How Neighborhood Businesses Are Teaching Kids the Skills AI Can’t Replace

Inspired by McKinsey & Company’s “A new operating model for a new world”, this blog explores how the principles reshaping global corporations are now influencing something closer to home: neighborhood entrepreneurship. CEOs are rethinking how their companies operate—and so are families, thanks to the rise of tech tools like the Minor Chores app.

How CEOs and Kids Are Both Learning to Operate Differently

In a world where speed, agility, and innovation are more important than ever, CEOs across the globe are rethinking how their organizations run. According to McKinsey, leaders are adopting more entrepreneurial operating models, embracing autonomy, adaptability, and purpose-driven strategies to thrive in unpredictable markets.

But here’s the twist: this shift isn’t just happening in boardrooms. It’s happening on sidewalks, in backyards, and on doorsteps—thanks to a new wave of kid-powered businesses powered by tech. And leading the charge? The Minor Chores app, a modern operating model for neighborhood entrepreneurship.

What McKinsey's Saying (And Why It Matters)

In their 2024 article, McKinsey outlines a future-forward operating model centered around:
- Empowered people
- Rapid decision-making
- Tech-enabled systems
- Purpose as a North Star

It’s no longer about rigid processes and top-down control. It’s about entrepreneurial culture—where individuals solve problems in real time, stay customer-obsessed, and leverage smart tools to operate at scale.

This is exactly what Minor Chores is enabling for families and kids across America.

The Original CEO(s): A Family Business Born in the Backyard

Before there was an app, there was a family with a vision—and a lot of dog poop.

The founder of Minor Chores didn’t launch his first business alone. It started with two brothers, a dad with a PowerPoint, and support from their little sister and mom. Together, they built their first venture: “Poop Patrol: Make Every Step a Good One!”

Their dad outlined the essentials: pricing model, target customers, and sales pitch—planting the seeds of real-world entrepreneurship. The boys trained at home, fine-tuning their poop-scooping skills with help from their dogs, Harley and Rudy. They designed flyers, grabbed their pooper scooper, and knocked on doors to land customers.

What began as a single service evolved into a full neighborhood business, adding trash can cleaning, lawn care, and more.

They weren’t just earning—they were learning about work ethic, branding, time management, and serving customers.

That business became the inspiration for what would later evolve into Minor Chores—a platform to make entrepreneurship possible for every family, not just those willing and able to build from scratch.

Then vs. Now: The Neighborhood Hustle Has Changed

THEN:
- Only the most motivated kids (and families) would create flyers and knock on doors.
- Scheduling was manual. Payments were cash only.
- Growth was limited to word-of-mouth.

NOW — With Minor Chores:
- Any family—busy or not—can onboard their child in minutes.
- The app provides instant gratification with a website, marketing materials, customer relationship management (CRM) system, and manages earnings in-app.
- Parents are guided through the process, ensuring safety and transparency.
- SMS broadcast messaging with auto-draft messages makes it easier than ever to generate sales in a timely manner.

It’s the neighborhood hustle—modernized and massively scalable.

A Tech-Enabled Operating Model for Families

Just like CEOs use digital dashboards, KPIs, and agile teams to scale their companies, Minor Chores uses:
- Smart scheduling and reminders to keep kids and customers on track
- Automated SMS communication tools for job offers and updates
- Real-time customer reviews and earnings tracking
- Family challenges to reward effort and consistency

This transforms families into mini-enterprises—where kids act as founders, parents as advisors, and the app as COO.

Building Future-Ready Skills in Every Home

McKinsey notes that the most successful organizations today are those that grow talent from within, nurturing:
- Autonomy
- Problem-solving
- Accountability
- Initiative

That’s exactly what Minor Chores is doing—at a household level. It’s not just about making a few bucks for ice cream. It’s about teaching kids to:
- Take initiative
- Market themselves
- Deliver value to others
- Learn from real-world feedback

And in a world where AI is replacing routine jobs, these life and business skills are what companies are hiring for.

Download the Minor Chores app today, and empower your children for the future!