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Travel – 2's Company – MagnusInsights.com https://magnusinsights.com Wed, 05 Oct 2022 17:35:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://magnusinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-2sCompanyLogov23-32x32.jpg Travel – 2's Company – MagnusInsights.com https://magnusinsights.com 32 32 John Lennon https://magnusinsights.com/john-lennon/ Wed, 05 Oct 2022 17:40:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3313
It’s about time I wrote a post about one of my favorite people, John Lennon. I’ve been a fan of the greatest band of all time, The Beatles, since 1964, when my wonderful father bought me their first album, “Introducing …The Beatles,” released on Vee-Jay Records. Although I liked Paul, George, and Ringo, it was John who captured my attention. I like every “version” of John, from the early mop top days, to his peace activist days, to his final years, when he was mostly out of the public eye. In my neighborhood group of friends, I was always John, Tara was always Paul, Chris was always George, and of course, Roger, a drummer in real life, was always Ringo. A lot of girls I knew wanted to be the girlfriend of one of the Beatles. Not me. I wanted to be John Lennon. When I had to start wearing glasses, because I, like John Lennon, am near sighted, I wanted to wear glasses with wire rimmed frames just like his. When he sang, “Power to the People,” I sang “Right on” along with the record. I always bought singles and albums as soon as they were released. My dad made sure of this, even though he didn’t like The Beatles too much! I wore Beatles boots, took my lunch to school in a Beatles lunch box, and tried to be as cool as John Lennon. My mom, who liked Paul McCartney the best of all The Beatles, said John wasn’t handsome, couldn’t sing as well as Paul, and in any event, John, along with his bandmates, was merely part of a passing fad that I would soon outgrow. Mom was right about a lot of things, but she was wrong about my lifelong love of The Beatles and their band leader, John Lennon. I wear a necklace, given to me by my dear mother-in-law, Carole, with a charm that says “Imagine” and alongside it, a smaller charm that has John’s face, as he drew it, etched in. As I am typing this post, I am wearing one of my many John Lennon t-shirts. When David calls my cell phone, my ring tone is “Whatever Gets You Through the Night,” a song by John Lennon. Going to John’s childhood home in Liverpool, with the opportunity to stand inside his bedroom, was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. One of the first things I do upon every arrival to New York City is to visit Strawberry Fields, in Central Park, near The Dakota, where he was murdered by someone so evil that I do not speak his name. Then there is my music room, filled with memorabilia of The Beatles and John Lennon. I could go on, but suffice it to say that, after almost 60 years, I still love The Beatles and I still love John Lennon the most of all! 
]]> Expand Your Horizons: Johnny Cash, Jazz… https://magnusinsights.com/expand-your-horizons-johnny-cash-jazz/ Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3235 Expand your horizons. Exit your comfort zone. Try new things. Visit new places. Meet new people. These are mantras to which I aspire. Many people are too afraid to venture outside things they’ve always done. They go to the same restaurants, then order the same things off the menu. When it comes to music, some of my friends say “Oh, I like all kinds of music” when they really mean they like all kinds of music within a narrow framework, such as 70s “classic” rock. Boring! I like to shake it up once in a while. My dear friend, Bob, who is my best friend from graduate school (not to mention one of the coolest people I know), visited David and me recently. As usual, our conversation turned to our mutual love of music. Bob was a university professor for his entire career and he lived in a small town that didn’t afford many opportunities to see concerts. When he was visiting, he remarked that, although he had gone to lots of concerts while growing up in Texas, he hadn’t seen as many concerts as David and I have seen. This led me to a recitation of some of the many performers David and I have had the pleasure of seeing live, including: B. B. King, Johnny Cash, Barbra Streisand, The Rippingtons, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Chick Corea, Waylon Jennings, Englebert Humperdink, The Temptations, The Village People, and so on and so on. Bob was astounded that I, a fan of rock and roll music (including today’s groups, such as Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed, and Godsmack), would consider, not to mention attend, concerts that are not within the genre of rock and roll. Bob was incredulous, questioning “Barry Manilow?” to which I remarked, “Yes, and he played 20 minutes worth of jingles he wrote for TV commercials during the show!” The point about experiencing things outside of one’s usual practices is, of course, not limited to music. Never had Lebanese food? Try it! The worst thing that could happen is that you won’t like it; if so, you can always go to your favorite fast food place to satisfy your hunger. Never been to Miami? Come to visit David and me. We will take you to many unforgettable places! How about the Grand Canyon? Let’s go! The world awaits us!

