The Self-Employed Man

Be your own boss and still pay the bills: clients, pricing, taxes, tools and time for your family.

The BRO Code. What to do, what not to do, and a few laughs on the way.

Do's & Don'ts: Men Do's & Don'ts: Business Owners

Six snug clamps beat one cranked down hard

Clamps don't squeeze a joint together. They hold it still while the glue sets, and that job takes more clamps, not more muscle.

GuideTools & OrganizingDean ShawNov 8, 20266 min

Buy the brad nailer first. The framing gun can wait.

A nail gun saves hours on the right job and wrecks the wrong one. Here's how to tell which is which, what to pay, and when to rent.

Ask BRO

Pressure-test my business idea

Ask it

GuideGarden & YardWes DunbarNov 8, 20265 min

Beans Don't Feed Your Corn This Summer. They Feed Next Year's

Tuck bush beans between the hungry crops, but know when the nitrogen actually pays out, and what to do with the plants in September.

GermProof.com — An invisible germ barrier on your skin for hours

PartnerGermProof.com

NewsSportsBRO DeskNov 8, 20261 min

Man United host Aston Villa at Old Trafford in a key Premier League match

ESPN is tracking Sunday's game with live updates, the score and running commentary.

Poll

How many days a week are you actually training?

GuideBoys & GirlsSam OrtizNov 8, 20265 min

Your kids will stay at the table if you make it short

Fifteen minutes, phones in a basket, and better questions than "how was school." A plain plan for getting your family to the table and keeping them there.

GuideOld SchoolNina CastellanNov 8, 20266 min

The Saturday walk-around that kept Grandpa's truck out of the shop

He never called himself a mechanic. He just looked his truck over every week with a cup of coffee, and caught every problem while it was still cheap.

CancerDefying.com — The research, protocols and reading in one place

PartnerCancerDefying.com

GuideCarsDean ShawNov 8, 20265 min

The twenty-dollar part behind your glovebox nobody checks

Your cabin air filter takes ten minutes to change, costs less than a dealer's markup, and decides what your family breathes on every drive.

Quiz

Does your wardrobe actually fit you?

Five questions, honestly answered, and a plan for the next two weeks.

GuideGadgetsDean ShawNov 8, 20265 min

Buy the drill battery for the job you do on a Saturday

12 volts or 18? Big amp-hours or small? Match the pack to your actual weekends and you'll spend less and carry less.

BRO TakeOutdoorsWes DunbarNov 8, 20266 min

Wind will beat you before rain ever does

Everybody packs for rain. The thing that actually ruins a night out is moving air, and it's cheaper to fix than a wet sleeping bag.

Ask BRO

Rehearse the raise conversation with me

Ask it

GuideFamilyCal BrennanNov 8, 20265 min

The family meeting that works because Dad stops lecturing

Most family meetings die by the third Sunday. Here's a format that survives eye-rolling teenagers, tired parents, and a toddler under the table.

PartnerWhackAWoke.com

StoryHistoryMarcus ValeNov 8, 20264 min

A Wire Crew Finished the Pony Express in 112 Days

In the summer of 1861, crews strung wire across roughly 2,000 miles of wilderness in the middle of a war. When they finished, ten days became minutes.

Poll

How often do you see your closest friends?

GuideSchool & LearningAde FisherNov 8, 20265 min

When the worksheet says one thing and your kitchen says another

Your kid is stuck between a teacher and a parent. Sort the problem first, then pick the right move, and keep the kid out of the crossfire.

GuideStyleDean ShawNov 8, 20266 min

Cuffs or plain hems? Let your height decide

A cuff adds weight and a line at the ankle. That helps some men and hurts others. Here's how to tell which one you're before the tailor pins anything.