Archive | Business personalities

The Confounded Bridge

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 19, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success, Travel, Work-Life

The confounded bridge! This expression appears to have originated in the 1973 song, “The Crunge,” by Led Zeppelin (on the Houses of the Holy album). At the end of the song, either John Bonham or Robert Plant asks, (music historians disagree on whose voice is being heard) “Where’s the confounded bridge?”. This is a reference […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 19, 2022

This post confounded me enough that it had to percolate in my brain before I could write it. Melissa’s knowledge of things musical is vast. With her piano and bass guitar training, as well as her lifelong enjoyment of listening to recorded and live music, she is much better versed in musical terminology. At least […]

Old School

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 12, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consultants, Workplace Technology

In many ways, I, and people like me, are considered “old school” or “retro.” Someone recently complimented me on an Alice Cooper t-shirt I was wearing, saying he really liked its “old school” look. I still use expressions from “back in the day,” such as groovy, psychedelic, cool (instead of hot, meant to describe something […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 12, 2022

I don’t know when a part of one’s life, bell bottom pants for example, take hold as the norm such that later they become old school. And, while Melissa is more retro that I am in terms of fashion, etc., she’s newer school in keeping up with modern rock music than am I. She does […]

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 16, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” is a phrase used to suggest one should relax, chill out, and not worry about the little things, things which sometime seem out of one’s control. Well, that’s great. But, our “day job” as trial consultants doesn’t allow it. Neither does my prior advocation, photography. For example, when photographing people […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 16, 2022

This topic, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” came up recently during a slightly heated debate David and I were having about the proper way to prepare something we were having for dinner. (As the reader might imagine, David and I have many debates, some over trivial matters, on an almost daily basis.) I don’t recall […]

The Problem With This Case is the Client.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 26, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

An attorney client of ours recently told Melissa that his client is a problem. He said, “the problem with this case is my client.” He was pretty direct, but we’ve heard this, or some variation thereof, countless times. In this case, the client is wealthy (and accustomed to getting his way as a result). He’s […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 26, 2022

I often wonder if “problem clients” know their attorney considers them to be a problem. Or, are they demanding, arrogant, and self centered to the point they have no idea of the impact they have on other people? Many times, the end client (defined as one of the primary parties in the lawsuit, that is, […]

Old School Tech

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 19, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

I recently read an article about the executive director of a professional association who uses an IBM typewriter to send notes to members. He said he liked using a typewriter to personalize the notes. I thought it was pretty cool to use old school technology so effectively. I could never afford an IBM typewriter, those […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 19, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

David and I have written about our fondness for “old school” things in several previous posts. Although I never owned a typewriter, nor am I a good typist, I appreciate David’s fondness for his trusty old typewriter. It comes in handy when he makes labels for files in our personal filing cabinet. I remember David’s […]

Fix it as Soon as it Breaks

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 17, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

I am an ardent fan of the maxim, “fix it as soon as it breaks.” I have never known anything that fixed itself, whether it is a leaky faucet, a flat tire (or tyre, on all the British cars I have owned), or a faulty electrical outlet. Admittedly, I am not good at fixing things. […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 17, 2022

Homeownership seems to involve an endless “to do” list. There is always something to do. Sometimes, the to dos are small items, easy to resolve. Sometimes, expertise is required, or at least more expertise than I possess. Or strength – some fixes take more expertise and muscle than I have, or any one person has. […]

No Headphones in Office

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 17, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

I’m catching up on some topics I came up with years ago. I came across this one regarding the use of headphones during work hours. We haven’t had much of a problem with this, but when we did, it was one of those things that caught me off guard. The fact that someone would be […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 17, 2022

No headphones in the office! No ear buds in the office! No music in the office! No, no, and no. I love music, as almost everyone who knows me is aware. I love music played loudly. Turn it up! But, when I am working, I require absolute, or near absolute, silence. I need to concentrate. […]

Nothing To Do Except Write a Book

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 15, 2022

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Entrepreneurship, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

With Magnus’ long term business downturn related to the pandemic and its hugely negative impact on the court system in the U.S.A., I have found myself with little work to do. Although David is busy trying to find new clients and cases, handling routine administrative duties, and operating our business, my job consists primarily of […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 15, 2022

Melissa stayed home recently to get a few things done, work and otherwise. I had little idea what she was planning to do that day so, when I asked what she’d been up to that evening, I smiled when she responded that she’d been planning her latest book. Not many people can say that, but […]

I Can’t Drive to the Interview; Can You Skype?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 10, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

Many years ago, I came up with the title to this post, “I Can’t Drive to the Interview; Can You Skype?” Skype was new and I was not familiar with it when a job applicant asked this question. Back then, the idea of not meeting an applicant in person was foreign. I realize how things […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 10, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

In the almost 30 years David and I have co-owned Magnus, we have had some “doozies” concerning employees, potential employees, and former employees. I could almost write a book about these people! On this last round of interviewing, which was as painful as ever for me, it was humorous to observe the number of job […]

Refocusing “on the Fly”

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 3, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Mental Health, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

As the saying goes, the best laid plans… Change is part of our everyday existence as litigation consultants, especially in our world of keeping up with lawyers. We’re down in the chain of command, thus, when things change for our clients, they change for us. Just today, a lawyer calles about a change in his […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 3, 2022

David and I have written about the need for flexibility in our world of work in prior posts. Flexibility, and along with it, the willingness to change plans on a moment’s notice, are job requirements for everyone who works at Magnus. I often find it difficult to explain to the “uninitiated” about why I never […]

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Archive | Business personalities

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.

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

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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