]]> Alaskan Cruises https://magnusinsights.com/alaskan-cruises/ Thu, 18 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3219 Having just returned from Alaska, I am more aware than ever that going to Alaska means, for many people, taking a cruise. But, Melissa and I aren’t cruisers, so we did a land tour. Nonetheless, it is now impossible to be in Alaska without encountering cruisers. From the gift (junk) shops in Anchorage to Denali, cruise passengers are everywhere. The Denali National Park area, that is, outside the national park, even has hotels dedicated to cruisers who are taking side trips there. For better or worse, Alaska has been impacted by cruise ship based tourism. One of our land cruising stops was Seward, and there was a ship docked there for our entire visit. I hear good things about Alaskan cruises and the sights which can be seen, leading to this story. Many years ago, my Dad, Herman, decided to take my Mom, Carole, on an Alaskan cruise. He was excited that this was an auction item at one of the trucking conventions he attended and he aggressively bid on the “Alaskan cruise” and won the prize. However, this was not what one thinks of when cruising to Alaska. It was, instead of a scenic, inside passage tour, a cargo ship taking the most direct route from Seattle to Anchorage, fully loaded. The accommodations were in the guest cabin on a container ship. Dad was excited that he would get to dine with the Captain. Turns out, Mom and Dad were the only passengers on the ship and they had the only, non crew, cabin! There were no buffets, entertainment, or sightseeing opportunities. Just full steam ahead on a working ship. As it turned out, Dad enjoyed it; he was thrilled to see how everything worked. And, the Captain had a model train layout in his cabin, an interest of Dad’s, so he was in “hog heaven.” As for Mom, she brought along several books. There were no nice ship corridors, elevators, balconies, etc.; it was decks, stairs, and portholes. There are Alaskan cruises, and there are Alaskan cruises. Alaskans depend on the cargo transported by sea, and, thankfully, these ships ply the seas daily. But, we’ve often laughed at this situation and how different people’s perspectives can be! Bon voyage.

]]> Con Mucho Gusto https://magnusinsights.com/con-mucho-gusto/ Tue, 16 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3224 David and I have written in previous posts about one of our pet peeves, replying to “thank you” with “no problem.” We always get a little miffed when someone says “no problem” because we don’t think there is a need to mention any sort of problem when someone is being thanked for doing something. I also dislike the use of “de nada” in response to “gracias.” I have been speaking Spanish (sometimes better than other times) since I was in kindergarten. As everyone who speaks Spanish is well aware, the translation of “de nada” is “of nothing.” This is if to say, in my opinion, that the thing for which someone is being thanked is no big deal, meaningless, or of little consequence. It’s a slightly smaller brush off than “no problem,” however, it is still a brush off. When David and I visited Bob (my Bob) in Costa Rica in 2010, we soon discovered that the typical response to “gracias” there is “con gusto” and in some cases, “con mucho gusto.” The Costa Ricans have got it right! “Con gusto” means “with pleasure” and “con mucho gusto” means “with much pleasure,” either of which make the person who is expressing his/her gratitude happy to have thanked someone. In addition to saying “con mucho gusto,” all of the Costa Ricans with whom I interacted had big smiles on their faces when I thanked them and they seemed to be genuinely glad to have helped me. I always bring home a little part of places I visit and I will always remember the kindness and smiles of the people I met in Costa Rica. Gracias for the lesson in gracious acceptance of thankfulness!

]]> Vacations https://magnusinsights.com/vacations/ Thu, 11 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3214 At the time of this post, I am likely on vacation. After missing the opportunity to take a vacation for a couple of years, Melissa and I have been looking forward to it. The visit to this destination, Alaska, was delayed from our original plan and thus, we’ve been working on and revising the plans for months. It is difficult, as small business owners, to get away, really away, and be detached from work for any extended period of time. I’m not sure we ever can. I’ve “worked” from vacations in Hawai’i, Greece, Australia, and more, if only to reply to some emails from clients or staff. The purpose of a vacation is, to me, like rebooting a computer. Our brains need rebooting; they need to be cleared. It is a pressure release, and frees up brain cells from the stresses of daily life which recharges my brain for when I get back to work after the vacation. Permanent vacations have appeal, but I haven’t won the lottery yet. Vacations are a reward for hard work and they are good for mental health as well. Over the years, I’ve noticed some people almost apologize for vacations; I’ve felt that, at some level, when I realize how our schedule impacts our ability to work for clients at certain times. But, a vacation should not be a sign of weakness; rather, it is a sign that one is doing something healthy and productive. Bon voyage!

