Archive | Business Frustrations

Working on a Roller Coaster

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 25, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

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 […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 25, 2015

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 […]

Everyone has a boss. Clients = Many Bosses

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 2, 2015

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

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 […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 2, 2015

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

“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 […]

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

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 21, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

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 […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 21, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 10, 2015

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

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Dealing with Hurricanes: Disaster Planning

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 26, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Floridians, at least we natives, know that hurricanes are a fact of life (some newcomers have to experience one to understand such storms). And while we are all sometimes a bit complacent about hurricanes or the other disasters that befall others who live in other locations (as I write this, Boston is suffering record snow […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 26, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Several years before David and I owned our business, Magnus, I worked at a large litigation consulting firm that had offices in every major city in the U.S.A. One of the offices was located in Philadelphia, in a large downtown building that burned to the ground one night. Unfortunately for my employer, no one had […]

Facilitating Fraud

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 12, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done

A number of these posts have been conceptualized, while some, like this one, are written in moments of frustration. As business owners, my wife and I have many frustrations, but unfortunately, we have recently been (again) confronted by an instance of financial fraud. In the latest incident it appears we were the victims of someone […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 12, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done

Having several thousands of dollars stolen from my bank account is, to me, a big deal. Furthermore, it is a big enough deal that I would like to see the thief apprehended and prosecuted for the crime. It seems, however, that my view about theft/embezzlement is not shared by large financial institutions, including banks and […]

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Archive | Business Frustrations

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

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

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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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