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.

Learning New Tricks

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 11, 2020

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

As I write this, it has been just over a month since the world’s doors slammed shut. Or, at least the doors in the U.S.A, or at least, in Florida. Well, more or less shut – it changes day by day. As we’ve posted and will continue to do a few more times, COVID-19 has […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 11, 2020

I mentioned to a friend of mine, who is a retired attorney and, prior to retiring, was a long time client of Magnus’, that David and I are in the process of re-inventing ourselves, and Magnus, in this time of social isolation. He remarked that it seems a shame for me to have spent my […]

Working in Changing Times

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 9, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

The times, they are a-changin’” said Bob Dylan, in a song of the same name. Oh yes, the times are certainly changing! The times are changing in ways most people could never have imagined. And, the times are changing whether we like it or not. At this point in my long career, I have suddenly […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 9, 2020

Dylan may have sung that times were changing, but I’d suggest now, that things have changed. Forever. In some ways, there is no going back. Hopefully, lessons we are learning now will make a difference going forward. A big lesson is that invisible threats like viruses are more lethal than most any weapon of war […]

Lost Productivity from a Disaster

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 4, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

Everyone has to find a way through disasters. Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, these are some of the usual suspects. In 2020, it is a pandemic. I’m writing this in part just to vent about all of the extra work required to get through such things. We at Magnus have been through it multiple times with hurricanes. […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 4, 2020

In the month since the world closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Magnus, like almost every business worldwide, has been negatively impacted in ways I would never have imagined. Although we are certainly “all in this together,” I am finding that most people with whom I am in contact are focused on the […]

Four Types of People During Crises

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 2, 2020

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Work-Life

Since the beginning of the isolation era mandated by COVID-19, the America Psychological Association (APA) has been sending daily emails to its members, including me. I have read all of them and although many of them do not apply to me, due to the fact they concern how to provide psychological therapy to patients via […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 2, 2020

I think the pressures of COVID-19 have shown cracks in our societies in ways never before seen. Whether in the political leaders who were “caught with their pants down,” or the fringe members of the public who are, on the one side, out in force with guns exposed demanding the freedom to die, or, on […]

Working Remote – Transparency

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 28, 2020

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

In this time of forced social distancing, with many people working remotely from home or on quarantine, I have been using some of my time to make calls or otherwise contact clients about outstanding proposals, etc. I always have a stack of people to call upon, so I’ve been reaching out. The results of these […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 28, 2020

One of my favorite “gate keeper” responses, when I ask to speak with one of Magnus’ clients (including returning his/her call) is “Please hold. Let me see if he wants to take your call.” Wow! Talk about a put down! That kind of response makes me wish I never called. Far better to say “Please […]

Loners Like Alone Time

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 26, 2020

Category: Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Some people live alone due to circumstances in their life, for example, the death of a spouse, divorce, being a single parent when the last child moves out of the house, etc. Other people truly like to be alone. George Harrison’s first song, written in 1963, was titled “Don’t Bother Me” and famously contains the […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 26, 2020

In the current time of forced social distancing, it seems that some people have quickly become more distant than others. I think of friends who live alone and who, most of the time are happy or comfortable with it. But, forced isolation for many people has become more constricting. Under “normal” or at least usual, […]

Wellness Checks

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 21, 2020

Wellness checks is something normally thought about to only involve the “homebound” or the elderly, the sick, and the frail. Well, we’re all homebound now, in some way or another, and, while we may or may not be sick, elderly, or frail, we are cloistered in abnormal ways. Quarantine, sequestration, call it what you will, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 21, 2020

I am writing this post approximately one month into our social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and solitary confinement situations. I am a person who has a lot of friends, but as of today, only ONE of my friends, including long time, childhood friends, has contacted me to check on my well being. (This doesn’t include people […]

Writing an Obituary

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 19, 2020

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Work-Life

In the midst of the worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19, life goes on. And, life, for some people, ends. Many people are, of course, dying from the virus but many other people are dying from other causes. It was against this backdrop of COVID-19 that I received a phone call on Monday, April 6, 2020 […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 19, 2020

I’ve not been asked to handle the task of writing an obituary, or providing a eulogy at a funeral – something Melissa has also done on more than one occasion. But, I will add to the tribute to Russ Jones. Way back when Melissa was teaching at UNF, I had a number of occasions to […]

COVID-19 By the Numbers: Part 3 – Questions

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 14, 2020

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Work-Life

The preceding posts on Fear and Hope related to COVID-19 numbers led me to this post. The numbers we are being given should raise questions. Clearly, we are not being given full information and that worsens the tremendous uncertainty of this pandemic. Following are some questions that I have. When did this virus really start? […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 14, 2020

David has a lot of questions, none of which are easily answered. I doubt we will ever know the answers to many of the questions on everyone’s minds, for example, the date on which the COVID-19 virus was first discovered. I have read countless articles about its origin, including that COVID-19 was discovered 15 years […]

Things We Can Do While Wearing a Mask

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 12, 2020

Category: Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Work-Life

Let me begin by saying I intensely dislike being told what to do. Being told what to do, as opposed to being asked what to do (the more politely, the better) has never been one of my strengths. And, when someone tells me that I have to do something for my own good, such as […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 12, 2020

It has been interesting as we have collectively adapted, some kicking and screaming, to the pandemic crisis. Masks were a later adaptation with lots of mixed messages. On one particular day, I heard the U.S. Surgeon General recommended masks and the Florida Surgeon General said they don’t help. Or, maybe it was vice versa; that […]

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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