Archive | Life Outside of Work

Train Train

“Train Train” is a song written by Shorty Medlocke, the grandfather of Rickey Medlocke , who was the founder of Blackfoot (a fantastic Southern rock group from none other than Jacksonville, Florida). The song starts with Shorty Medlocke’s harmonica, which mimics the sound of a whistle on a steam locomotive. Not only is “Train Train” […]

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It is not by accident that one hears the long long short long whistle (horn) blast when a train nears a public crossing.  It is to avoid accidents that this pattern is a required operating rule for trains in the U.S.A., and some other countries (there is an official list of whistle signals that trains […]

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Passive/aggressive behaviors

Many people believe they know someone who is passive-aggressive. But, does the average person, without a psychology background, really know what the term, “passive-aggressive” means? Within psychology, there exists a psychological disorder known as passive-aggressive personality disorder, also known as negativistic personality disorder. This disorder has the following characteristics: overall negativism; persistent feelings of being […]

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I struggle in responding to Melissa’s post about this one because I don’t think I’ve ever had the displeasure of dealing with someone who is totally passive aggressive.  Instead, my point of reference to someone exhibiting passive aggressive behaviors is my own mother.  She was quiet, sweet and kind to everyone to such a degree […]

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My Three Sons

David is one of the three sons of the late Carole and Herman Fauss. David is the eldest son, followed by Dale, then many years later, Stephen. Unlike many families with whom I am familiar, David and his brothers share a harmonious existence. None of them have ever been in any kind of trouble, there […]

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Writing this a few months after my parents’ deaths, it is interesting to reflect on how we three sons/brothers worked together well.  We missed a few details; there was so much to be done to look after our parents’ affairs.  But, we worked together in ways that apparently aren’t the case in all families.  I […]

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Ralph and Dorothy

David and I met Ralph and Dorothy Kaufman in 1992, when we moved into our home in Lighthouse Point. For many years, they lived across the street from us during the winter months. They had a lovely waterfront home, which they had owned since the 1970s, where they came to take a break from their […]

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I think one aspect of writing these blog posts has been to take time to consider how many people we’ve randomly met, somewhere or another, throughout life.  Some of these connections have created unique, life long bonds though they may have started in very simple ways.  When we bought the house back in 1992, much […]

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Audley

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 17, 2021

Category: Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success

I have a friend named Audley Bain. Audley and I have known each other since 1992, when we were introduced by the late Ralph Kaufman. Ralph and his wife, Dorothy, lived across the street from David and me during the winter months (they were “snow birds” from New York) when we lived in Lighthouse Point. […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 17, 2021

Category: Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success

Audley was at the house today.  And, not a moment too soon, as it had been too long since he was there.  In a Florida summer, the frequent rains wreak havoc with his plans to get to each of his customers’ yards on a timely basis.  And, with those rains, the grass (and weeds) grow […]

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Pride v. Humility

Certain words or phrases catch my attention depending on their usage. I’m thinking today about how often one hears “I’m humbled to win this award…” It could be an athlete, musician, actor, or anyone whose work is recognized. What strikes me is what I perceive as a false sense of humility. Winning recognition should make […]

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When I think of the word, “proud,” I smile and think of Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, known professionally as the character she played onstage, Minnie Pearl.  Minnie Pearl usually opened her stage appearances with a signature phrase: “How-dee! I’m so proud to be here!”.  Never did I hear her say, “Hello!  I’m so humbled to […]

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Why do I wear a KC shirt?

I have several Kansas City Royals t-shirts and baseball hats. Given that I am not a sports fan, this may come as a surprise to those who don’t know me well. Why would I, a person from Fort Myers, Florida, like a baseball team from Missouri? The answer is quite simple. From its inaugural season […]

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I will say that it took me a while to comprehend Melissa’s love of the Royals, including certain of their players.  I was able to attend a few games with her while they were in Ft. Myers at “her dad’s” stadium.  It was fun, but the depth of the connection was something that took a […]

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DHTs

I’m not sure when David invented DHTs, but I think it was during the time we lived part time in my hometown, Fort Myers, to help care for my mother during the final years of her life. For David and me, who own and operate a small business that requires frequent travel, commuting to and […]

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There is an extra tension in a marriage when one also works with one’s spouse as we have for 30+ years.  It is a 24/7/365 lifestyle unless one of us is traveling for business, and that is often a together activity for us.  Inevitably, there will be tensions and stresses that become personal even if […]

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Effort Justification

Social psychology is amazing (at least, in my opinion!) in its ability to explain things that would otherwise be hard to understand. Take the topic of effort justification as one example. Cognitive dissonance theory postulates that people do not like to have two attitudes or beliefs that conflict with one another. Cognitive dissonance leads to […]

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I suppose the question is, does working harder than necessary, overcoming obstacles, or paying more, make something better?  Does a meal taste better if you have to wait for a table?  Does scarcity make something more desirable?  Does engaging in a bidding war for something on eBay make one want the item more?  Does going […]

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Work Life Balance

The term “Work Life Balance” seems to have existed for a long time. In writing this post, I did a bit of quick research and found the concept was not well defined until the last 20 years. Researchers have identified 3 key balance components: time, involvement and satisfaction. When work or life (family) demands are […]

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Due to the lasting impact of COVID-19 on our nation’s workplaces, the issue of work/life balance has taken on a new urgency.  Although many corporations are requiring their employees to return to the office full time, and some workplaces, such as hospitals, never allowed remote working, other employers are struggling for ways to keep their […]

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