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Con Mucho Gusto

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 16, 2022

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology, Travel

David and I have written in previous posts about one of our pet peeves, replying to “thank you” with “no problem.” We always get a little miffed when someone says “no problem” because we don’t think there is a need to mention any sort of problem when someone is being thanked for doing something. I […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 16, 2022

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology, Travel

I do not speak Spanish.  Living in south Florida all these years has not been enough for me to learn more than some basics and I depend on Melissa when we find ourselves in Spanish speaking countries, or places.  But, it didn’t take me long to catch on in Costa Rica that the locals, Ticos […]

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Share The Positives

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 21, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I observed Melissa do something today that is worth comment. She complimented our clients for the professional and supportive ways they have worked with us, and as a team, to prepare for a jury research project. The clients seemed taken aback to hear a compliment, and they were surprised their behavior was noteworthy. It is […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 21, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I believe in giving credit where and when credit is due.  When I notice something good, I usually say something about it.  In fact, I try, diligently, to compliment people and situations more than I complain.  I have found complaining rarely results in positive attitude or behavior change.  (If you don’t believe me, ask yourself […]

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Modern Communications

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 23, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

Writing this post in mid 2022, I want to comment on modern communications technologies. Especially due to the pandemic, the “modern” technologies of cellular telephones and virtual meetings (Zoom, etc.) have become more common in the world of business. This is for better or worse, depending on point of view. These technologies are great because […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 23, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

David spends significantly more time talking on the telephone than I do, but I share his frustrations.  The poor quality of some people’s internet connections make it difficult to have a meaningful telephone conversation.  This is compounded when the conversation is via a platform, such as Zoom, that includes both audio and video components.  Constant reminders […]

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Zenobia

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 21, 2022

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Psychology, RoadWarrior, Small Business Success, Travel, Work-Life

Recently, a long time friend of my family’s, Woody Hanson, posted an old photo on a social media site that brought back fond memories. The photo was of Zenobia King Hill, the owner of a modeling school in my hometown of Fort Myers, Florida. Zenobia was from Alabama; she attended the famous John Robert Powers […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 21, 2022

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Psychology, RoadWarrior, Small Business Success, Travel, Work-Life

I’ve heard many stories about Zenobia over the years, but it was not until I saw the photo Melissa referenced, with the description, that I actually knew how her name was spelled.   Melissa, as well as some of her friends, have spoken fondly of Zenobia over the years.  I’ve heard about the life skills learned, […]

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If You Don’t Have a Ph.D In Psychology Don’t Presume to Understand Human Nature

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 3, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Behavior, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I have written about the phenomenon of people who have no education, training, or expertise in psychology who think they know as much about human behavior as I, a psychologist, know. I am frequently asked for my opinion about someone or something, only to be told, “Well, I don’t have a degree in psychology, but […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 3, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Behavior, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Knowing what you don’t know or knowing that you don’t know are important skills for getting through a career, or life.  An economics professor once pointed this out to me when I remarked that I felt, despite having earned highest grade on a test in his class, there was so much I didn’t know about […]

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Take Names

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 31, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

I’m not sure when or why I learned to “take names,” but doing so has served me well. By “taking names,” I mean making a note of the name of the person on the other end of the phone line, or maybe in person, for example, a store manager. Whether it is in the context […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 31, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

Learning people’s names is an important skill that often takes time and effort to develop.  When selecting a jury, for example, attorneys are required to address each prospective juror by name so that the court reporter can ensure the permanent record of the trial is accurate.  The attorneys are required to address each potential juror […]

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No Headphones in Office

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 17, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

I’m catching up on some topics I came up with years ago. I came across this one regarding the use of headphones during work hours. We haven’t had much of a problem with this, but when we did, it was one of those things that caught me off guard. The fact that someone would be […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 17, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

No headphones in the office!  No ear buds in the office!  No music in the office!  No, no, and no.  I love music, as almost everyone who knows me is aware.  I love music played loudly.  Turn it up!  But, when I am working, I require absolute, or near absolute, silence.  I need to concentrate.  […]

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Those little annoyances

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 18, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Mental Health, Partnerships, Small Business Success

Someone told me long ago that he lacked the personality characteristic to be able to tolerate performing mundane tasks, including dealing with automated telephone systems; working out problems with a bank; balancing a checkbook; etc. I share this absence of the personality trait that obviously includes having patience to handle being placed on hold for […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 18, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Mental Health, Partnerships, Small Business Success

It’s not easy being OK to Handle.  I think we’ve written about that story before.  But, in the recent example, I was dealing with one of our banks.  I don’t enjoy that kind of experience, but I know I can get through it; I have to.  Melissa could not.  I just have to persevere.  This […]

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You May Be Kidding, But I’m Not

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 7, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

This is the second post about Magnus’ unfortunate experience with the nasty mock juror who was sent home after he threatened one of my employees. Sadly, this sort of thing has happened before. Sadder still, I expect it to happen again some day. In every instance Magnus has had in which a mock juror threatens […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 7, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Racial discrimination, bullying, or other abuses are certainly not something to kid about.  More than ever, this is true and employers must be vigilant in ensuring that zero tolerance is the only option.  Within an employer’s environment there are probably different ways of handling these issues, but our environment is unique.  We have to “have […]

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Elegantly Forceful

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 30, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Magnus Research Consultants recently worked in Miami, where we have worked numerous times throughout the decades we have been in business. Most of the time when we are conducting mock jury research, the research participants/mock jurors are respectful toward one another, the Magnus staff, and me. Once in a while, however, one or more of […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 30, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Elegantly forceful is a great description and a smart way of handling a difficult, tense situation, ESPECIALLY when all eyes are on you.  When clients are involved, the stakes are much higher still.  The way this mock juror was handled set the tone for the entire group.  Yelling, screaming, cursing, as we’ve observed some trial […]

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