Archive | Business personalities

Do the Right Thing

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 23, 2019

Category: Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Partnerships, Work-Life

Do the right thing. It seems both easy and obvious, but it has been my experience that doing the right thing is, for many people, neither easy nor obvious. David and I have recently experienced the passing of several people we know. One person was a dear friend for many years; one was the step-father […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 23, 2019

Category: Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Partnerships, Work-Life

I find it surprising that doing the right thing doesn’t come naturally to everyone. This surprise makes me realize that my parents taught some fundamental concepts to my brothers and me which transcend many situations. The right things Melissa described just seemed “necessary” to us – we did them knowing that the thing we did […]

The day after a research day is not a holiday

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 9, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Travel, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Research, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Conducting mock jury or focus group research is hard work. I am the first to admit this. After working as a jury/trial consultant for 30 years, I know everyone who works with Magnus does a great job, for long hours, in difficult environments, with demanding clients. I get it. I really do. I am right […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 9, 2019

It is interesting, and often frustrating, working with new hires whose perspectives on work have been formed in less demanding environments, if they have even worked in a professional environment. The day(s) after research are critical for assimilating the data collected, the videos uploaded, and addressing client concerns which emerged on the research day. As […]

Travel to maximize office/work time

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 2, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Travel, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

The late Wayne Huizenga, who founded several major corporations and owned several professional sports teams, was quoted in a news article many years ago as endorsing the view that he and his employees traveled on business during the time most people are home, spending time with their families. For Mr. Huizenga, it was more important […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 2, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Travel, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

There is certainly a balance in scheduling work and work travel to meet the clients’ needs. Without imposing on our employees’ personal time or incurring too much expense related to overtime work, the clients’ needs must come first. And, one thing, I suspect, is not taught at law school is that the life of a […]

It’s all Marketing

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 27, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success

I will admit, I probably have a bias. Both my undergraduate and graduate business degrees had a strong emphasis on marketing. Therefore, in the context of operating a small business, I am cognizant of details that create impressions. As a result, it seems to me that almost everything done in a business is marketing. The […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 27, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success

David is right. It’s all marketing. From the manner in which the telephone is answered, to the style of written communication used in an email, to the attire worn in the courtroom (or research facility, during a mock trial), to a brochure, to a website, to the report of research findings prepared for a client, […]

Dress for Success

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 25, 2019

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees

In the 1980s, “Dress for Success” was in vogue for people (although, it seems, primarily women) who wanted to achieve status in the world of business. There were books about how to dress for success, as well as seminars and other related products. My (then) employer enrolled me, along with other female executives, in a […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 25, 2019

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees

Reflecting on the attire of past job candidates who showed their inability to dress for success at their interviews is telling. There was the heavyset young man who showed up for his job interview wearing a shirt (partly untucked), tie and dress slacks, sweating profusely. Okay, it is Florida, and it was hot, but the […]

Have Brain-Will Travel

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 18, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

“Have Gun-Will Travel” was a Western radio and TV series starring Richard Boone that was broadcast from 1957 to 1963. The lead character was named Paladin; he was a gunfighter who traveled around the old west while working for people who needed his help solving their problems. Paladin charged a lot of money for his […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 18, 2019

Many jobs require a lot of “stuff.” The tools of many professions such as Melissa’s, however, require a sharp, focused mind, and little else. A pen and paper for note taking are probably the minimum in these occupations. However, despite the fact that Magnus is essentially paid for brainpower, certain aspects of the work we […]

Can Do

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 11, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees

“Can Do” is one of my mantras. I adopted it from Claudia Taylor Johnson, more commonly known as “Lady Bird” Johnson, the wife of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Lady Bird Johnson was our First Lady from 1963 to 1969. On her desk was a paperweight with the “Can Do” motto on it, to signify that […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 11, 2019

It is refreshing when the can do attitude is demonstrated by a stranger, a store clerk, a server in a restaurant, and of course, an employee. I was once complimented by a customer to whom I was selling a camera in a retail setting. I didn’t think I was doing anything special, but he noticed, […]

Small Business Ownership: Always On

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 23, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

One of the things I do when writing a blog post is to categorize it so that one can search for similar topics on our website. The list of categories has grown over time but has always included #WorkLife. Work Life is usually followed by “balance” as in work/life balance, meaning how to manage one’s […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 23, 2019

Owning a small business is not for the faint of heart. Owning a small business with one’s spouse is only for the heartiest of individuals. David and I are fortunate, in that our jobs within our company do not overlap. David has expertise in many areas, such as business management, finances, accounting, etc. that I […]

Talk to the mailman – he could be a Beatles fan

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 21, 2019

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research

Magnus has been headquartered in the same office since 1996. Over the years, we have had a variety of letter carriers, including some who were very nice and others, who were not so nice. I rarely see the letter carrier, due to the location of my office out of sight of our office’s entrance. Once […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 21, 2019

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research

It is easy in life to overlook others as we go about our daily business. But, one never knows where they will meet a friend or make a useful connection. Perhaps with the mailman, or the landscapers, or any other similar service provider, it is easy to ignore them as we go about being busy. […]

Dr. Susan Broome

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 7, 2019

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Behavior, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I am a social psychologist who, for the past 30 years, has been employed as a trial/jury consultant. Along the way and across the years, I have worked with many people, including several colleagues who have become long term friends. One of the most influential colleagues with whom I have ever worked is Dr. Susan […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 7, 2019

Some people in life teach you things they don’t even appreciate they are teaching. Sometimes this is done by example. Melissa observed that Susan purchased bouquets of fresh flowers each week, which brought some color to her home in the dreary winter world of Boston. Melissa started doing this when we lived in Atlanta, which […]

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Archive | Business personalities

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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