Our guest this week is Josh Schollmeyer, co-found and editor-in-chief of MEL magazine, which the New York Times has called “the rare men’s magazine that has taken upon itself to investigate masculinity, not enforce it. It gets double points for managing to pull off that project with style and charm, not self-seriousness.”

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Avi's favorite Dollar Shave Club Ad

Our advice question this week:

Hey Man, 

I need some perspective on something. I’m 40 years old, have two kids, am married to a great woman and run my own business. My problem is that I can’t seem to stand up for myself or say no to just about anyone. Definitely not my wife, not my parents and, I’m embarrassed to admit this, not even my kids. I’m fortunate enough to be pretty successful in my line of work and have people regularly reaching out for advice, help or for money to invest in their projects. It’s almost impossible for me to turn people away and when I do, I usually feel really guilty. If I need to hire someone to do work on my apartment, I can never negotiate and if someone short changes me, I just let it happen.

Some of the guys I work with are complete assholes and suffer no consequences, but I just can’t do it. Is there something wrong with me? How do I stand up for myself? Is this something I can change after 40 years of being a pushover? Help!

Beta on Broome Street