ABOUT LISA ZASLOW & GOTHAM ORGANIZERS

Lisa Zaslow has never forgotten what she learned as a 10-year-old Girl Scout: Leave every place better than you found it.

Lisa spent 15 years working in management consulting and corporate human resources, for companies including American Express, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, The New York Times and Citibank. Then, in 2000, armed with a Master’s Degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, Lisa founded Gotham Organizers.

Over the past 20+ years, Lisa and her team have helped thousands of individuals and businesses be more productive, more organized and less stressed.

Approach
Lisa doesn’t preach the conventional organizing “rules” (she has yet to figure out how to touch every piece of paper only once). Instead, she takes a customized approach, working with each client’s needs, values and space, to create systems and environments that truly work for them.

Credentials
The author of “Can’t I Just Shred It All? 101 Quick Tips to File – and Find – Your Important Papers,” Lisa’s expertise is regularly featured in the media. Some highlights:

Television: ABC News, Inside Edition, The Nate Berkus Show, HGTV’s Mission: Organization

Print: The New York Times, Real Simple, InStyle, New York Magazine, House Beautiful

Radio: Martha Stewart Living, WCBS

Lisa is a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals’ Golden Circle. This designation recognizes the small percentage of organizers who have been in business for over 5 years.

Lisa is a frequent speaker on topics related to organization and productivity. She has taught thousands of people how to get organized in her Less Mess = Less Stress™ workshops, talks and in custom training classes for organizations such as Colgate Palmolive Company, The New York City Fire Department, Columbia University and OppenheimerFunds.

Call (212)866-9493 or email today to discuss your organizing challenges free of charge!

Confidentiality and trust: The cornerstone of all we do
Before starting Gotham Organizers, Lisa Zaslow worked for 15 years at major corporations and had access to employees’ confidential personal information. These companies – including The New York Times, American Express and Booz-Allen & Hamilton – trusted Lisa with their most sensitive information. You can, too.

We have worked with many high-profile clients, in fields ranging from the arts to business to the media but you’ll never hear us mention a client’s name or discuss their situation.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here are Lisa’s answers to the questions she gets asked most often. Didn’t get the answer you’re looking for? Please ask! Call (212)866-9493 or email.

How did you become a professional organizer?
This is far and away the number one question I get asked. The short answer is that some time in the last century, while I was working in human resources in the corporate world, I read an article in the paper about a professional organizer and thought, “That’s a job?! I can do that.” Contact me for the long answer.

Will you make me throw things away?
Never! We are creating your ideal environment. You decide what you want to let go of and what you want to keep. We’re really clear that it’s your stuff and your place, not ours. However, we may – gently and with humor – encourage you to liberate things that are no longer serving you and that are preventing you from creating the space that you want.

What’s the worst place you’ve ever seen?
It’s probably not yours! Most of my clients are surprised – and almost a little disappointed – when I tell them I have seen worse. And, I know how bad it feels when you think your place is beyond hope. It’s not!

Is your place perfectly organized?
My place is organized enough for me! Some things are Martha-esque (my files) and others are organized enough so that I can find what I need. I know that a real-life home or office will never look like the photos you see in magazines and catalogs. My New Yorker magazines can pile up for a few weeks, and I don’t usually have the patience to fold everything perfectly. I don’t believe in many of the common organizing “rules”, so I’ve got sweaters that I haven’t worn in over a year and I definitely don’t stress about “touching each piece of paper only once” – that’s impossible!

I feel like I should be able to do this on my own. Why is it so hard?
There are many reasons it can be difficult to get organized on your own. Some of the most common are: You may have let things go for so long that it feels overwhelming (even if you are usually pretty organized). You may never have been taught simple organizing principles. You may be trying to use organizing products that aren’t really right for you. And if you’re feeling stressed about getting organized, the stress itself makes it harder to think clearly so you can get organized. The good news is that whatever your situation, it’s easy and fast to get organized when we tackle it together!

What do I need to do before you come over?
Nothing! It’s best if I see your place in its natural state. This way we can create systems that take into account your habits and preferences.

How did you come up with the name Gotham Organizers?
Gotham is a nickname for New York City, my home of 25 years. I named the business after 9/11 as a tribute to New York. I also love the Batman connection and the zippy “GO” initials.

Is Nate Berkus really as nice as he seems?
Yes! It was a thrill to be on his TV show – he was incredibly welcoming, relaxed and made the experience a lot of fun. Click to watch my appearance on The Nate Berkus Show (This is probably the second question I get asked most. Really.)