Archive | Magnus Insights

If the cake is bad, what good is the frosting?

David and I become inspired to write our blog posts in a variety of ways, including by sources that many people would not find particularly inspiring. As an example, this post was inspired by a fortune cookie that was included in a recent delivery from a local Chinese restaurant. Many so called fortunes found inside […]

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If the cake is bad, what good is the frosting?  I guess this is similar to the adage about not judging a book by its cover.  The book cover, or the frosting, can cover up what is worn or rotten inside.  Cutting the cake, looking under the hood, or beyond a glossy cover, reveals what […]

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We Can’t Make our Clients Do Anything

David and I recently attended a meeting with attorneys and their clients regarding a case for which they were considering retaining Magnus. The clients of the attorneys are a group of wealthy, sophisticated people who are accustomed to getting their way in all aspects of their lives. These individuals are from a variety of professional […]

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Many years ago, after we had completed a mock jury project for a first time client and he had resolved the case, I made a follow up call to him to ask his impressions.  He said everything was great, but he did have one complaint, he said, “You should have made me do this sooner.” […]

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It’s all guesswork…

I was recently discussing with a client Melissa’s involvement as a trial consultant during jury selection. The attorney was well seasoned, has had many trials, but has never engaged a trial consultant to assist during jury selection. And, like most attorneys these days, the opportunities to conduct jury selection, and go to trial, with everything […]

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I’m not sure which of Magnus’ uninformed/misinformed clients made this remark to David, but this remark is another reminder that seemingly intelligent, sophisticated people are sometimes not as intelligent or sophisticated as they would like other people to believe.  Guesswork?  Did this guy say guesswork?  There is nothing, absolutely nothing, involving guesswork in my jury […]

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Theo

I spend a lot of time in hotel rooms. During my career as a jury/trial consultant, I have traveled across the U.S.A. to work with attorneys. Part of my travel experience is staying in hotels in the cities where I am working. In places where Magnus works on a frequent basis, such as David’s hometown, […]

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Anonymity is the norm when traveling.  Different flights, different airports, different hotels, and different restaurants. It is a relatively rare situation to end up getting acquainted with someone who works in one of these places.  And, if you do see a familiar person from time to time on subsequent trips, the connection is generally perfunctory.  […]

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Chopstick solutions

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 2, 2020

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

I recently had several opportunities to fix a few things around the house. Most recently, it was the flag on the mailbox. These things were small and required me to figure out how to fix them absent specific parts. As it happened, I had some chopsticks, which were part of a Chinese food delivery, available. […]

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David saves almost everything, “just in case” he might need it in the future.  I will give credit to David for his creative use of chopsticks, among other things he has used for non intended purposes.  I have little use for chopsticks.  I do not eat with them.  In fact, I have embarrassed David in […]

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In a flock of pigeons, be the flamingo

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 31, 2020

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees

A few years ago, in some faraway location where the Magnus team was conducting mock jury research, I noticed a woman who was wearing a bright pink shirt that was festooned with sequins. I love glittery things and I walked closer so that I could see the details on her shirt. Her shirt had lovely […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 31, 2020

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees

Flamingos have pizzazz.  They get attention just by standing around and foraging for crustaceans in a pond.  They stand out against the water, sky, or foliage.  Camouflage is not their strong suit.  There are times when keeping one’s head down, and trying to go unnoticed, makes sense. This is especially true if the bullets, real […]

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Check SPAM for Treasure

I was recently reminded that email systems are far from infallible. I was purging email in my spam folder when I found an email from a prospective client asking for a proposal for mock jury research. The email was sent via OUR OWN WEBSITE through the “contact us” form. But, despite being sent from my […]

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Until this experience, I have never liked Spam.  When David and I have visited Hawai’i, we noticed the popularity of the canned meat type of Spam, which is prevalent in many restaurants.  But, the kind of Spam to which David refers is the computer variety that most computer users despise for its pesky intrusiveness.  Since […]

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Judges are People: Some are nice and others, not so nice

Judges are people, just like the rest of us. There are many types of judges, young, old, women, men, smart, not so smart, nice, and not nice. In my years of working as a jury/trial consultant, I have encountered many judges. I have met judges during hundreds of jury selections; I have made presentations with […]

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I’m sure in most professions there are good and bad.  I can’t think of any profession without such outliers at the extremes.  I don’t get to observe many judges in action, I’ve met plenty, but seeing them in action is in Melissa’s bailiwick, not mine.  Most judges I know are courteous and professional, but I […]

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Trial Team Crew

Once again, I was reminded about the people who support the lead trial attorney. The lead attorney and 2nd chair attorneys get the attention, like the rock star. Like Ozzy, Mick, or Geddy, who are lead singers, the lead attorneys are in the spotlight (or hot seat). But, behind them, there is often a small […]

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I have had the pleasure of working with attorneys and their trial teams for several decades.  It never ceases to amaze me that almost all of Magnus’ clients have a small army of professionals working with them on behalf of our mutual clients.  When I am involved in selecting a jury for a client, I […]

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Introduce yourself to the property manager

Magnus Research Consultants has been headquartered in the same location since 1996. In the first few years in our office space, the owner of the building also had an office in the same building. He retired, then passed away, leaving his family in charge of his vast business holdings. When the building owner moved out, […]

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I wholeheartedly agree with Melissa.  Ray is an interesting guy and, as with many relationships, it is beneficial to spend time getting to know people who impact one’s life, whether on a regular or infrequent basis.  Running a business involves many moving parts, whether it is the property manager, the teller at the bank, the […]

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