Archive | Business Relationships

Just Ask

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 25, 2023

Category: Business Relationships, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Some recent business dealings have reminded me that asking can result in rewards. This is a lesson long ago imparted by the late Ron Lit. Ron was a wheeler dealer (really – he was a car wholesaler, among other things, as we wrote about in an early post, way back in 1994 https://magnusinsights.com/connections-ron-lit/). Ron told […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 25, 2023

Category: Business Relationships, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Ron Lit passed away on Friday, July 13, 2005. He was also born on Friday the 13th , May 13, 1938 to be exact. Ron was an enigma; for example, his actual name was neither Ron nor Lit. He had a tremendous impact on both David and me in the years we knew him. From […]

Don’t Make the Boss’ Job More Difficult

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 16, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

In the 50 years since I started my first job, I have been an employee for 20 years and an employer for 30 years. In my roles as employee, then employer, I have often marveled at some people’s absence of awareness of a fundamental workplace principle: Don’t make the boss’ job more difficult. There are […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 16, 2023

I knew Rosemary, Melissa’s assistant at the hospital where they worked. Rosemary was the epitome of professionalism and did her job in an excellent fashion which is why it was not long that she went from working for Melissa to working for Melissa’s boss. In the 30+ years of Magnus we have, fortunately, had team […]

10 Years After, Part 2

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 23, 2023

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

Working as a trial consultant has many unique factors that keep our lives interesting, and sometimes, frustrating. One factor is the time between when we are called on a case and when we actually do our work, such as a mock trial, and when that case goes to trial. I sometimes have attorneys ask me […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 23, 2023

David does an excellent job of following up with Magnus’ clients. Some people would be offended by the “radio silence” that usually happens between when a client contacts us about a potential case and when he or she decides to retain us. Not David. David calls, then calls again and again, emails, then emails again […]

Managing Expectations

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 2, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

This is the third post in a series on professionalism. This one is about making “keepable promises” with regard to deadlines and deliverables. We, at Magnus, work in a world with many deadlines; very often, these are deadlines beyond the control of our clients. That is, judges set trial dates and discovery deadlines with which […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 2, 2023

I recently observed my 50th anniversary of employment. Having lost my father at an early age, I had to work in order during high school to help my mother with our household expenses. In 50 years of working, I can proudly say that I have never, ever, missed a deadline or failed to deliver my […]

Billing Expectations

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 23, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

As a follow up to my post on professionalism based on my recent experience of being a lawyer’s client, I want to discuss billing expectations. As I told my family’s lawyer during an extremely unpleasant phone call, what he did to us was like taking one’s car to the repair shop, getting an estimate, then […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 23, 2023

Almost everyone wants to know the price of something before they purchase it. This is true regardless if someone is buying a hot dog, a car, or paying for legal services. Things can look fine, but if they are too expensive, in consideration for what they offer, there will be a disconnect between the product/service […]

Be Professional

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 16, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

This is a topic I’ve had on my “to be written” list for a long time. I’m prompted to write it now based on having been on the client side of working with a lawyer. Having been the client of lawyers on several occasions, I can say I much prefer the relationship in which the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 16, 2023

What does it mean to conduct oneself with professionalism? Professionalism, in my opinion, does not equate with wearing an expensive suit, working in a high rise office building with a scenic view, or many of the other outward, but superficial indicators of success. Recently, David and I spent a few days in Merida, Mexico. We […]

Help When There’s a “Cause”

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 8, 2023

Category: Business personalities, Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants

Almost everyone has a “cause” or sometimes, more than one, that they support. Many people support causes by merely talking about them, while others volunteer their time and provide financial assistance to their favorite cause. For example, the Humane Society in many people’s hometown depends on monetary contributions, donations, and volunteer staff members to fulfill […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 8, 2023

I’m not sure what prompted Melissa to write her post. Goodness knows, she has supported many “causes” whether friends, families, or strangers. We both have in various ways, including working on cases pro bono when the cause was just. What struck me though, in reading her post is how often the act of helping others […]

Psychologists Don’t Get Cheap Deals in Vegas – Lawyers Can

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 24, 2023

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consulting

As a follow up to my previous post about psychologists and lawyers seeing the world differently, one particular distinction between people in these 2 professions is their understanding of statistics, including probability, and the impact of this distinction on the conferences they attend. I’m sure the reader is wondering what statistics and conferences could possibly […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 24, 2023

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consulting

I recall how frustrated Jack was to finally find out why no “deals” were forthcoming in Las Vegas. And I recall being surprised that the Vegas “odds makers” went as far as to profile entire professions. But, I suppose calculating the odds is exactly what they do. It is interesting to think about gamblers and […]

Psychologists and Lawyers See the World Differently

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 17, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

As I have stated in previous posts, I have had an interesting career, primarily because I have spent almost all of my professional life working with attorneys instead of with colleagues. Furthermore, my definition of “colleague” is narrow, in that I consider only other social psychologists as colleagues. The field of psychology is large, with […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 17, 2023

What a perfect day to write this post. Melissa just had a call with a client who is heading to trial soon. When it was over she couldn’t wait to let me know about one aspect of the call, which was the lawyer insisting on wrongly defining a social psychological concept. As readers of these […]

It’s Nice to Be Appreciated

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 5, 2023

Category: Business Relationships, Giving Back, Jury Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Melissa and I received an unexpected thank you note and gift from the new College of Law at my alma mater, Jacksonville University. We have been doing a little to help with the start up of that program. Out of the blue came a couple of packages with nicely designed and personalized paper weights. Goodness […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 5, 2023

Category: Business Relationships, Giving Back, Jury Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

I was pleasantly surprised to receive the beautiful and thoughtful paperweight from Jacksonville University’s College of Law. Rarely have my efforts been rewarded with such an appreciative gesture! My friend, Teresa, is always thoughtful when she visits David and me. She never leaves our house without writing a thank you note and surprising us with […]

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Archive | Business Relationships

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.

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

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.

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