]]> Live Your Life Like Someone Left the Gate Open https://magnusinsights.com/live-your-life-like-someone-left-the-gate-open/ Tue, 26 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3202 I don’t remember where I saw this quote for the first time, but I instantly liked it: “Live your life like someone left the gate open.” I guess there are multiple interpretations of this sentence, however, my view of it is that, as David’s late mother used to say, we should try to “have fun” in everything we do. If we are doing a simple chore, we can try to make it more bearable by viewing it as something in which other people would do anything to be able to participate. For example, think about the bright side of the activity instead of focusing on the negatives. David and I were waiting for a simple hot dog lunch to be brought to an outdoor picnic table that is located on a busy, dusty street in Fort Lauderdale when he asked me if I was having fun. I said, “Not right now, but I will be as soon as my hot dog arrives.” Sure enough, as soon as my tasty hot dog was placed on the table, I acted as if someone left the gate open, with my hot dog ready to be devoured before someone remembered to close and lock the gate. It’s all a matter of perspective. I have had several friends and family members who relied on wheelchairs when they went places. Instead of bemoaning the fact that I had to lift the heavy (for me) wheelchair in and out of my car, then push my family member or friend anyplace we wanted to go, I always decided to act like someone left the gate open, by laughingly telling other people to move out of our way because “we’re coming through” or even more fun, making a beeping noise like the noise of the courtesy carts that transport disabled people in the Atlanta airport. (Yes, these tactics not only clear traffic, they often make other people laugh too!) The point of this post is to have as much fun as possible, even when going about routine business or in situations many people would find tiresome. I’m always searching for the next open gate!

]]> The Confounded Bridge https://magnusinsights.com/the-confounded-bridge/ Tue, 19 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3200 The confounded bridge! This expression appears to have originated in the 1973 song, “The Crunge,” by Led Zeppelin (on the Houses of the Holy album). At the end of the song, either John Bonham or Robert Plant asks, (music historians disagree on whose voice is being heard) “Where’s the confounded bridge?”. This is a reference to James Brown, whose songs usually involved irregular forms, such that he had to say “Take me to the bridge” to inform his band it was time to play the bridge part of the song. The bridge in a song is used to contrast the usual structure of verse/chorus/verse/chorus that is common in many songs. The bridge, or b section, of a song is a transitional section that usually occurs in the middle and is used to prepare for the return of the verse/chorus structure. The bridge often has a different chord and/or rhythmic structure than the rest of the song and can be difficult for musicians to play (thus, Led Zeppelin’s reference to the confounded nature of the bridge). Outside the U.S.A., the bridge of a song is called the “middle 8,” due to the fact that it is usually 4 or 8 musical bars. Many songs by The Beatles contain a bridge, or as they called it, the middle 8, written by the non primary song writer. For example, if a song’s verses and chorus were written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney frequently wrote the middle 8 (and vice versa). The purpose of the bridge is to provide a new angle, advance the story of the song, or introduce a new element. In my life, most situations involve a musical reference. For me, the bridge in life, as in music, can be a different perspective on a familiar situation, a change in ways of doing something, or an entirely new way of looking at the world. In music, I am always listening for the bridge to determine where the song will be taking me. One never knows when that confounded bridge will appear.

]]> Old School https://magnusinsights.com/old-school/ Tue, 12 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3197 In many ways, I, and people like me, are considered “old school” or “retro.” Someone recently complimented me on an Alice Cooper t-shirt I was wearing, saying he really liked its “old school” look. I still use expressions from “back in the day,” such as groovy, psychedelic, cool (instead of hot, meant to describe something in a positive way), and freaky. And, first and foremost, I still love The Beatles! Mom and I had a long running debate on whether The Beatles were a passing fad or whether they would become a huge part of world culture forever. I was right; The Beatles came onto the worldwide music scene in 1963 and their music is as relevant today as it was then. I recently attended my high school reunion (Yay for the Fort Myers Senior High School Green Wave!), where dinner was provided by a long time local restaurant, The Farmer’s Market. Upon being served barbequed chicken in the buffet line, I remarked to the server that I had rarely had anything at The Farmer’s Market except fried mullet. He smiled and said, “Wow! You are really old school!” and I thanked him for recognizing this. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy many modern conveniences and today’s rock music is, in my opinion, just as good (albeit different) than the music I listened to when I was younger. But the old school and retro groove is still an important part of my life. I wear bell bottoms, Birkenstocks, and peace sign earrings. There is a groovy lava lamp gurgling on my desk as I write this, near a Magic 8 Ball that I consult with some frequency. I know what I like and I see no reason to eschew these retro things just because they are old. Old school? Retro? As The Beatles once said, “yeah, yeah, yeah.”

