Archive | Business Frustrations

Working for jerks, never!

I recently wrote about a client I called a “2 time client” meaning we worked for him our first and last times on the same case.  I never thought it would get worse and that we would have a client we would have to fire before doing the work for which we were retained.  Unfortunately, […]

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As John Lennon famously said, “instant karma’s gonna’ get you.” Let’s hope so! The attorney who is the subject of this post is a younger than age 40 personal injury attorney in West Palm Beach who, because David dared to come inside his office (which is, of course, open to the public), verbally and physically […]

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2 Time Clients

Melissa’s mother had a saying that she used, rarely, to indicate she was not going to do, or eat, or whatever that same thing again. For example, if she went somewhere one time and did not like it, she would say, “I’ve been there twice, my first and last times…” I’ve been to a few […]

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It is painful for David to turn away business, and the revenue derived from business, but when a client has abused me, one or more of our employees, or him, the pain from working with the abuser is greater than the pain from lost revenue. Fortunately, there have been few clients in my decades long […]

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Working on a Roller Coaster

After well over 20 years in the trial consulting business, I hoped the work load would smooth out and there would not be a constant peak and valley cycle of business. Alas, it appears we’re on a perpetual roller coaster. The cycle is such that there are times we are slammed with what seems like […]

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For the most part, living life on the roller coaster has become easier for me with the passage of time. There used to be a time when, after weeks or months of not having any work to do, I would become convinced we would never work again. Then, just as I had given up all […]

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Everyone has a boss. Clients = Many Bosses

Almost everyone who works for a living has a boss. Although I am the boss at my workplace, I have many, many bosses, the attorneys, insurance adjusters, and corporate representatives who hire my company and me to help them with their challenging litigation. Often, I must adjust my plans and work schedule to suit one […]

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“Be your own boss.” That’s the supposed appeal of owning a business. But, it is a very flawed observation about owning/operating a business. Whether the business is small or large, the customers, or clients in a service business, are the bosses. And in a service business, more than a product based business, the owner(s) must […]

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Isn’t this stuff just common sense? Part 1 – Small Business

It occurs to me that some of the topics we are writing about may seem like common sense.  But, I can assure you, as someone with an MBA and undergrad degrees in business (marketing and management) that running a small business is, first of all, not taught (or taught well) in school and second, until […]

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Most people I know have never, ever owned and operated a business. Having worked for other people for 20 years prior to co-owning Magnus Research Consultants, I am well aware of the numerous and vast differences between working for someone else, collecting a paycheck regardless of the company’s (or government agency’s) financial performance, and working […]

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Do what the man, or woman, client, says…

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 14, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

When one hires someone to do a job for them, the hiring person, i.e., the client, expects the other person/entity (henceforth, vendor) to perform the job in the manner, or to the satisfaction of, the client.  When the vendor fails to follow instructions or the directives of the client, there is a problem, for both […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 14, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

Sometimes, I am the client and other times, I am the vendor. (Although I am a consultant, with expertise in an area my clients lack, by virtue of the fact I am selling my services to someone, I am, technically speaking, a vendor.) When I am the client, I expect to be treated like a […]

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Know who you are hiring: Vendors

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 23, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

Operating a business presents ever evolving challenges. Recently we had a “new to us” experience when we uncovered something about a vendor/service provider that was disturbing and apparently, hidden to the degree possible. Without naming names, what happened is that we hired a company to provide us a specific service. The working relationship was never […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 23, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

In today’s business world, the client/vendor relationship is no longer as personal as it once was. Decades ago, it would have been unheard of to hire a vendor sight unseen, but in today’s climate of virtual employees, off shore service providers, and others whom a client has met only on line, the dangers involved in […]

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The plane, etc., leaves on time

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 17, 2015

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

Believe it or not, most flights leave on time. Most trains leave on time too and so do buses, ships, and other modes of transportation that follow a schedule. What this means for business, and other, travelers, is that anyone who wants to be on board should arrive either early or on time or be […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 17, 2015

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

Another adage, “be there or be square.” And, Melissa would never want to be square! As simple as the be on time or get left behind message is, this is another detail on which we have had to train, remind or even cajole employees to remember. Perhaps some of the “on time” issues have been […]

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I’m your boss, not your pal

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 10, 2015

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

In a small office environment, the lines demarcating supervisor and subordinate are often blurred. This is particularly true in small offices, such as mine, with a casual dress code on all days when we are not among clients. Even though I am decades older than my employees, now that I have been a business owner […]

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Perhaps another of our top 5 surprises is how often, in a general sense, we have been told what I would consider otherwise to be “private” details of employee’s lives. And, I am not sure whether this is because we are small business in which everyone knows each other well, or because there appears to […]

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Smoking Marijuana at lunch – that’s not on work time…

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 3, 2015

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

As we mentioned in a previous blog, my spouse/business partner and I have established formal, written policies and procedures regarding all aspects of our employees’ conduct. Among these policies and procedures is a policy stating we are a drug and alcohol free workplace. We had to modify this policy many years ago because one of […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 3, 2015

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

Some of our experiences as employers have really surprised us. This one was in the top 5. And, the person’s actions were dumb and dumber with the initial issue and the later call for a job reference. It was dumbfounding to me for sure! But, each experience is a learning experience and things like this […]

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