Archive | Business Relationships

30 Years

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 29, 2023

Category: Business Partnerships, Business Relationships, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

This year, 2023, marks 30 years since the beginning of Magnus Research Consultants, Inc. Melissa and I, along with another person who was a prospective partner in our venture, filed the articles of incorporation in July, 1993. (Quick digression, the other partner drifted out of the picture without becoming a partner.) At the time all […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 29, 2023

Many life events have taken place in the 30 years since David and I founded our company. We have been fortunate in many ways, including the sudden departure of our third partner soon after we began working together as Magnus. His legacy lives on in our name, but looking back, I realize it would have […]

Categories of Missed Opportunity

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 27, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Business Travel, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consultants

Some people have experienced significant loss, hardship, and a decline in physical and mental health during their lives. (I often think about Nelson Mandela’s 27 years of imprisonment as an example of this type of personal suffering.) Other people have had some serious setbacks, such as a bankruptcy, death of a parent, or a chronic […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 27, 2023

Melissa wrote her part of this post some time ago, during the 2020 pandemic, and I’m playing catch up. In a way, it is interesting to see how things have worked out over time, due to changes triggered by a pandemic. Many things have changed permanently. Work place changes are a big and obvious change. […]

Just in Time Jury Consulting

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 22, 2023

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

A series of recent experiences pertaining to a case on which we were ramping up made me consider the timeline of jury consulting. In the world of business, and especially manufacturing, there is a concept of just in time production. With just in time production, the raw materials for a “thing” arrive at the production […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 22, 2023

As far as I am concerned, one of the best changes that we have seen over the 30 years of owning and operating Magnus is the way in which we get paid. In the past, Magnus was paid by check, which was either mailed through the postal service or sent via overnight delivery. Much to […]

When Asking for a Favor, Make it Easy for Me to Help

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 20, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Work-Life

As long time readers of David’s and my blog know, I am almost constantly barraged with people’s requests for me to help them. This is, as I tell many people, the story of my life. I help people who need my help, both in my professional life as well as in my personal life. I […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 20, 2023

I don’t recall the specific incident that prompted this post. In fact, this type of situation seems so common that it is difficult to pinpoint it at all. It is not rare, it is, unfortunately, common. It is not that we’re picking on our clients, all of whom happen to be lawyers; no, we’re not […]

Lunch Buddies

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 15, 2023

Category: Business Relationships, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Small Business Success, Work-Life

Most of my working life has been spent in small environments without the opportunity to go to lunch with co-workers. Melissa and I have lunch together most days of the week, and of course, breakfast and dinner too. But, not having worked in a big workplace, my lunch buddies are most often people, who like […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 15, 2023

As anyone who knows me well can attest, lunch is my favorite meal of the day. In my opinion, breakfast is a necessity and dinner, while enjoyable, is more formal than lunch. Lunch, on the other hand, has the greatest potential for fun and I love to have fun! I spent many years in academic […]

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 […]

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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

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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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

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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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.

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