Archive | Getting the Job Done

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 5, 2022

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

I make mistakes, a lot of them. A few minutes ago, David pointed out my most recent mistake, for which I apologized. I almost always take responsibility for my mistakes and I try to correct them when it is possible to do so. Fortunately, none of my mistakes have resulted in seriously negative outcomes for […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 5, 2022

Some of the lessons learned at the top of my list are not really mistake driven, but lessons learned due to many of the unique aspects of doing trial consulting work, including working with highly successful, demanding clients (attorneys) on difficult and complex cases. And, further, while we are not doing “rocket science,” there are […]

Run of the House

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 30, 2022

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

I booked a hotel room recently and, while navigating the rates, I came across one that said “run of house.” I know this means “you get what we’ve got left.” It is doubtful that this would ever be an exciting upgrade, but maybe. In my experience, upgrades rarely happen even when I’m paying higher rates. […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 30, 2022

The expression, “run of the house” does not have a positive connotation for me. I prefer to know what I am getting and even more than that, I prefer to know I am getting the best I can possibly get. I dislike most surprises because many people are not as discerning as me, therefore, what […]

An Ode to Mullet

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 28, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Giving Back, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Work-Life

Recently, my friend, Button, and I were talking about our fondness for fresh fish. We discussed our shared opinion that fish is best prepared fried, not baked, smoked, grilled, blackened, or en papillote. (I enjoy eating fish that has been prepared in all these ways, but in my opinion, there is nothing quite as good […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 28, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Giving Back, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Work-Life

Mullet – now that I can relate to indeed! I was probably about 10 when I met my first mullet. We lived near the St. Johns River and my brother and I liked fishing. Our neighbors lived on the river and had a dock. Dale and I spent hours, almost daily, and definitely on the […]

Modern Communications

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 23, 2022

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

Writing this post in mid 2022, I want to comment on modern communications technologies. Especially due to the pandemic, the “modern” technologies of cellular telephones and virtual meetings (Zoom, etc.) have become more common in the world of business. This is for better or worse, depending on point of view. These technologies are great because […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 23, 2022

David spends significantly more time talking on the telephone than I do, but I share his frustrations. The poor quality of some people’s internet connections make it difficult to have a meaningful telephone conversation. This is compounded when the conversation is via a platform, such as Zoom, that includes both audio and video components. Constant reminders […]

Zenobia

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 21, 2022

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Psychology, RoadWarrior, Small Business Success, Travel, Work-Life

Recently, a long time friend of my family’s, Woody Hanson, posted an old photo on a social media site that brought back fond memories. The photo was of Zenobia King Hill, the owner of a modeling school in my hometown of Fort Myers, Florida. Zenobia was from Alabama; she attended the famous John Robert Powers […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 21, 2022

I’ve heard many stories about Zenobia over the years, but it was not until I saw the photo Melissa referenced, with the description, that I actually knew how her name was spelled. Melissa, as well as some of her friends, have spoken fondly of Zenobia over the years. I’ve heard about the life skills learned, […]

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, […]

Magnus’ Women Power

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 24, 2022

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

In the almost 30 years that David and I have co-owned Magnus Research Consultants, we have employed many people of both sexes. We have had several long term employees, 2 of whom are men and 2 of whom are women. In addition, there have been 3 women who are former Magnus employees who have gone […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 24, 2022

On the day I started writing this post, Melissa was wearing a pink t-shirt that said “Pretty Good for a Girl.” I bought it for her at a Mindi Abair jazz concert. Mindi has a song by that title because it is a phrase she’s heard many times over her career. She decided to embrace […]

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. […]

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Archive | Getting the Job Done

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

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A Point of View

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David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

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Another View

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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.

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