2's Company - MagnusInsights.com

About this blog

After more than 25 years operating a trial consulting practice together as co-founding partners of Magnus Research Consultants, Inc. and Magnus Graphics, Inc., and more than 30 years of marriage, Dr. Melissa Pigott and David Fauss decided to share some of their thoughts, experiences, pet peeves, and perspectives on operating a small “mom & pop” business. The intended audience for their writings is other business owners, as well as employees of small businesses. Trial consulting is a professional service business, as was David’s photography business. There are many unique issues faced by professional service providers; Melissa and David share some of their insights on running a successful business.

Don’t let them see you panic

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 24, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

We keep a list of topics for these posts; this one was added to the list several years ago and I’m just getting around to writing about it. I preface the post with that because the incident(s) which inspired it were even longer ago and happened with former, not current, team members. The incidents usually […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 24, 2020

Over the years I have been working as a trial consultant, I have had many reasons to panic. I have also had many opportunities to observe my staff members panic. There are numerous things that can, and do, go wrong, including things over which we have no control and things that occur from mistakes, carelessness, […]

Dim Sum

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 22, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, RoadWarrior, Travel

First of all, I hope everyone who reads these posts has experienced the delightful meal known as dim sum! But, in the event the reader is unfamiliar with it, dim sum is often referred to as Hong Kong style brunch (although some restaurants serve it during evening hours). It involves small portions of delectable dumplings, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 22, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, RoadWarrior, Travel

I was introduced to dim sum by some Aussies in 1985. A group of them took me to their favorite spot in Sydney’s Chinatown. I think it was on George Street, but though Melissa and I found it on one of our trips to Sydney, I fear it is no longer there. It was an […]

Ghost Notes

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 17, 2020

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I’ve been thinking recently about how one ever demonstrates that nothing happened because something did happen. Specifically, with regard to the protests over police shootings, police abuse, etc., how does one demonstrate that new policies make a difference? The difference is noticed only when nothing happens. Undoubtedly, most police officer shootings happen because the officer […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 17, 2020

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

David’s reference to ghost notes is quite impressive! Ghost notes are important to me, as a bass player. They are place holders, serving to keep the rhythm while not making a discernable musical sound. On the thick strings of a bass guitar, ghost notes sound like a mini cymbal, leading the way to the playing […]

Bob Arnold

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 15, 2020

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Travel, Work-Life

I met Bob Arnold in 1986, relatively soon after David and I started dating. At the time I met Bob, he was a client of David’s when David was employed as a professional photographer. David was eager to introduce Bob and me, due to the fact that we are both self described “Beatles freaks.” For […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 15, 2020

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Travel, Work-Life

Back when I worked as photographer, I focused (get that) on a few types of clients. One was the corporate market; public relations departments were usually my point of contact. I was doing quite a bit of work for a large hospital, and someone new was hired in its PR department. She suggested I meet […]

Keep a wide angle on marketing

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 10, 2020

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

By now, readers of this blog know photography is a big part of my life. I got my first camera with a “normal” lens in 1978. My 2nd photography purchase, a few months later, was a wide angle lens. I love wide angle lenses and the all encompassing viewpoints they provide. I use them heavily […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 10, 2020

Within our company, Magnus Research Consultants, marketing is, clearly, David’s job. After all, he does have a college degree in marketing, as well as a master’s degree in business. I know almost nothing about business, but I do know that marketing involves some psychology, for example, finding out about what factors are important in people’s […]

We Do Our Jobs Even When Others Don’t

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 8, 2020

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

Recently, we at Magnus had what appeared, at first, to be a promising new business opportunity. This new opportunity was planned as a joint venture among 3 companies, including Magnus. Another company is a company that has been a long time vendor of ours, with the other company being known only to our vendor and […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 8, 2020

As we write this, the fallout from this experience has continued. There are some hurt feelings amongst all, especially those with whom we planned to partner. But, the underlying objective we have at Magnus is to get the job done, and get it done well. (I’d add that anything Melissa and I undertake is done […]

Strange Days

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 3, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Work-Life

Melissa is the Beatle fan(atic) in the family but I’m borrowing from the lyrics of her Fab 4 Fav, John Lennon, with this post. “Nobody told me there’d be days like these…” Nobody told us, because nobody (or well, only a few) imagined how 2020 would progress. So, here we are carrying on while the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 3, 2020

I’m thrilled to read David’s quote from a John Lennon song, “Nobody Told Me,” released posthumously in 1984 on the “Milk and Honey” album. At the time the song was written (1980), John Lennon is said to have believed the world had lost its course. John Lennon was murdered in 1980 but, had he lived […]

Wally World

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 1, 2020

Category: Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

Soon after earning my Ph. D. in social psychology, I moved to Jacksonville, Florida to work as the Director of Marketing Research at a large hospital. My duties included conducting focus groups and surveys of the various “populations” served by the hospital: patients (soon after their discharge), employees, physicians, and the general public. Surveys of […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 1, 2020

Category: Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

I remember hearing about Melissa’s trips to Wally World starting shortly after we met at the hospital. She viewed the various excursions to such places as a job perk, the chance to get out from behind her desk and go for a ride in her sports car, either her red Camaro or black Corvette (there […]

Customers: Happier when they leave

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 27, 2020

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Pie Power, Small Business Success, Sweet Delights, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

We recently visited with our friend Ms. Debbie at Sweet Delights in Homestead. During our conversation, she commented that she wants her customers to be happier when they leave than when they arrived. She has much to offer in that regard with her wonderful cakes and pies, which are truly sweet delights. Her effervescent personality […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 27, 2020

Magnus is in the trial consulting business, not the bakery business. Our clients come to us to obtain our expert assistance in solving significant problems, not because they want something sweet to eat. However, despite the vast differences between Magnus and Ms. Debbie’s company, Sweet Delights, we share a common goal: Keeping the customer satisfied. […]

Hurricanes and Jury Selections

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 25, 2020

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

Recently, residents of Florida were threatened by another hurricane. In Florida, hurricanes are as much a part of our existence as that famous mouse in Orlando. Sooner or later, we Floridians will have to stop what we are doing and prepare, whether we like it or not, whether we have something better to do, or […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 25, 2020

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

I’m writing this following another hurricane non-event. A near miss – really near, less than 100 miles. We did get some wind and rain, but we were ready. We spent a full day preparing, a “wasted” Saturday effort as it turns out, and a full day resetting everything, a “wasted” Sunday. I can only say […]

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About this blog

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.

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.

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.

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.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

About Magnus