Archive | Getting the Job Done

Not your first gig; Not your first day on job

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 10, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Everyone who works had a first day on the job. A first time to interact with customers, a first sale, a first something. For my partner and me, when new employees are hired, they are trained and they ultimately participate on their first jury research project. New employees cannot be expected to know enough from […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 10, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Magnus Research Consultants has employed many people who are working in their first professional job following their graduation from college.  Some of our employees have worked during high school and college, while others have never been employed prior to working for Magnus.  David and I have spent considerable time over the years coaching these eager, […]

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Living & Dying in 3/4 time

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 8, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

For the reader who is not a Jimmy Buffett fan, “Living and Dying in 3/4 Time” is the name of an album (or vinyl, in today’s lingo), as well as part of the lyrics of the song “Nautical Wheelers” (from the album titled, “A1A”). The expression, living and dying in 3/4 time has meaning to […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 8, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

For Melissa and me, music often takes us away to other places.  Sometimes literally, when we travel to a concert in another city, state, or country.  More often, figuratively as we contemplate the lyrics and music that move us.  Jimmy Buffett, especially for those of us who don’t mind sand between the toes on a […]

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Make ‘em look good

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 3, 2016

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

One aspect of our work as trial consultants is to evaluate cases so that our attorney clients learn how their case will be perceived by jurors, judges, arbitrators, or mediators. We always learn things that the attorneys and our other clients did not know or did not anticipate. The truth is, we may not have […]

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There are many ways an employee can help his/her boss look good.  In the days when I worked for a large corporation and did not perform administrative tasks, I had a secretary.  (I actually had a series of secretaries in the early days of my career, which dates back to the time when being a […]

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It’s obvious to you, it’s your company

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 25, 2016

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees

In our posts we have often written about things some of our employees have said, without thinking first. Or, maybe in some instances they didn’t think enough. One such utterance was this: “It’s obvious to you; you own the company…” said in defense of an employee’s mistake when she attempted to deflect blame from herself […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 25, 2016

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees

A lot of things are obvious to me when they are not obvious to other people.  There are several fundamental differences between many people and me.  Most people spend too much time: (1) being self absorbed; (2) not paying attention to their surroundings; (3) using only one of their five senses, to the exclusion of […]

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Dun & Bradstreet: Part 2

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 18, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

As I have come up with topics for this blog I have found that often a brief title triggers multiple thoughts. Dun & Bradstreet was the subject of a prior blog which related my distaste for fear based marketing. But, it is because Dun & Bradstreet has a well known name that it can engage […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 18, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Sometimes, despite our best efforts in preventing disasters, disaster strikes, usually, without warning.  The Dun & Bradstreet / Dun and brad street debacle was, at the time it was perpetuated on Magnus, well known within the computer industry, to the point that Magnus’ long time computer consultant held a special meeting with David, me, and […]

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Being ethical can be expensive

I have always enjoyed the intellectual aspects of considering the ethical aspects of life and work. One of my favorite graduate school courses was business ethics and I had other classes on the subject in college, and decades ago, in a church youth group. The topics often were mind opening – considering what to do […]

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People have often criticized me for being too goody, goody; too prim and proper; and for taking an unpopular stance by not going along with the crowd.  Upon receiving this criticism, I usually remark that I am not working on a popularity contest; I am working to do the right thing. As an example, I […]

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Help people

I have received a lot of help from people over the years, mostly from my two “big” brothers. As the only daughter of my parents and one considerably younger than my two dear brothers, I have turned to each of them on countless occasions for all kinds of help, including financial, advice on how to […]

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I grew up with parents who were always willing to help others.  They would quickly invite my friends to visit, or come to dinner, including a near ritual Sunday night pizza feast that usually included several friends.  In an open and non judgmental way, they were always willing to include an array of friends.  My […]

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Either you are wrong or I am right. Part 2: Clients

As I was writing the post, “Either you are wrong or I am right,” I thought that, like the album title from which it came, About Face (by David Gilmour) there are perhaps more than 1 way to contemplate this lyric. In the first post I wrote about the implications of behaving, in a personal […]

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I admit to being frustrated by some clients’ insistence that they know everything there is to know, including in an area in which they have zero expertise.  However, I am somewhat entertained by their willingness to set themselves up for failure, when something happens to disprove their incorrect assumptions, and I usually ask them to […]

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Grab your consultant only when the lights are out

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 2, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting

Unfortunately, for many women in all sorts of occupations, sexual harassment is a prevalent part of the work environment. I, like many women in my age cohort, have been sexually harassed by a variety of men (and a few women) in various contexts: bosses, co-workers, professors (when I was a student), fellow students, my students […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 2, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting

Many jobs and job functions put opposite, or even same, gender co-workers in awkward settings.  A dark observation room was certainly one of those for Melissa.  And, because she is quick to defend herself, against this indefensible behavior, a worse problem was averted.  The fact that she had a boss who backed her up was […]

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Either you are wrong or I am right. Part 1: Business Partners

One of the songs from David Gilmour’s 1984 Album About Face was titled “You Know I’m Right.” I enjoyed the entire album by Pink Floyd’s vocalist and (extraordinary) guitarist, starting with the album title which seemed so clever in its dual meanings. But, the lyrics of this song were particularly compelling to think about how […]

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I am not sure whether this statement, “Either you are wrong or I am right” was aimed at a particular person, nor do I know whether it was intended to be interpreted in a tongue in cheek manner.  I am certain, however, that it made a lasting impression on David because he frequently quotes it […]

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