the opportunity to hone my skills in the area of paper, time, and project management.
This helped me become an efficient and effective communicator, as well as allowing me to create my own systems for tracking, following up, and promoting product.
As a personal assistant and house manager, I found organization was key to keeping families on track. Working with children as well as adults gave me an awareness of the need to be flexible in creating organizational systems that work for each client. These experiences brought to light my skills and knowledge. I realized it was time to join forces with my mother who was running Actually Organized in Miami. Actually Organized NYC was born.
I truly love organizing and finding the right solution for each client, based on their day to day lifestyle. My ultimate goal is to provide the platform for each of my clients to live their best life, finding things easily, feeling joy and comfort in their home, and designing their space to fit their style and needs.
