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.

Facing Aging

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 14, 2019

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

If you are wondering what this topic of Facing Aging has to do with our trial consulting world, I’ll state right off the bat, not much. Except that, when we’re living with these issues among family and friends, it does impact our lives. It hits very close to home! And, some of the issues impact […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 14, 2019

My friends and I have reached the age when we are facing many maladies, both physical and mental. When various friends of mine lament about their ailments, I remind them that we either get older or we don’t. There are only two alternatives and one is death. With the other, getting older, there exists the […]

It’s later than you think

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 12, 2019

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

My late mother used to say, “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.” Many years ago, Magnus used to have a restroom in our office on which we wrote graffiti. We had colored markers and we invited people to write positive, uplifting messages on the bathroom walls whenever they had a creative urge. On one […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 12, 2019

I think another way this concept is captured in a phrase is “you only live once” – YOLO. Whether YOLO or going with Leola’s phrase, the point is to live life while the living is fun. There are those who save for retirement, or some target age, and may not be in good enough health […]

Growing Old is not for Sissies…

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 7, 2019

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Work-Life

The title of this post, Growing Old is not for Sissies, was a favorite saying of my grandmother, whom we called Olie (see https://magnusinsights.com/2015/02/olie/). Bette Davis is pegged as the source of this insight, sometimes reported with a variation from this exact language. But, the bottom line is clear. And, it is clear that with […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 7, 2019

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Work-Life

David and I have reached the age when we, as well as most of our friends, have succumbed to many of life’s maladies. I recently had a get together with some long time friends who regaled our group about the various ailments from which they suffered. I sat by quietly, until I could no longer […]

Tell no one what we do

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 5, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Jury Behavior, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

An oddity of my job as a jury/trial consultant is not being able to share the details of my work with family, friends, or anyone, ever. All of the cases in which Magnus consults are high stakes matters, regardless of whether they are civil or criminal trials. Everyone who is employed by Magnus, including David […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 5, 2019

In the past two weeks, news about several cases on which we have worked have appeared prominently in the news. The cases, and the results of their trials, were newsworthy. This is, no doubt, common for trial consultants and it is, admittedly, exciting to be involved in high profile or noteworthy cases. Yet, from the […]

If You Break it, Speak up!

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 28, 2019

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

When writing these posts, Melissa and I work from a list of ideas that have come to mind over time. We often do not write them, however, in the order in which they are added to the list. This post is one of those. Knock on wood, with our current staffing, the issue I’m writing […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 28, 2019

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

My mom used to enjoy browsing in antiques stores. I remember one store that had annoying little signs all around that said, “You break it, you bought it.” As annoying as those signs were to me, I learned, as a young child, not to touch anything, lest I break it, due to the fact I […]

Be ready/stay packed

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 26, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Travel, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success, Travel

I have traveled far and wide for most of my life. When I was a child, my parents and I went on numerous cross country vacations, with the 2 to 3 week road trip we took every summer being the highlight of my year. In between, we regularly traveled in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 26, 2019

Ready, set go. A great motto for road warriors or even beginning ones. Travel, for business or pleasure, is stressful enough even when using tried and true techniques to reduce the stress, such as being ready to go at all times. I’m not talking about those who have a bag with them in a car […]

Feed the Photographer

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 21, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consulting

Many years ago, my first career path was photography. I specialized in corporate media, including annual reports, public relations, event coverage, portraits, families (including a few dogs – the 4 legged kind) and I photographed quite a few weddings. Photographing a wedding is unique when compared to most of these other types of photography. But, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 21, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consulting

Let’s face it. Some people are thoughtless. Withholding food from someone is rude, slightly mean, and for some people, can be dangerous. Many of my friends are professional musicians who, like David when he worked as a professional photographer, often work while others are having fun. I have heard countless stories from my musician friends […]

“Cool” is as “Cool” does

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 19, 2019

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, 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

Several years ago, a childhood friend of mine called to ask me if I thought he was “cool” during elementary, middle, and high school. (It seems that famous, attractive, intelligent, humorous people have self doubts like everyone else.) I didn’t have to think about my answer, which was a definitive “Yes!” to which he replied, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 19, 2019

Cool should mean more than being in the “in crowd.” And, Melissa’s definitions are beyond that. Being tolerant, being understanding, celebrating things that bring joy and happiness are among other aspects of this. Standing up for others – i.e., being a “stand up person” by standing up to injustice fits here as well. Cool often […]

Leverage

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 14, 2019

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

One uses a lever to gain leverage in order to be able to move something easier than moving it without the lever. I don’t know a great deal about physics, but I get this. And, it is important to look for leverage in life, in business, and in our world, the world of litigation. There […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 14, 2019

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I have lost count of the number of times in my career when an attorney retains Magnus in order to gain leverage over his/her client regarding the value of a lawsuit. We have worked on cases for plaintiffs’ attorneys whose clients believe that, because the insurance (or other) company has the financial resources to pay […]

Crazy Courthouse Story #5 remove your jacket (but there’s nothing underneath)

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 12, 2019

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights

In this series of 5 crazy courthouse stories, I have recounted 1 funny story, 1 story that led to a great idea, and 2 scary stories, with the worst, of course, being the events of September 11, 2001. In this final post on crazy courthouse stories, I will write about another funny experience. As almost […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 12, 2019

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights

This one would have been fun to observe! I guess we’ve all encountered people going about their jobs in a mindless fashion. Clerks who don’t look up from their desks when approached, cashiers who don’t make eye contact and my (least) favorite, security personnel who are clueless automatons. I encounter the latter frequently when entering […]

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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