Author Archive | Melissa Pigott

Social Psych = Groups = Juries

Over the years, many people have asked me what makes me qualified to work as a jury/trial consultant. I explain that I have a Ph.D. in social psychology, which is the scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by other people and situations. Social thinking, social influence, and social behavior are […]

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I have certainly learned a lot about social psychology, by osmosis and directly from Melissa, as well as in a graduate course, taken before I had any intent of working in the trial consulting world, that helped me more than I knew it would.  It is interesting to explain the principles of psychological science to […]

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Our “U.N.” of shopkeepers

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 29, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Travel, Work-Life

A cousin of mine recently asked me if I missed living in our hometown, Fort Myers, Florida. I answered that, although Fort Myers will always be my hometown, it has not been my home since I left for college in 1976. She seemed surprised, then she said, “Well, you lived in the same house for […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 29, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Travel, Work-Life

Variety is the spice of life.  And, the melting pot of south Florida is full of spice.  There are fewer native Floridians in Florida than ever with residents from all over the country and world.  Who can blame them?  The snow birds from Canada and New York are one thing, and many are seasonal.  But, […]

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Having Anyone over for Dinner is an Event

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 22, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Work-Life

David and I have hosted lots of parties, including dinner parties. Most of our guests think we are excellent hosts and they compliment us on our menu choices, meal preparation, and presentation. Even when we have guest for a simple meal of hamburgers cooked on the grill, we try to make it a special occasion […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 22, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Work-Life

As we are now catching up on years of missed television in the form of Downton Abbey, I will start by saying our dinners are not like theirs!  First of all, none of our parties require formal dress, butlers, footmen, or maids.  Despite our usual casual attire, Melissa typically has a razor sharp focus on […]

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Grace Under Pressure

What does it mean to have grace under pressure? Grace under pressure can mean several things to people, but to me, it means having a calm demeanor and an overall presence of mind in a stressful or highly demanding situation. My job as a trial/jury consultant is stressful. I often remark to people who are […]

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“Grace Under Pressure” is the title of the 10th album, a 1984 release, by RUSH.  The readers of these posts know that RUSH is my favorite band.  Though there is no song on the album entitled “grace under pressure,” the album had many references to being under pressure, especially in terms of the Cold War […]

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Have Something to Live for

Have something to live for. It doesn’t matter what it is; having a goal or an event to look forward to is enough to keep most people moving ahead, even in times of strife. For some people, the anticipation of their next golf game among friends brings happy thoughts until game day happens. For other […]

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Having an interest in something or some things that challenge one, or are intrinsically rewarding, is not as difficult to do as perhaps, saving the world from polio or malaria (goals of the Gates Foundation).  But, having interests, an outlet for mind and body, is a positive thing.  I recently had someone, for whom English […]

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Things Easy for You Are Real Hard for Me

As anyone who knows me soon realizes, I am not a “normal person.” I never have been and I never will be. My mom used to marvel that, despite the many differences between people my age and me, I had the ability to make, and keep, friends. I have usually been accepted by people who […]

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I think sometimes about how the life Melissa and I share personally and professionally is built on trade offs of strengths and weaknesses.  Long ago, a client/friend remarked “David must be here to carry Melissa’s luggage.”  We were attending a conference where she was speaking, and this client/friend had invited her to speak.  He was […]

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Things Hard for You Are Easy for Me

Everyone is different from everyone else. Some people find it easy to do certain things, while other people have to work hard to accomplish a particular task, and others can’t do it at all. It just depends. I perform high level work, in a challenging occupation, that most people cannot do, while some people who […]

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I remember my mother quoting an elderly neighbor, who became a good friend of hers, saying “Mrs. Beach says, isn’t it good we are not all alike, life would be so boring.”  Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and it is the combination of peoples’ strengths that move society forward, if not as a whole, in […]

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Letter from the Internal Revenue Service – Yikes!

No small business owner likes to receive a letter from the Internal Revenue Service – trust me. Such letters inspire dread. Though they occasionally include a good surprise, such as a refund of an over payment, more often they are “not good.” Melissa and I recently received such a letter informing us that, because we […]

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There must be some nice, friendly, helpful people who are employed by the IRS.  Statistically speaking, there has to be some percentage of IRS employees who are customer oriented. It just isn’t possible for everyone who works at the IRS, or even the majority, to be rude, condescending, and generally speaking, unhelpful to its clients, […]

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When You Notice Something Nice, Say So

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 18, 2022

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

Many people’s mothers, mine included, endorsed the premise, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” I’m not sure I agree with this notion 100%, but this post concerns the opposite situation, that is, saying something nice whenever it is possible to do so. I like to make people’s day a […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 18, 2022

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

One of my nieces recently took a job at a large retailer where she monitors the self service check out.  One comment relayed to my by her dad, my brother, is that she finds people less engaging in that environment.  Indeed, when I use self checkout, it seems more “sterile” and less customer friendly than […]

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It’s Later Than You Think. Yes it Is!

Some time ago, David and I wrote a post about something my mom used to say, “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.”(https://magnusinsights.com/2019/03/its-later-than-you-think/) This post is a follow up and serves as a reminder that it really IS later than you think. And, for that matter, it really is later than I think too! A […]

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