Archive | Employment

No One Has Ever Said They Wish Their Jury Research Had Been Later

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 16, 2021

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

In almost 30 years of owning and operating Magnus Research Consultants, David and I have been fortunate to have few complaints from clients. When there have been complaints, they have been of the following type: (1) “Your report is too long and comprehensive; it took too long for me to read”; (2) ”The charts summarizing […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 16, 2021

This topic is salient because I had the discussion again recently, “What is your lead time for conducting research? My client wants to put it off as long as possible, because maybe they can settle…” I patiently explained that the ramp up period, once we’ve provided a proposal, agreed on the research design, gotten approval […]

Ok Boomer

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 26, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Psychology

I have written in previous posts about my experiences with sexism, including the bias that has been expressed toward me as a female bass guitar player. As I have stated, sexism is alive, but not well. I have also mentioned social psychological research on racism and racial prejudice and the negative impact these forms of […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 26, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Psychology

It is interesting to think about “Ok Boomer” in the concept of discrimination. Certainly, sometimes it is said in a joking way, light heartedly, but there is an underlying dismissal of the boomer in saying it no matter how funny the speaker thinks it is. And, of course, sometimes it is not said in jest. […]

I’ll ask my parents

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 24, 2020

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

One source of material for these posts over the years has been the things Melissa and I have heard from employees that took us by surprise. This one is among my favorites, after the fact. We usually hire recent college graduates for our Research Associate position. Many years ago, we hired a typical, fresh from […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 24, 2020

Many people have asked me if I have any kids. I don’t know why they ask this personal question, but I always respond with, “Yes, I have had between 40 and 50 kids; they are of were my employees.” As David said, recent college graduates have been Magnus’ Research Associates since we founded Magnus in […]

When things don’t make sense: 28 days off

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 17, 2020

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

The work we do as trial consultants requires us to work closely with our attorney clients for several weeks or months, or even years. Clients are typically respectful and courteous. But, as we have written before, there are a few outliers – clients who abuse everyone around them, including us. We have had a few […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 17, 2020

One of the most interesting aspects in my career as a jury consultant is unrelated to the expertise I provide to my clients on things such as trial strategy, jury selection, and witness preparation. This interesting aspect of my job happens when my clients, all of whom are educated and intelligent attorneys, forget I am, […]

Technology simplifies our lives, right?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 10, 2020

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

Another clean out story. In purging the old equipment to prepare for the Magnus’ move to new office, we came across VCRs, VHS tapes, cassette recorders, cassette tapes, DVD duplicators, and more. These are a history of the technology evolution in our lives. Yet, it was also a reminder of simpler times. When we first […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 10, 2020

I don’t endorse the premise that technology simplifies our lives. Sometimes, it does, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes, there is no noticeable difference between old and new technology within the realm of simplicity. I don’t mind change; in fact, I thrive on it. And, it is relatively easy for me to learn new ways of […]

Show Don’t Tell

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 26, 2020

Category: Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

Trial exhibits are a big part of all properly conducted litigation. Most lawyers learned long ago that showing, and not just telling, is important. Some lawyers are more effective than others with this but most of them seem not to think visually. Once again, it’s Rush to the rescue. The first track on their 1989 […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 26, 2020

Remember when we, as children, were subjected to “show and tell” by well meaning teachers? I had little use for these trivial displays, finding most of my classmates’ showing and telling dreadfully boring. However, this being said, the “show and tell” experiences from many people’s childhood illustrates the fundamental concept that a visual representation of […]

Clipped Wings

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 20, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, RoadWarrior, Travel, Trial Consultants

Due to recent world events, most people’s lives have changed in ways that would, previously, have been unimaginable. Although some of my retired friends and family members tell me that they stayed home, often alone, before the pandemic and thus, haven’t noticed many changes in their daily lives, the rest of us have noticed lots […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 20, 2020

Melissa and I have posted much about travel for work or pleasure, including a list of places we’ve been (https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/2016/06/ive-been-everywhere/). And, we have generally enjoyed our travels. Sure, it is tiring and stressful, but the rewards are many. Our work requires travel to the trial venue so that our case assessments are conducted based on people […]

Muster in an Emergency

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 15, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, RoadWarrior, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consultants

After many, many years of doing trial consulting work all over the place, we have amassed our share of travel war stories. One detail that readers of our posts will have noted is that we try to learn from everything that happens in order to do better the next time and we try to train […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 15, 2020

The concept of what it means to be a member of a team is lost on some people. In today’s world of “it’s all about me, myself, and I” or, as George Harrison wrote, “I Me Mine,” some people are too busy thinking about maximizing their best interests to realize that other people are depending […]

Don’t panic. Fix it!

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 1, 2020

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

This post builds on the last post about not letting them (the client) see you panic. Don’t panic – just fix it – is a worthwhile mantra in the workplace, and in life. Panic and fear get in the way of fixing things. I was a Boy Scout long enough to learn about the need […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 1, 2020

David and I share the same philosophy: Don’t panic – just fix it! I will never, ever, forget the time when one of our long ago employees broke the toilet seat, and instead of admitting what she had done, panicked and remained silent. Guess who was the next person to use the restroom and attempt […]

Don’t let them see you panic

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 24, 2020

We keep a list of topics for these posts; this one was added to the list several years ago and I’m just getting around to writing about it. I preface the post with that because the incident(s) which inspired it were even longer ago and happened with former, not current, team members. The incidents usually […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 24, 2020

Over the years I have been working as a trial consultant, I have had many reasons to panic. I have also had many opportunities to observe my staff members panic. There are numerous things that can, and do, go wrong, including things over which we have no control and things that occur from mistakes, carelessness, […]

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Archive | Employment

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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