Archive | Business Partnerships

Risk Behavior

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 11, 2014

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

There are risks in most things which are worth doing. Certainly, in careers, there are many risks to consider whether working as an employee or as a business owner/entrepreneur. Neither approach is risk free. But, being an entrepreneur squarely puts the risk on the shoulders of the entrepreneur. When my wife and I first started […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 11, 2014

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

I am not a risk taker, in most aspects of my life. I am not a gambler; I prefer a sure thing over an uncertain windfall any day. However, I must be more risk oriented than I ever realized, in that owning and operating a small corporation is risky business. As I have mentioned in […]

Technical support temperament

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 4, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

It is important to know one’s strengths and weaknesses and, in a partnership, to divide tasks in a way that recognizes them. Strengths and weaknesses take many forms, but one of the potential areas to consider in a partnership is whose temperament is better suited to dealing with “technical support” or “customer service.” In our […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 4, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

David is right. I do not “suffer fools gladly,” and therefore, I cannot tolerate speaking with technical support people, who, in my opinion, often lack both technical expertise and support skills. Sadly, although David’s time is just as valuable as mine, my refusal to be placed on hold for what seems like hours, only to […]

Business Associates are not Friends

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 2, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I am a strong advocate of the adage, “business and pleasure do not mix” even though I co-own a business with my spouse. What works for my spouse/business partner and me does not necessarily work for other people. Indeed, I have found that becoming overly friendly with employees, or conversely, hiring a friend to work […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 2, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

When people work together for long periods of time and often, through the adversities of business, some form of friendship can and does develop. But, as long as one of the parties is paying the other to do something, the relationship is one to be handled carefully. I have become very friendly with some people […]

One Night Stands are Never Better than Friendship

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 18, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I have always treasured the special relationship I have with my friends. I am the type of person who has always been surrounded by friends, both male and female. I spend a lot of time nurturing my friendships and I try very hard to be a good friend, including being loyal, kind, and considerate even […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 18, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I guess this point is a matter of having priorities and keeping them straight. And, keeping them in alignment between friends. Being put in the second fiddle role indicates that one doesn’t value the friendship as much as the other. If that is the case, one has to ask, why continue the friendship? In a […]

“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 […]

Hiring friends – don’t

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 23, 2014

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

My husband/business partner and I made a serious mistake early in our company in hiring one of our friends. Several people told us not to do this and several people told our friend not to take the job. Alas, hindsight truly is 20/20; hiring a friend is truly one of those things no one should […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 23, 2014

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

My comments on this are not as strong as Melissa’s because in our experience the person/friend in question was more her friend than mine. So, while I will never say never to hiring a friend, doing so again would only be done under exceptional circumstances. In a demanding working environment, flaws or mistakes made by […]

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 […]

Giving Psychology away

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 14, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

As a long time member of the American Psychological Association (APA), I have always tried to live by the APA’s motto: “Give psychology away.” This means that, on many occasions following a stressful day at the office, I spend countless hours on the phone, or otherwise engaged, on behalf of a family member or friend […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 14, 2014

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

I can verify that Melissa has taken her responsibilities as a psychologist very seriously and has given much of herself to others in this regard. She has given time as well as maybe part of her “soul” to people she knows well, and many she doesn’t know as well but who needed help. She has […]

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Archive | Business Partnerships

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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David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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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

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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