Archive | Work-Life

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 24, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Psychology, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

This expression which is the title of this post is credited to English author Charles Caleb Colton’s writing in 1820. I don’t feel flattered. To explain, Melissa and I formed Magnus Research Consultants, Inc. in 1993. We worked hard to come up with a name that fit many criteria we established for our new, nameless, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 24, 2016

I respectfully disagree with Mr. Colton about being flattered by imitation. Think about it. Is imitation leather flattering to real leather? Is eating imitation cheese ever a good idea? What exactly is imitation crab imitating? I could go on. When David and I discovered that one of our competitors had copied our name, we were […]

The Psychology of Medical Malpractice

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 17, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

In the September 2016 Monitor on Psychology, there was an article entitled “Medical Errors are the Third Leading Cause of Death in the United States.” My reaction was “WOW”; it’s hard to believe medical errors are responsible for more deaths than respiratory ailments, strokes, Alzheimer’s Disease and are only surpassed by heart disease and cancer. […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 17, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Psychologists who have analyzed data from numerous adverse medical situations have identified 5 types of errors that cause medical mistakes: (1) errors of commission; (2) errors of omission; (3) errors of communication; (4) errors of context; and (5) diagnostic errors. The underlying problems that lead to medical errors have been studied by psychologists because many […]

Working through a hurricane.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 27, 2016

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Here we go again. Water, check. Gasoline for generators, check. Food-Publix, check (store was packed). Propane for grill, check. Checklist checked, check. More to do, check. The waiting begins. As I’m writing this, a tropical storm watch has been issued for our geographic area – the next 3 days will tell what Hurricane Matthew has […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 27, 2016

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Fortunately, South Florida was spared from a recent hurricane. All of the planning, preparing, and shopping were, thankfully, a huge waste of time, in that nothing more than a little wind and rain came our way. David calculated that we each spent 30 hours, 60 hours between the two of us, and probably 20 to […]

Confronting Dementia

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 22, 2016

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

Dementia, in its many forms, are ugly diseases. As they attack the brain, they attack the body. And, in doing so, they attack bystanders all around. Family and friends are drawn into the horror of the loved one or friend and seeing the gradual, and sudden, declines that come with these diseases. Sadly, Melissa and […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 22, 2016

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

It is an unarguable fact that the human brain is the most important part of the body and, indeed, what separates people from other mammals. This being the case, it is astounding to me that, although most people hurry to obtain medical care at the first sign of many, relatively minor, medical emergencies (for example, […]

If you see something, say something

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 8, 2016

Category: Business Travel, Common Courtesy, Life Outside of Work, Travel, Work-Life

In the brave new world we live in since 9-11-01, we all have extra concerns when traveling, especially flying. Melissa and I were traveling home from client meetings in Atlanta recently when we experienced an event that made the new realities more real than ever. I was seated at the lounge near the gate, waiting […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 8, 2016

Category: Business Travel, Common Courtesy, Life Outside of Work, Travel, Work-Life

Although it would have made things simpler to intervene if we had been able to understand what was being said by the man and woman who were fighting in the Atlanta airport, without a doubt, the tone of their voices indicated something was terribly wrong. In addition, their interpersonal violence, in the form of shouting […]

New friends

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 9, 2016

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

I genuinely like people. I am what many people call “a people person.” I gravitate toward people and most people gravitate toward me (with some very notable exceptions, of course!). I have never had any problems making new friends; furthermore, my friends are real, live people, as opposed to a list of names of people […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 9, 2016

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

It is interesting how we make friends. It seems to just happen. We don’t go looking for them usually. Making a friend doesn’t happen overnight. I feel fortunate to have made some good friends along the way. Thinking back to how these friendships formed I realize that in addition to Diana, whom Melissa mentioned, my […]

Speaking Engagements; You Never Know

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 4, 2016

Category: Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

The 1997 book by Harry Beckwith, Selling the Invisible, is about the differences in marketing a tangible product, the good old generic widget, as compared to selling an intangible product – a service. It is a wonderful book for those of us selling services, like we do as trial consultants. As a working photographer, this […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 4, 2016

Category: Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

In the time David and I have co-owned Magnus, I have given hundreds of presentations to audiences ranging from a handful of people in a law firm to hundreds of people in huge hotel ballrooms. Thus far, I have never received any compensation for making one of these speeches. On some occasions, the law firm […]

Old friends

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 2, 2016

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

At the time of writing this post, I am devastated over the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends. As the years pass and we get older, it is inevitable that we will lose some of our old friends, however, when the inevitable happens, it doesn’t lessen our grief. I grew up in […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 2, 2016

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

As I wrote in the blog about best friends, I do not have people go back as far in my life as Melissa does. Her experience is not unique perhaps, especially in smaller towns, but it different from my experience. I have friends from as far back as 6th grade, but only a few that […]

Best friend(s)

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 26, 2016

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Work-Life

Throughout my life, I have been fortunate to have many friends. In fact, due to the vast age difference between my two older brothers and me, I have friendships that have strong bonds that most people usually associate with family members. Among my friends there are a few extraordinary people whom I consider my “best […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 26, 2016

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Work-Life

Starting at the end of Melissa’s post I’ll say it is great to have her as my bestie. As we have written this blog it has been interesting to see how we have different perspectives sometimes, but have a common bond, and a perspective on life and work. I’m not sure it would be possible […]

Educating clients, without alienating them

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 14, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

An aspect of our trial consulting business that is sometimes difficult to address is that, as noted in other posts, we have competitors with a wide variety of qualifications, from those like us, with extensive educational backgrounds and degrees, to those with no education beyond high school. Further, some of our competitors are so uneducated […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 14, 2016

The title of this post is “Educating Clients, without Alienating Them,” however, there are some clients who, in my opinion, have no hope of becoming educated about the reasons why they should hire my company over one of our unqualified competitors, such that I wish the title could be, “Alienating Clients without Educating them.” Some […]

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Archive | Work-Life

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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