Finding light at the end of the clutter
Jodanna Knabe's professional organizing company, Messes 2 Miracles has helped 2,500 people from all walks of life find freedom from their material possessions.
It doesn’t take more than 10 minutes talking with Jodanna Knabe to feel her passion for organization. While some people view sorting their closets, organizing their pantry, or sifting through boxes as a burden, Knabe sees it as a pathway to freedom.
Knabe was one of the first professional organizers in Knoxville. Her business, Messes 2 Miracles has been around for 13 years and has helped more than 2,500 people break free from their habits of clutter, disorganization, and hoarding.
Knabe often sits with people at their most vulnerable. One recent example is a senior who needed to organize her things to move into an independent living facility.
“She reached out to me, and I was so grateful to be able to come in and give her peace of mind about her situation and having to get rid of stuff,” Knabe said.
Now, the two are close friends. Knabe became the woman’s senior advocate and helped her find freedom in downsizing. That’s what Messes 2 Miracles is all about.
Messes 2 Miracles: The Genesis
Sorting, organizing, and filing is a unique passion. Decluttering is something that most people would avoid until an inevitable spring cleaning, but Knabe pioneers it year-round.
“I have always been just naturally organizing and decluttering everything, even my friends’ houses when I was growing up,” Knabe laughed.
The progression was a natural one. The year was 2010. Knabe was a single mom and was ready to embark on the challenging journey of entrepreneurship. The only major problem was she didn’t have a framework for how to make a career out of organizing people’s lives.
“Before HGTV started doing shows, organizing really wasn’t even an actual business or a normal career,” Knabe said. “There were maybe only three other organizers within an hour or two of Knoxville.”
So, she started from scratch.
The Power of Networking
Like many entrepreneurs with a big idea, Knabe didn’t know where to start. So, she started at church. She said she spoke with different church leaders, who connected her with entrepreneurs, who then connected her with ideas.
“It took me three years of networking my face off,” she said. “It was important for me to reach out to other entrepreneurs to see if they had any suggestions on how I could start.”
Knabe said many people recommended that she network with local business owners, go to meetings, and attend community events. Before long, she was getting paid for her services.
By 2015, just five years into the launch of Messes 2 Miracles, Knabe was serving an average of 175 clients a year.
Setting Herself Apart
Things have changed since 2010. More and more people are pursuing careers as organizers due to popular shows like Get Organized, Hot Mess House, The Minimalists, and Hack My Home. Now, Knoxville is becoming more saturated with people trying to make their share of the market.
Knabe is established, and grateful for her 13 years’ worth of service, reviews, and reputation. She also prioritizes the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of her clients as they go through the organizing process.
“I set myself apart because I work with my clients to get to the root of the problem while we’re organizing. Then, it becomes a lifestyle for them,” Knabe said. “They may have a lot going on in their lives, clutter in their life, and I’m here to help declutter all of it.”
She’s seen every type of person in this line of work, from hyper-organized individuals to hoarders. She believes everyone can benefit from a little more organization in their lives.
“The most important thing is our health and our relationships. That is the most important stuff, not our physical things,” Knabe said. “I hate when people are bound by their stuff, and I want people to see the light at the end of the clutter.”
Get in touch with Jodanna Knabe and Messes 2 Miracles by visiting the company website.
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