Archive | Life Outside of Work

The Price of a Vacation

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 12, 2019

Category: Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology, Small Business Success, Travel, Work-Life

What is the cost of a vacation? I’m not referring to the cost of airplane tickets, the hotel, the cruise, the meals, activities, etc. I mean the less obvious costs. As I write this, I have just spent 2 days, well, maybe 1½, in a crunch time mode ensuring that all client work is under […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 12, 2019

David wrote his part of this post before our fantastic vacation to the land of The Beatles, while I am writing my part after our return home. We had a wonderful vacation; it was the trip of a lifetime and a dream come true! Getting ready for it, as well as recovering from it, however, […]

The Game Warden’s Badge

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 5, 2019

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Psychology, Small Business Success

An event I observed decades ago on a dove hunting field created a memory I will never forget. Opening day of dove season is a social event, the hunt, or shoot, occurs on a large field, 30, 40, or more acres; hunters with shotguns are spread around the field. There are social norms of politeness […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 5, 2019

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Psychology, Small Business Success

Jumping to conclusions is rarely a good thing to do. Sometimes, one may be right, however, other times, one may be wrong. David mentions authority figures who fail to consider all of the circumstances before wrongly accusing someone of something. We have all heard numerous examples of police officers who shoot first and ask questions […]

Traits of Mom’s wheelchair helpers

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 3, 2019

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Psychology

As with many illnesses, including some types of dementia, the ability to ambulate declines until the patient is unable to walk. My mother had a form of dementia, known as Pick’s Disease, that caused a regression in her ability to ambulate on her own, to walking with a cane, to walking with a four pronged […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 3, 2019

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Psychology

Melissa reported these encounters with angels to me in real time. It was surprising to her and her Mom, as well as to me, at first. But, then it came to be something of a curiosity as to what story I’d hear her tell next. I don’t think we had many offers of help when […]

Purr more; Hiss less

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 20, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology

Purr more; hiss less. This could be a good mantra for our lives. In other words, look for the good things in life instead of focusing on the bad things. Find solutions to problems instead of whining and complaining about them. When someone spills an entire glass of iced tea (after sweetening it with sticky […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 20, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology

It is sometimes difficult in today’s polarized world to remember to purr more. There are so many things to hiss about. But, as my now 102 year old friend Dr. Fran Kinne reminds me, be positive. Melissa and I have a purr reminder in the form of a Siamese cat named Rex. Pick him up, […]

A scientist’s experience of the paranormal

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 13, 2019

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Psychology

I am a scientist and, as a scientist, I prefer to base my decisions on data and other provable information. However, there are some things that cannot be explained by logic, science, or anything else; they remain mysteries. As I write this post at a time near the 10 year anniversary of my mother’s death, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 13, 2019

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Psychology

I was just thinking of this event recently, before reading what Melissa wrote about that night. I, too, am very glad that we were all together when Leola turned out the lights in that I don’t think the experience would have otherwise been believable. She was not connected to any machines, so there was nothing […]

10,000 Hours

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 25, 2019

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants

There is considerable research on what level of effort is required to perform at “master” or “expert” level at a variety of skills. Malcolm Gladwell expounded on this concept in his 2008 book, Outliers. Much of the focus of this research has revolved around becoming expert at a skill like chess or mastering a musical […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 25, 2019

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants

I don’t know how many hours it takes to gain expertise on something, but I do know expertise cannot be achieved without effort and experience. The characterization of an attorney as a “trial lawyer” is, in my opinion, misplaced unless the attorney has considerable courtroom experience. These days, many attorneys who call themselves “trial lawyers” […]

Do the Right Thing

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 23, 2019

Category: Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Partnerships, Work-Life

Do the right thing. It seems both easy and obvious, but it has been my experience that doing the right thing is, for many people, neither easy nor obvious. David and I have recently experienced the passing of several people we know. One person was a dear friend for many years; one was the step-father […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 23, 2019

Category: Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Partnerships, Work-Life

I find it surprising that doing the right thing doesn’t come naturally to everyone. This surprise makes me realize that my parents taught some fundamental concepts to my brothers and me which transcend many situations. The right things Melissa described just seemed “necessary” to us – we did them knowing that the thing we did […]

Strangers always talk to me

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 16, 2019

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Work-Life

There is something about me that makes strangers talk to me. I can be just about anywhere, minding my own business, not making eye contact with anyone, when, all of a sudden, someone strikes up a conversation with me. I recently had lunch with a client and, when we were leaving the restaurant and walking […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 16, 2019

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Work-Life

I’ve seen this happen, including the Santa incident in Sydney. He had with him Mrs. Santa, and a human size Christmas tree, but it was the “Bad Santa” who paused in greeting people in the market we were visiting to make suggestive comments to Melissa. Another incident I will never forget was a long time […]

Small Business Ownership: Always On

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 23, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

One of the things I do when writing a blog post is to categorize it so that one can search for similar topics on our website. The list of categories has grown over time but has always included #WorkLife. Work Life is usually followed by “balance” as in work/life balance, meaning how to manage one’s […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 23, 2019

Owning a small business is not for the faint of heart. Owning a small business with one’s spouse is only for the heartiest of individuals. David and I are fortunate, in that our jobs within our company do not overlap. David has expertise in many areas, such as business management, finances, accounting, etc. that I […]

Talk to the mailman – he could be a Beatles fan

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 21, 2019

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research

Magnus has been headquartered in the same office since 1996. Over the years, we have had a variety of letter carriers, including some who were very nice and others, who were not so nice. I rarely see the letter carrier, due to the location of my office out of sight of our office’s entrance. Once […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 21, 2019

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research

It is easy in life to overlook others as we go about our daily business. But, one never knows where they will meet a friend or make a useful connection. Perhaps with the mailman, or the landscapers, or any other similar service provider, it is easy to ignore them as we go about being busy. […]

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Archive | Life Outside of Work

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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