The Journey of Mitch Thiem: From Poop Patrol to CEO of Minor Chores
Every great entrepreneurial journey starts with a single step. For me, that step was cleaning up after neighborhood pets as the co-founder of Poop Patrol, Inc., a side hustle that embodied the motto, “Make every step a good one.” This early venture laid the groundwork for my current role as the founder and CEO of Minor Chores, an app dedicated to empowering kids to become financially responsible through small tasks and neighborhood side hustles.
Balancing Sports, School, and Side Hustles
Growing up, sports were a huge part of my life, but they weren’t my only focus. I learned to manage my time between athletics, academics, and entrepreneurial ventures. Most parents would have encouraged me to stick to school and sports, but mine were different. Although they weren’t entrepreneurs themselves, they saw value in my curiosity for business and helped me to explore it.
Overcoming Struggles and Finding Success
School didn’t come easy for me. Diagnosed with Dyslexia in 2nd grade, I faced challenges that made academic success seem out of reach. Despite being a B and C student for much of my early education, I turned things around my junior year of high school. Through perseverance, discipline, and the same entrepreneurial mindset I used for side hustles, I achieved straight A’s in both my junior and senior years.
This hard work paid off in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Not only did I earn nearly $50,000 through various neighborhood side hustles, but I was also accepted into every college I applied to—many offering scholarships, noticing my go-getter mentality on my resume. Ultimately, I decided to attend Texas Christian University where I majored in Entrepreneurial Management and minored in Energy Management and Technology. During my time there, I played for the Club Golf team and served as the president of the Energy Club, the largest club on campus.
The Importance of Financial Responsibility
"Make money work for you" is a quote my father said constantly. From a young age, he instilled in me the value of saving and investing, which shaped my financial philosophy. While I enjoyed spending, I followed his lead, saving roughly 20% of my earned income and investing it with Charles Schwab. Since school didn’t teach much about investing, my dad and financial advisor helped pick stocks and mutual funds for most of my portfolio. They also allowed me to choose a few investments I was passionate about, including Tesla and Eli Lilly.
I’ve always loved cars and renewable energy, so I chose several renewable energy stocks and Tesla back in 2014. My dad worked for Eli Lilly, so I decided to invest in that as well. This taught me an invaluable lesson: kids should invest in what they believe in and are passionate about. By connecting my investments to my interests, I stayed engaged and learned more about how markets work—a practice I encourage young people to adopt. If only I had known about Bitcoin or the tax advantages of custodial Roth IRAs back then!
From Mowing Lawns to Renewable Energy
One of my most pivotal entrepreneurial moments came when mowing lawns in the neighborhood. One of my clients happened to be the owner of Johnson Melloh Solutions, who noticed my work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. This connection led to an internship in their renewable energy department, an opportunity that aligned perfectly with my passion for sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Mitch Thiem - Founder & CEO of Minor Chores | Scooter Thiem - Chief Dog Officer
The Birth of Minor Chores
My journey—from side hustles like Poop Patrol, Inc., to managing finances and earning scholarships—directly inspired the creation of Minor Chores. The app aims to teach kids the same valuable lessons I learned: how to earn, save, and manage money responsibly. While technology has made instant gratification the norm—whether through seeing what friends are up to on TikTok or Instagram or instantly booking a ride on Uber —Minor Chores teaches the opposite: delayed gratification through entrepreneurship, long-term success, and happiness.
"Rome wasn’t built in a day," and neither were my neighborhood businesses. With Minor Chores, parents still need to help and encourage their kids to market their services and acquire customers. The app provides the tech tools to make this easier, and in return, kids keep 100% of their profits.
At Minor Chores, we are committed to helping young people take their first steps toward financial independence, just as I did. By emphasizing the value of delayed gratification, we aim to instill the same lifelong lessons that transformed my neighborhood businesses into a foundation for my future success.