Author Archive | David Fauss

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 […]

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. […]

Nuclear Verdicts: Part 2

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 20, 2020

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

Face it, some trials are bad, there is liability, there are real damages. Evaluating those honestly and without bias is what we, as trial consultants, help our clients accomplish. And, that said, the other issue in mock jury research when we work for the defense is that the plaintiff’s argument, when presented during the mock […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 20, 2020

Over the years, I have heard some interesting remarks from defense attorneys and insurance adjusters following their observations of mock juries deliberating on their case. One client, who is a defense attorney but who was, for reasons unknown to me, hired to represent numerous plaintiffs in a billion dollar class action case, told me that […]

Melissa the Drill Sgt.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 18, 2020

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

Among my family members and friends, I am usually the quietest, most introverted, person in the room. I do not enjoy idle chit chat as a way of passing the time, nor do I enjoy telling (not to mention listening to!) long winded stories with off the point digressions. When I have something to say, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 18, 2020

The “Melissa as drill sergeant” is one of the most lasting stories in the history of Magnus. Henry Latimer was such a gentleman, but he was tough. As a former Marine, and former judge, he was a master of handling difficult cases and clients. He quickly became a favorite of ours and was a pleasure […]

Nuclear Verdicts: Part 1

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 13, 2020

Boom – the verdict is in and it is explosive, shocking everyone involved. These verdicts are referred to “nuclear verdicts,” with the implication that they are both large and unreasonable. I read about this phenomenon regularly. It is a trend that frightens one side of the “v.” – the defense side, and emboldens the other […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 13, 2020

When David and I founded Magnus in 1993, we used a slogan in our marketing materials, “Reducing Uncertainty.” We know, based on our experience in conducting mock trials, focus groups, and attitude surveys, that our research results provide our clients with information about which they would have never known without our help. Knowing this information […]

Morning Walks

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 6, 2020

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Mental Health, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Work-Life

In an effort to get a bit of exercise, Melissa and I take frequent walks through our neighborhood. It is a great neighborhood for walking and we have several routine routes. I’ll share a secret, because of these walks, our arrival at the office is later than our official start time of 9:00 a.m. I’m […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 6, 2020

As David and I have written on numerous occasions, owning a small business requires working more than 40 hours a week. In fact, David and I are rarely completely off work. On the other hand, we have almost complete control over our schedules and the flexibility to work from home, from a hotel room, or […]

Rodney & June

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 30, 2020

Category: Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Travel

I’m surprised at myself for not writing about Rodney and June Higgs before now. My story with the Higgs shows that a chance meeting can create lifelong connections. In February, 1985, I left the USA for what would turn out to be a 13 month, 8 country, adventure. I was awarded a Rotary Foundation Scholarship […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 30, 2020

Category: Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Travel

David’s meeting Rodney and June Higgs was due to a wonderful set of circumstances, some of which were due to David’s intelligence and personality and others of which were due to serendipitous events. David’s intelligence led him to graduate from college with honors, which then led him to earn a scholarship to attend one of […]

Speak Up

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 23, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Work-Life

Melissa and I recently had an experience that reinforced the value of speaking up. You might benefit from our experience. We’re members of a wine club which includes monthly wine tasting opportunities. Due to the COVID-19 shutdown, the tastings were suspended, but we’re still paying for them, thus, the club came up with a scheme […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 23, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Work-Life

David almost always speaks up. He has been speaking up about things for a long time. He told me about speaking up, in the form of challenging one of his teachers about unfair test grading, when he was a child. David often speaks up, not only on his behalf, but on the behalf of other […]

Sharing Connections – Referrals

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 16, 2020

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

Yesterday I spent a few minutes to make a connection for someone else. She doesn’t know I did it, but maybe one day she will. As I did it, which involved sending an email on her behalf, I thought about the act of doing so. Sharing a connection, making a referral, whether solicited or unsolicited, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 16, 2020

David frequently goes out of his way to help people. In fact, that is one of the reasons I have always liked him! He helped my mother more than most people in my family, usually, without much appreciation from anyone (including her). David and I share a “calling” to help people. I was always taught […]

Train the old dog

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 9, 2020

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

The last 3 months of pandemic restrictions have caused many of us to learn new tricks. I have thought many times of the adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Either that is wrong, or many of us aren’t really old, or aren’t really dogs. I’ve spoken with many people, not dogs, in […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 9, 2020

Many people are more comfortable doing things the way they have always done them. These types of people usually prefer routine over novelty. For example, they order the same food every time they go to a restaurant; they return to the same place repeatedly when they go on an outing, such as to the beach, […]

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Author Archive | David Fauss

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.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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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.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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