Author Archive | David Fauss

Shop price – Employees probably won’t

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 25, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Travel

Having run my own photography business, mostly by myself, I co-founded Magnus with one of my roles being managing the business and staff on administrative tasks. This includes shopping to buy everything from computers, video cameras, to pens and paper. We ran Magnus without employees for a couple of years and I knew the price […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 25, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Travel

It is a fact of owning a small business that some employees “get it” and some do not. When it comes to buying things, I always remind Magnus’ employees to look around at everything in the office. Everything, that is 100% of what they see, was bought by David and me. There is nothing, absolutely […]

Think before you speak.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 19, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

Think before you speak. This is an old adage that resonates loudly when managing employees. Two examples of the failure of employees have haunted us for years. The first was with our first employee. She was caught off guard when an attorney/client asked her, after discussing Melissa’s academic background with Melissa, “What’s your background?” Mindlessly, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 19, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

I suppose there is a time in many girls’ and women’s lives when they dream of becoming a princess. Unfortunately, however, few people ever realize their princess dream, such that, at some point, they are living in a fantasy world if they persist in their search for Prince Charming. (As an aside, I have met […]

Apologize, take ownership, fix it – say I’m sorry

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 12, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Mistakes happen. In our trial consulting work, some of the tasks employees must undertake are technical and sometimes difficult. Some tasks are more routine, but nonetheless, due to inexperience, careless work efforts, or for reasons beyond anyone’s control, mistakes happen. That is a given. But, how employees react when informed about the problem varies tremendously. […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 12, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

When did apologies cease to exist? And, by “apology,” I don’t mean saying “Sorry” instead of “Excuse me” when bumping into someone in the grocery store. When referring to apologies, I mean owning up to one’s mistake, taking positive steps to ensure it is corrected, and being proactive in ensuring the mistake will never happen […]

Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 5, 2015

Category: Careers, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

The person about whom this blog is written has been an important part of my life since I started college at Jacksonville University in 1979. Her name is Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne. As a clueless college freshman, registering for classes, I first met her when she was working the registration lines which were hung up […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 5, 2015

Category: Careers, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

Some time ago, I wrote a post about two people I have met whom I believe to be self actualized. One of these people is Dr. Fran Kinne. At the time of this writing, although women have come a long way in terms of gender equality, it is still a “man’s world.” This recognition makes […]

“I cry when something bad happens.” Really?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 29, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees

We have long asked prospective employees what they do when they encounter a work crisis, when something goes drastically wrong, and when the pressure is on them to fix it. Some candidates report that they have never faced a crisis; these candidates are mostly those who are interviewing for their first job. Most of us […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 29, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees

As regular readers of David’s and my posts certainly know, David’s favorite band is RUSH. There is an album, released by RUSH in 1984, entitled “Grace Under Pressure.” This expression, having grace under pressure, is something that is required of everyone who works for Magnus. Inevitably, during a mock trial or other research day, something […]

Quittin’ time

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 22, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Work-Life

When working in the office, that is, when we are not working a “research day” conducting a mock trial or focus group, we work “normal” hours – 8 hour days. For a time, we had employees who only worked in the office and those who also worked in the field. It became apparent after a […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 22, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Work-Life

Quitting time is, in my world, not a time of day but a time that depends on the amount of work to be done. If work remains to be completed after “the end of business,” “closing time,” or any other pre-defined hour, then I finish it. Furthermore, I expect my employees to finish their work, […]

Who really pays your pay check?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 15, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting

Employees work for that regular paycheck they receive weekly, biweekly, or on some other pre-determined schedule. They earn it, they deserve it, but clearly some do not understand how it ends up in their hands (or bank). Yes, the check has the company’s name on it, and in small companies like Magnus, I usually hand […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 15, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting

I have been working for a living since the age of 15. I learned, early in life, that money does not grow on trees and that, at least in my case, it results from hard work. Unlike some of Magnus’ employees, when I worked for other people prior to co-owning my own business, I realized […]

Working like a Dog

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 8, 2015

Category: Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Work-Life

Recently I posted about our star employee. She came to us as an “employee with benefits.” The benefit is her best buddy, Willy the Schnoodle. Our office environment is casual, but we have never had an office pet. We thought we’d try it. Willy keeps his own schedule; he does not work 40 hour weeks. […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 8, 2015

Category: Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Work-Life

Giving credit where credit is due, “working like a dog” is part of the lyrics to a song called “Hard Day’s Night” written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The first line in the song is, “It’s been a hard day’s night and I’ve been working like a dog.” Since 1964, when the song, album, […]

Peer Reviewed Publications as a Measure of Credentials

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 1, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting

I have written about the challenge in knowing how to select a trial consultant. This is a topic which causes frustrations because there are more and more trial consultants all the time and the qualifications vary from qualified to clearly, not at all qualified. But, while this is apparent to me, it is often not […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 1, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting

Peer review is one of the hallmarks of any scientific endeavor. In scientific and other academic circles, it is not enough to write an article or book. A scientist has to go beyond merely forming a hypothesis, designing research, conducting research, analyzing data, and writing a report of the findings; a scientist’s original work has […]

The Pearl

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 17, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

It is great thing to find a gem, actually, a pearl, of an employee. Our most recent hire came as a referral from a trusted source, her father. I’ve known him for well over 20 years as our business and personal accountant and friend. Along the way, Melissa and I met his family, including his […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 17, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

The title of this post is “The Pearl” because pearl is the meaning of our wonderful employee’s name. In every way possible, she fits her name; she is truly a pearl, a gem, of a person! Interestingly, as with another of our best employees, she applied for a job with Magnus at a time we […]

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Author Archive | David Fauss

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.

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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