Archive | Magnus Insights

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 […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 23, 2022

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 […]

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 […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 21, 2022

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, […]

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 16, 2022

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

“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” is a phrase used to suggest one should relax, chill out, and not worry about the little things, things which sometime seem out of one’s control. Well, that’s great. But, our “day job” as trial consultants doesn’t allow it. Neither does my prior advocation, photography. For example, when photographing people […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 16, 2022

This topic, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” came up recently during a slightly heated debate David and I were having about the proper way to prepare something we were having for dinner. (As the reader might imagine, David and I have many debates, some over trivial matters, on an almost daily basis.) I don’t recall […]

Are They Paying Attention?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 9, 2022

Category: Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

My post about whether the mock jurors take it seriously reminded me of another aspect of this client related surprise. Watching a group of people, mock jurors, listen to the case arguments in a mock trial can sometimes be misleading. Some mock jurors are clearly engaged, others have their eyes closed, others are frantically taking […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 9, 2022

Category: Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Similar to some attorneys’ concern about whether the mock jurors take their participation seriously is their concern about whether the mock jurors are paying attention. And, just as it pertains to the issue of the mock jurors taking the case, and their participation, seriously, I have found that most of them pay attention. There is […]

If You Won’t Practice, Don’t Bother Learning

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 7, 2022

Category: Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Mental Health, Partnerships, Psychology, RoadWarrior, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

As I mentioned in my previous post, “practice makes perfect,” my childhood piano teacher, Corella Johnson, insisted that all her piano and organ students practice their instrument(s) at least 30 minutes a day. The first thing she did at every lesson was ask her students to play the piece of music they were learning, so […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 7, 2022

Childhood music lessons didn’t work well for me. I tried guitar and piano but found I’d much rather go fishing or tromp through the woods than hone those skills. Perhaps it was also because my early music lessons focused too much on fundamentals, rather than playing a song, these music experiences were not attractive to […]

Do They Always Take it Seriously?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 2, 2022

Category: Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

A client, who had never observed a Magnus mock trial, asked the question which is the title of this post during a recent mock trial. The “they” is the mock jurors. The “it” is the case. The answer is YES! The rest of the story is that, despite the mock jurors knowing they are only […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 2, 2022

Category: Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

It is difficult for new clients to understand the seriousness with which most of Magnus’ mock jurors conduct themselves during mock jury research. Everyone who attends a mock jury, of course, knows they are part of a research exercise, thus, the word “mock” precedes the word “jury.” Not only do the attorneys recognize we are […]

Practice Makes Perfect

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 31, 2022

Practice makes perfect. How many times have we heard this phrase? I have heard it too many times to count! I started playing the piano when I was 6 years old. I started playing the organ when I was 11. My piano and organ teacher was a wonderful friend and neighbor, Corella Johnson, who had […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 31, 2022

I can attest to Melissa’s commitment to practice. She takes it seriously and is religious about it, as long as her “day job” doesn’t interfere. But practice gets a bad rap, that is a bad name. Melissa’s practice time is often better characterized as “playing” as in “playing the bass.” Practice seems repetitive and punitive. […]

The Problem With This Case is the Client.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 26, 2022

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

An attorney client of ours recently told Melissa that his client is a problem. He said, “the problem with this case is my client.” He was pretty direct, but we’ve heard this, or some variation thereof, countless times. In this case, the client is wealthy (and accustomed to getting his way as a result). He’s […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 26, 2022

I often wonder if “problem clients” know their attorney considers them to be a problem. Or, are they demanding, arrogant, and self centered to the point they have no idea of the impact they have on other people? Many times, the end client (defined as one of the primary parties in the lawsuit, that is, […]

Magnus’ Women Power

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 24, 2022

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

In the almost 30 years that David and I have co-owned Magnus Research Consultants, we have employed many people of both sexes. We have had several long term employees, 2 of whom are men and 2 of whom are women. In addition, there have been 3 women who are former Magnus employees who have gone […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 24, 2022

On the day I started writing this post, Melissa was wearing a pink t-shirt that said “Pretty Good for a Girl.” I bought it for her at a Mindi Abair jazz concert. Mindi has a song by that title because it is a phrase she’s heard many times over her career. She decided to embrace […]

Old School Tech

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 19, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

I recently read an article about the executive director of a professional association who uses an IBM typewriter to send notes to members. He said he liked using a typewriter to personalize the notes. I thought it was pretty cool to use old school technology so effectively. I could never afford an IBM typewriter, those […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 19, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

David and I have written about our fondness for “old school” things in several previous posts. Although I never owned a typewriter, nor am I a good typist, I appreciate David’s fondness for his trusty old typewriter. It comes in handy when he makes labels for files in our personal filing cabinet. I remember David’s […]

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Archive | Magnus Insights

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

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

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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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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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

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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