Roundtable London: The Specialist vs. The Generalist

Most are familiar with the adage “jack of all trades, master of none, ” and you’ve likely debated the pitfalls of specialization or generalization in your business and personal skill set.

Whether project types, services offered, or clients cultivated, it can be hard to choose between perfecting your niche or expanding your offerings.

In this Roundtable, we’ll explore how real estate and design rewards and punishes specialization, generalization, and the area in between.

Roundtable New York: Why Should Anyone Follow You?

Designing and communicating a compelling vision for your company is an essential aspect of entrepreneurship.

How do we convince other people to put their faith in us, work hard for and with us, and stick around the the going gets tough?

How do we inspire the people we lead to do their best work, and to believe in our plan for where we’re going and how we intend to get there?

Roundtable San Francisco: The Specialist vs. The Generalist

Most are familiar with the adage “jack of all trades, master of none, ” and you’ve likely debated the pitfalls of specialization or generalization in your business and personal skill set.

Whether project types, services offered, or clients cultivated, it can be hard to choose between perfecting your niche or expanding your offerings.

In this Roundtable, we’ll explore how real estate and design rewards and punishes specialization, generalization, and the area in between.

Roundtable Austin: The Specialist vs. The Generalist

Most are familiar with the adage “jack of all trades, master of none, ” and you’ve likely debated the pitfalls of specialization or generalization in your business and personal skill set.

Whether project types, services offered, or clients cultivated, it can be hard to choose between perfecting your niche or expanding your offerings.

In this Roundtable, we’ll explore how real estate and design rewards and punishes specialization, generalization, and the area in between.

Special Event | San Francisco: Tour Modernist Houses by CHENG Design

We’re thrilled to invite all Brick & Wonder members and guests to register for a special event hosted by Brick & Wonder member George Smart, Executive Director of USModernist.

For over 30 years, CHENG Design, led by acclaimed designer Fu Tung Cheng, has been at the forefront of crafting exquisite award-winning custom homes in California with sustainable, emotional, and timeless design—and a unique focus on crafted concrete. Cheng will attend the Sunday night sunset cocktail party and select house tours.

Proceeds from ticket purchases benefit the nonprofit USModernist, a digital resource for Modernist residential architecture.

Site Visit | New York: St. John the Divine

Brick & Wonder Pro and Council members are invited to a private tour of St. John the Divine.

Join Nicolas Kemper, publisher of New York Review of Architecture, for a private vertical tour of St. John the Divine. The tour goes up 124 feet following the stairs and platforms built into the armature of the cathedral’s nave, ending on the roof. It is possibly one of the most riveting sequences of architectural spaces in New York. Kemper has led occasional tours of the cathedral since writing an essay about it, “How to build a Cathedral,” in 2019. Begun 132 years and still unfinished, he enjoys sharing and discussing the cathedral’s story, which includes a slew of New York rivalries, the origins of both the skyscraper and gothic architecture, and lessons in hubris, institution building, and of course project management.

Workshop: Smart Building, Smart Finance

We welcome all Brick & Wonder members and select guests to join this online workshop focused on smart finance and the tax code 179D.

The session will be hosted by EPSA, a specialized tax consulting firm.

Site Visit | San Francisco: Conservatory of Flowers

Brick & Wonder Pro and Council members are invited to a private tour of the Conservatory of Flowers at Golden Gate Park.

Set in a landmark building — the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America — the Conservatory of Flowers inspires awe and fascination with its rare and exotic plant collection.

Roundtable New York: Building People, Building Teams

How to you ensure your employees are on a continuous growth curve that shows you are invested in their career and professional success?

How to you motivate and reward employees who provide training, skill development and coaching to junior team members?

In this Roundtable, we’ll discuss strategies and insights for internal workforce training and development.

Roundtable London: Hiring & Firing

Whether hiring for growth, for a niche skillset, for diversity, or for a new strategic initiative, the process can be time-consuming and even overwhelming.

For small businesses (and especially for service providers) knowing the right time to hire, and making time to get the process right is a difficult balancing act, but one that has the potential to yield transformative results over time.

In this discussion, we’ll hear from our seasoned co-leaders as they share insights gleaned across hiring markets and different geographies, with companies big and small. We’ll reveal some of the common pitfalls with recruitment (and firing), and some of the tools and techniques that can accelerate the processes and improve outcomes.

Roundtable New York: Joy

Joy can often lead to better project outcomes, and it can certainly lead to a more satisfying work process. It’s alternative, a joyless slog up an unscalable mountain, seldom leads to lasting success.

In this roundtable, titled Joy, we will explore the role of joy in creating highly-motivated teams and successful projects.

We’ll discuss strategies and insights for fostering a supportive, inclusive, and positive workplace, and the role of leadership in setting the tone for a joyful work environment.

Roundtable San Francisco: Hiring & Firing

Whether hiring for growth, for a niche skillset, for diversity, or for a new strategic initiative, the process can be time-consuming and even overwhelming.

For small businesses (and especially for service providers) knowing the right time to hire, and making time to get the process right is a difficult balancing act, but one that has the potential to yield transformative results over time.

In this discussion, we’ll hear from our seasoned co-leaders as they share insights gleaned across hiring markets and different geographies, with companies big and small. We’ll reveal some of the common pitfalls with recruitment (and firing), and some of the tools and techniques that can accelerate the processes and improve outcomes.

Roundtable Austin: Hiring & Firing

Whether hiring for growth, for a niche skillset, for diversity, or for a new strategic initiative, the process can be time-consuming and even overwhelming.

For small businesses (and especially for service providers) knowing the right time to hire, and making time to get the process right is a difficult balancing act, but one that has the potential to yield transformative results over time.

In this discussion, we’ll hear from our seasoned co-leaders as they share insights gleaned across hiring markets and different geographies, with companies big and small. We’ll reveal some of the common pitfalls with recruitment (and firing), and some of the tools and techniques that can accelerate the processes and improve outcomes.

Workshop: How To Build Your Brand on LinkedIn

We’re pleased to welcome all Brick & Wonder members and select guests to join this online workshop focused on building your brand on LinkedIn.

The session will be hosted by Brick & Wonder Member Andrew Schenkel, the Founder and CEO of Double Play, a client service company where marketing meets sales.

With 11% of the population and 137 million US users on the platform daily, LinkedIn is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. By attending this workshop you’ll gain practical tips and actionable strategies that can be implemented to maximize your brand’s LinkedIn presence.

Professional Portrait Day

New Year, New Headshot!

In January, we invite Brick & Wonder Pro & Council members to join us as we offer a day of complimentary headshot photo sessions with the talented portrait photographer Harry Zernike.

This is the perfect opportunity to update your professional image for your website, portfolios, social media, and more.