]]> Lessons Learned the Hard Way https://magnusinsights.com/lessons-learned-the-hard-way/ Tue, 05 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3169 I make mistakes, a lot of them. A few minutes ago, David pointed out my most recent mistake, for which I apologized. I almost always take responsibility for my mistakes and I try to correct them when it is possible to do so. Fortunately, none of my mistakes have resulted in seriously negative outcomes for someone, including me. Furthermore, unlike some people, I usually learn from my mistakes, such that I avoid making the same mistake twice. Nevertheless, some of the lessons I have learned during my over 3 decades of working as a trial consultant have been learned “the hard way.” After learning a particularly painful lesson, I am disinclined to do anything that will cause a similar problem. Lessons I have learned from clients, including Magnus’ clients and clients of 2 former employers in the trial consulting business, are:

(1) Talk to the boss. As I have mentioned in the past, I learned, early in my career, that it does not matter what the paralegal says. It does not matter what the associate attorney says. It does not matter what the “second chair” on the case says. I take my marching orders from the boss, that is, the lead trial counsel in the case. Everyone else will be treated with kindness and respect, but in the end, all of us on the trial team must realize that our work is directed by 1 person, the boss. For this reason, I always insist on talking to the boss prior to working on any client’s case.
(2) When there are 2 or more attorneys involved in presenting a case at a mock trial, talk with both of them at the same time, either in person or on the telephone. I learned, painfully, that failing to speak with both or all attorneys, so that everyone can receive the same instructions, is a requirement in every case. If I speak with 1 attorney at a time, then he/she might think I am saying something to the other attorney(s) that is incorrect, or that I am withholding information provided to the other attorney(s), or worse. I have been wrongly accused of misdeeds by attorneys who “threw me under the bus” in an effort to cover up their incompetence. Never again!
(3) When dealing with the super sized ego of an attorney who perceives himself/herself as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) among trial lawyers, it is often necessary for me to provide advice or counseling privately, so that the ever present minions do not witness any imperfections on the part of their boss. When I am tasked with improving the trial outcome for a high profile attorney, he (so far, there have not been any women lawyers who fit this profile) must never be embarrassed in front of his adoring staff. If I ever make this mistake, I will pay for it by losing a client, forever. (I almost made this mistake once, by failing to realize there were 2 GOATs who were co-counsel on a case, but luckily for me, one of my employees alerted me about who was who.)
(4) When asked for my opinion about my client’s case, tell the truth, as nicely as possible. Only once has this resulted in the permanent loss of a client, because I answered his questions by telling him things he did not want to hear, however, I will never lie to a client, regardless of how painful the truth is.
(5) If problems are occurring between a member of the Magnus team and a client, always document everything in writing. This way, there is no “he said, she said” when the problems worsen. Fortunately, this is a rarity at Magnus. Nonetheless, when it comes to things like “the check is in the mail,” I am unable to proceed until the check in the mail is finally delivered.

Overall, while these examples are of events that have occurred, they are infrequent, but painful, reminders of the difficulty in meeting every client’s expectations, 100% of the time. Here’s hoping the mistake I made today will be the worst thing that happens today. If so, it will be a pretty good day!

]]> Zenobia https://magnusinsights.com/zenobia/ Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://magnus.lisawhitsell.com/?p=3161 Recently, a long time friend of my family’s, Woody Hanson, posted an old photo on a social media site that brought back fond memories. The photo was of Zenobia King Hill, the owner of a modeling school in my hometown of Fort Myers, Florida. Zenobia was from Alabama; she attended the famous John Robert Powers modeling school in New York City; and later moved to Fort Myers with her husband, who was a photographer for the local newspaper. At the time I met her, Zenobia was in her 60s and just as lovely and vibrant as she was in her younger days. Like many girls “back in the day,” I met Zenobia when my mother forced, prodded, and cajoled me into attending her modeling classes. (Some people call this “charm school,” but whatever it is called, I was a most unwilling attendee!) Mom evidently decided, along with the mother of one of my cousins, that I needed to learn some skills that would help me succeed in life. Zenobia figured out that I was not attending her modeling classes voluntarily and she cleverly chose to ignore my sullen attitude, instead, she took it into stride. Luckily for me, I grew quite fond of Zenobia and, over the course of the modeling classes, I became an eager student. Modeling classes were not limited to learning how to participate in fashion shows, although that was certainly a large part of what was taught. The classes were also not limited to instruction on “table manners,” although that was part of the curriculum. Instead, these classes were more about how to conduct oneself in any situation in which one might find oneself. Thanks to Zenobia, I know many things, including: (1) how to walk with grace and poise, instead of loping along like a cowboy everywhere I go; (2) how to walk up and down a flight of stairs without bobbing my head, thereby avoiding the appearance of a bouncing beach ball; (3) how to sit properly (I admit this skill is not always practiced by me!); (4) how to get into and out of a car without flashing anyone or hitting my head; (5) how to, properly, button and unbutton a blouse or coat (there is, indeed, only one proper way to do this); (6) how to manage a large quantity of plates, glasses, and flatware at a formal dinner; and much more. In the end, I actually enjoyed participating in fashion shows, many of which were part of fund raising for charities. Thanks to Zenobia, I am as comfortable in the boardroom of any Fortune 100 company filled with high level executives as I am in my own home. And, of course, thanks to Mom for ensuring I received the proper education that has allowed me to become who I am today.

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