Meet Suhey Cruz: Professional Organizer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Suhey Cruz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Suhey, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Integrity and helping others are the values that matter the most to me. You only grow when you help others, mostly when it comes from the heart. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
A friend once told me that I turned my obsession into my business but I’d like to say I turned my passion into my job.  I didn’t realize what a difference I would make in someone’s life until I started doing this. As a professional organizer I help people find balance. I help clients let go of items that they get emotionally attached to and help them realize that they are not hoarders, as well as define what that word really means. There is more to organizing than meets the eye, but I guess it’s up to all the professional organizers out there to speak up and start educating people that our job is not just about going into a home or business, buying a ton of beautiful containers and magically transforming a room into an Insta-worthy picture in one day.  That is not being realistic about the process or the time it takes to complete a project. Sometimes we hit walls and ask for back-up help from our fellow organizer friends.  There’s plenty of out loud self-talk and occasional self-reply moments.  We have a lot of emotional moments, bruises, cuts, lower back pain, and don’t even get me started with how much we sweat.  We certainly don’t all look as beautiful and put together as Joanna and Clea from The Home Edit Netflix show do. Normally we end up looking like we stuck our fingers in a live socket and smell like an angry skunk but we love what we do!  Music is what sets me apart from other organizers.  I have a connection with music and I truly believe it has positive motivating energy.  Let me explain, one of my intake questions at Susu’s Creations L.L.C. is “Who’s your favorite artist?”.  Usually the client doesn’t expect this question coming from a professional organizer when all they care about is getting their mess in order.  Organizing can be paralyzing, stressful and it causes a lot of anxiety to most. I create a playlist unique to the client and play it in the background while working with them as part of my technique.  I’ve noticed how powerful music is since my clients become relaxed and before you know it, they start letting go. Music changes our moods, it transports us to a moment that marks our lives, or simply reminds us of someone from our past but one thing is for certain, music builds bridges.   Was it easy? The lesson I’ve learned in life is that no matter how hard things get, never lose focus of the ultimate goal. Thank the people that have made moments challenging for you.  Yes, I said thank them, they made you realize how strong you truly are and what you are not willing to accept in life. Life is too darned short to stay surrounded by anything that brings you down.  Remove all negativity out of your life; get rid of anything that affects you or causes you pain. I like to tell my clients to think of letting go of things like accepting to let go of an ex “anything”.  Admit it was fun, hold on to the good memories, but it’s time to move on and start a new chapter.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is just so much to do and see but I would like to focus on the small local spots that people don’t really think about while in Miami. Let’s, also, pretend times were normal and we weren’t facing a pandemic.   Day 1- We should start off the day at Ricky Bakery in Coral Gables for a good Cuban cafe con leche, croquetas, and pastelitos de guayaba.  After, we would drive to Wynwood, have lunch at Coyo Taco then do the touristic Ocean Drive drive-tour and end up eating dinner at Fogo de Chao.    Day 2- We would drive through Downtown Miami, have lunch at CVI.CHE 105, head south on Brickell and spend the afternoon at the Vizcaya Museum.  Later we would have to decide if we are going to Farinelli 1937, Strada in The Grove, Bombay Darbar, or Cafe Pastis on Sunset for dinner…decisions, decisions, decisions!  Day 3- We would go for a quick visit at the Coral Castle, have lunch at Pummarola at The Falls, and continue the day at the Miami Metro Zoo to burn off the lunch.  After all that walking, we would have to fuel up again either at Rock A Bangkok in Kendall, Aromas del Peru in Kendall, or to Shibui Japanese Restaurant on Sunset.  Day 4- Wake up early to make it to Knaus Berry Farm for a morning treat.  Then we would have a smoothie at Robert is Here and finally make a stop at Schnebly Redland’s Winery and Brewery for a quick tasting (don’t drink and drive) and finally stop at Pueblo Paisa for a not-so-light but darned good dinner.   Days 5 & 6- An obligatory drive to Key West is a must. We would stay at the Southernmost House Hotel, visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Mile Marker 0, Southernmost Point Buoy, The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, and visit Fort East Martello Museum at night.  We would eat  breakfast at Banana Cafe, lunch at Conch Republic Seafood Company and dinner at Louie’s Backyard.   On the drive back, we would stop to eat at Whale Harbor Seafood Buffet and contemplate on working out, or not! Day 7- We would have a relaxing day at Venetian Pool, later have dinner at Tropical Chinese on Bird Road and finally head out to Ball and Chain on the famous Calle Ocho to experience live music and Latin dancing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It’s important to recognize the people that have made a considerable positive impact in your life. What we do in life depends on so many other people and this is how I would like to extend my gratitude to some of them. Cassandra,  thank you for being a good friend and for pushing me to open my company. To my first mentor 1st Sgt. Henry Massie Jr., U.S. Army, Retired, thank you for dedicating your time to teach young adults skills to become well-respected, disciplined professionals while still remaining kind-hearted. I dedicate this to my parents for being the first ones to shape my good habits and to my husband Andres for being my cheerleader and helping me stay balanced when I need it the most. I would also like to thank Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Now you would ask yourself, why mention a dance studio? Well dance is a way of life, and it was my way of life for some time. Ballroom dancing taught me that there is always something new to learn just when you get comfortable and you must go through painful moments to become better. At this studio I met Alfredo Di Natale and Roberto Siam, my then dance instructors, now friends. These two men not only taught me to dance, but I got a glimpse of how they transformed others through their passion, drive and focus. After all isn’t that what life is all about, positive motivation and leaving a legacy behind? Music and dance combined create the best medicine to remedy many maladies.  I can’t forget about the members of NAPO South Florida. This is a group of professional organizers and vendors in the trade that exchange knowledge and skills to help each other grow. I have to say that working in teams with these talented professional organizers has been, by far, the best experience.  I’ve had the pleasure to work next to the best from Miami-Dade and Broward county and there is enough maturity amongst us to realize there is plenty of business for all without the need for rivalry; besides, we all have different talents and strengths to offer our clients.

Website: http://sususcreationsfl.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sususcreations
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suhey-c-6577a969
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sususcreations
Other: Email: contact@sususcreations.com

Image Credits
Personal photo by Danielle Garone. All other images are courtesy of Susu’s Creations.