Archive | Getting Through Life and Work

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. […]

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 […]

Paid Versus Free Opinions

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 6, 2023

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

To follow up on my previous post about people asking for my opinions, I have noticed an interesting phenomenon. Although it is far from universal, I have observed that people, such as friends and family, who ask for my opinion with no intention of paying me for my time or expertise, often devalue or discount […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 6, 2023

Melissa is in the position of giving, or rather, selling, advice on a daily basis. In a way, that is the business we are in. Of course, much of Melissa’s advice builds not only on her education, training, knowledge and experiences, but on data collected and analyzed for our client’s cases. Clients pay “good money” […]

Do You Want My Opinion or My Tacit Agreement?

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 30, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology, Trial Consultants

Many people ask me for my opinions. My opinions are solicited by family, friends, and clients, and sometimes, even by strangers. I would go as far as saying I am a professional giver of opinions, in that my clients retain me primarily for my expert opinions and advice about their high stakes lawsuits. Sometimes, however, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 30, 2023

This topic is obviously very real and concerning to Melissa. The nature of the two relationships with which Melissa was dealing in this situation made it even more difficult. Fortunately, I do not think I have faced such a conflicting situation. I may be guilty of offering unsolicited advice or suggestions, and sometimes, a best […]

I Hear Things

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 23, 2023

Category: Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

I hear things. You’ve got that right: I hear things. I often hear things other people cannot hear. My eyesight is extremely limited (in fact, I am legally blind without corrective lenses) and, as such, I have always relied on my keen sense of sound. In addition, because I have been a musician for almost […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 23, 2023

Most of us enjoy having 5 senses, and I won’t venture into a 6th sense; I can attest to Melissa’s keen sense of hearing. It goes well beyond her listening ability, for which our clients pay dearly. Melissa can hear so well that the mocking birds in our yard that start singing wake her with their […]

Be Nice

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 9, 2023

Category: Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Travel

Be nice. That’s easy to understand, but sometimes, difficult to do. What does it mean to “be nice”? I never gave it much thought until I had lunch at a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale several years ago. The restaurant’s slogan is “be nice” and they have bumper stickers with this motto for anyone to take. […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 9, 2023

The opposite of being nice, that is, being mean, seems to have a much higher degree of visibility. Mean sells, mean makes the news. The increased political polarization of our United States seems to increase meanness, and decrease niceties. For some, the example of “leaders” behaving badly translates into a belief that those behaviors are […]

The Ability to Understand Others’ Perspectives

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 2, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion. This includes me. When conducting mock jury or other social psychological research, I almost always encourage the open expression of differing views by informing our research participants that “There are no wrong opinions or points of view.” I know some people who enjoy verbal sparring, however, I […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 2, 2023

In our often politically polarized world, it appears difficult for some people to accept that other people have valid, opposing, opinions. Our work involves watching “regular people” who are recruited to participate in our mock juries or focus groups express their opinions. Clearly, some people are more adamant about their own opinions than others. Some […]

I’m pretty fast myself

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 18, 2023

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consultants

One of my favorite things to say is. “I’m pretty fast myself.” This quote didn’t originate with me. As usual, it is a line from a song, this time, from “Better Not Look Down” by B. B. King. The day I am writing this post is my first day back at work since David and […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 18, 2023

Melissa likes speed, in addition to working fast. She drove a Corvette, fast, for many years. More than any other car she’s had. But it fit her personality as did subsequent cars, several of which had propensities for speed that were less obvious than the Vette. Her perspective is full speed ahead, get things done, […]

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Archive | Getting Through Life and Work

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David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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