Author Archive | David Fauss

“Why are you here, just to carry her suitcases?”

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 13, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Work-Life

This is an expansion on the post about “When your wife’s a diva…” and was also a comment by a long time client who invited Melissa to speak at a conference of architects and engineers. It was a big conference, maybe 1000 attendees, and in a fancy, old, New Orleans landmark hotel. Our client saw […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 13, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Work-Life

I have carried my suitcases and my briefcase for a very, very long time, all across the United States, as well as many parts of the world. I don’t need anyone to help me, but I very much appreciate the help when it is offered. One of my biggest helpers, other than David, was a […]

When your wife’s a diva…

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 7, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Work-Life

Melissa and I laughed when we came up with this title/topic. It was inspired by something that is a reality in our business arrangement. She frequently lectures at meetings of lawyers, insurance adjusters, and other groups. Our “deal” is that she’ll write the speech and do the speaking, but I have to be the A/V […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 7, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Work-Life

I will begin this post by saying I am a huge fan of Mr. John Osbourne, more commonly known as Ozzy Osbourne, the former (and surprisingly), current, lead singer for Black Sabbath. Therefore, when I liken myself to Ozzy, I am, in no way whatsoever, disparaging him; rather, I am merely comparing myself to someone […]

Contingency planning

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 30, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Work-Life

The demands of a small business are such that long term or contingency planning are uncommon when compared to big businesses. However, it is critical for business owners to put some thought into contingency plans and to revise these plans periodically. We can never be prepared for every contingency, but considering the many foreseeable issues […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 30, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Work-Life

I am a planner, both a short range planner and a long range planner. I constantly think about the “what ifs?” in every situation. I spoke recently with someone who said she puts all unpleasant thoughts out of her mind. My response was “I have to think about the unpleasant things until I have resolved […]

Employee pilfering

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 23, 2014

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

I have to say, with our current employees, pilfering has not been a big issue. But, as a business owner “minding the store” is a full time job in itself. We have experienced so many variations on this theme that it is difficult to imagine, looking back, at all of the ways, often little ways, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 23, 2014

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

One of my brothers says I am a “black and white” person; that is, for me, things are either right or wrong, with little gray area in between. This being said, I equate employee pilfering to stealing; to me, there is absolutely no difference. Stealing, misappropriating, pilfering, borrowing without permission, and other similar behaviors are, […]

Job Quitting Employees are like flat tires

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 17, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

We have all had them, flat tires that is, and too often, at the most inopportune times. Not that there is a good time to have a flat tire, but there are some bad times. Usually when one is in a hurry, or on the highway, or late at night – all very bad. Not […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 17, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

My least favorite job duties are those pertaining to supervising and managing employees. I wish I could be self contained and do everything that needs to be done for my clients myself, however, that has never been the case. Every time an employee resigns, I wistfully daydream about not having to replace him or her, […]

Technology transitions can be painful

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 9, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

As we have developed our blogs and topics, we’ve found often one thing leads to another. My recent post on scanning the horizon for changes led me to this post. When we started our trial consulting business, Magnus Research Consultants, in 1993 we had to provide clients with VHS videotapes of the proceedings. I researched […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 9, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

I enjoy change, but sometimes change comes at a high price. In the example David mentioned regarding our company’s change in video equipment, the costs were enormous, in terms of both financial expenditures and personnel. In fact, we lost a long time employee, largely due to mistakes he made during our transitional period between analog […]

Scanning the horizon for changes

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 2, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Everyday in business is a good day. But, being is business isn’t the same from day to day; doing business the same way it has always been done is not a recipe for success. Many of the changes we’ve faced are the same ones faced by any small business. Changes in technology, changes in the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 2, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

As with many things in life, some changes are positive and others, less than positive. Regardless of how we feel about changes, they are going to happen, so it is important to be ready to adapt to our new situation as soon as the inevitable change occurs. I have a lot of friends who are […]

Been there, done that

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 25, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Travel

I first heard this expression when I arrived in Sydney in 1985 and was speaking with the woman from whom I rented a room – she said it in a travel context of having been to a destination and not being impressed, so she was never returning. Subsequently I have heard this with the addition […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 25, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Travel

David is right. I have “been there, done that, got the t-shirt, got the coffee mug” and I am not going back to many, many places. I have also “been there and done that” when it comes to spending my valuable time with certain people; in other words, I have moved on, I am over […]

Force Feeding Employees

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 18, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Litigation Tips, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

Force feeding certainly has a negative connotation and perhaps isn’t the best connotation in a work environment. But, sometimes you have to really push employees to do things and to do them in a way you, their boss, want them done. In recent years, one of the things I have had to force has been […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 18, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Litigation Tips, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

The older I get, and the more experience I have as a social psychologist, the younger and more inexperienced my employees appear to me. Work tasks they are completing for the first time are often tasks I have been performing for decades. Things that are second nature to me are sometimes difficult for them. Because […]

Pushing each other, nicely

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 11, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Work-Life

Working with a business partner to whom one is married does present some challenges over more traditional, business only, arrangements. In an employee/employer relationship, the norm is probably for the boss to say to an employee, “do this…” But, when the relationship is partner to partner, or if the employee wants to suggest something to […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 11, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Work-Life

As David mentions, the timing of a “gentle reminder” or suggestion is, for me, often more important than the actual content of the suggestion. My work requires me to concentrate and focus on complicated matters and the last thing I want is to be interrupted by anyone, including my well meaning spouse/business partner, with a […]

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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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