Every man wants to feel like he matters.
That his presence makes a difference.
That if he were gone tomorrow, the people around him would notice the gap.

At the core, this comes down to one thing: being useful.

Not in the sense of being used up or taken advantage of.
But in the deeper sense of adding value to the lives of your friends, your family, your coworkers, and your community.

Why Usefulness Matters

Men thrive when they have a role to play. A man who knows he can fix, protect, or contribute carries a quiet confidence that no paycheck or title alone can give him.

Being useful is not about perfection. It’s about reliability. It’s about being the guy others can count on when life gets messy, when something breaks, or when someone simply needs a hand.

Usefulness is learned. It’s built one skill at a time.

The Skills That Every Man Should Know

Men don’t need to be experts in everything. But they should have a toolbox of basic skills that allow them to step up when needed. Here are a few to consider:

In the Home

• Change a tire or jump-start a car

• Stop a leaky faucet

• Grill a good meal for family or friends

• Use tools to fix something that’s broken

For Health and Safety

• Perform basic first aid and CPR

• Build physical stamina and strength

• Stay calm and lead when others panic

In Relationships

• Listen deeply without trying to fix right away

• Remember important dates and show up

• Write a note of encouragement or appreciation

In Community

• Volunteer time or muscle when someone needs to move, build, or carry

• Mentor younger men by sharing lessons you’ve learned

• Take responsibility when something goes wrong, and help make it right

These are not just “skills.” They are signals. They tell the people around you: I’ve got you. You’re not alone.

How to Practice Usefulness This Week

Being useful doesn’t mean waiting for a crisis. It means looking for simple ways to step in.

Try these practices:

1. Anticipate Needs. Ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can do right now that would make someone else’s life easier?” Then do it, without being asked.

2. Share a Skill. If you know how to do something—whether it’s tying a proper knot, cooking a steak, or balancing a budget—teach it to a friend, your kid, or a coworker. Skills multiply when they are shared.

3. Make Your List. Take ten minutes this week to write down five useful skills you’d like to pick up in the next year. It might be learning CPR, sharpening your handyman skills, or becoming a better cook. Keep the list somewhere visible, and let it guide your growth. Even better, feel free to share your list with us so we can consider it for future programming and events.

4. Offer Your Presence. Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is simply show up. Be the guy who helps carry the heavy box, who takes the late-night call, or who drives across town when a brother is in need.

The Ripple Effect

When men are useful, communities grow stronger. Families feel safer. Friends feel supported. Workplaces thrive.

And inside, men feel grounded. Purpose comes not from endless achievement, but from daily usefulness.

This is the kind of strength the world needs right now.
Not bravado. Not competition.
But steady men who know how to be useful.

Your Blueprint Challenge

This week, pick one area of your life: home, health, relationships, or community, and practice being useful.

Maybe you fix something broken.
Maybe you cook a meal for someone.
Maybe you take the time to listen to a friend.
Maybe you step up to carry the weight (literally or figuratively).

And while you’re at it, make your list of skills to learn in the year ahead. Keep it in plain sight so that you’re reminded often of your goals.

Because refining your usefulness is also about who you are becoming tomorrow.

Looking Ahead

At EVRYMAN, we are exploring future field trips and experiences where we can all learn some of these skills together as a community, while also talking about why they matter. Not just for ourselves, but for the people who count on us.

Insights

25 Tiny Habits That Boost Mental Health—From a Doctor Who Sees What Works
Psychiatrist Michael Hunter, MD, shares 25 small, everyday actions with real scientific backing. These range from quick physical resets to subtle mindset shifts, designed to build resilience without adding stress or complexity. A simple reminder that momentum often starts small. (10 min read)

Map of 600,000 Brain Cells Rewrites the Textbook on How the Brain Makes Decisions
Neuroscientists have charted brain activity in unprecedented detail, revealing that decision making involves far more regions of the brain than previously thought. This discovery challenges decades of assumptions and opens the door to new ways of understanding choice and behavior. (5 min read)

The Power of Vulnerability | Brené Brown
Brown unpacks years of research on connection and belonging, arriving at one simple truth: vulnerability is the birthplace of love, courage, and creativity. Her talk challenges us to lean into uncertainty and imperfection, showing that the very traits we try to hide are what make life meaningful. (20 min watch)

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