Archive | Work-Life

Being ethical can be expensive

I have always enjoyed the intellectual aspects of considering the ethical aspects of life and work. One of my favorite graduate school courses was business ethics and I had other classes on the subject in college, and decades ago, in a church youth group. The topics often were mind opening – considering what to do […]

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People have often criticized me for being too goody, goody; too prim and proper; and for taking an unpopular stance by not going along with the crowd.  Upon receiving this criticism, I usually remark that I am not working on a popularity contest; I am working to do the right thing. As an example, I […]

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Help people

I have received a lot of help from people over the years, mostly from my two “big” brothers. As the only daughter of my parents and one considerably younger than my two dear brothers, I have turned to each of them on countless occasions for all kinds of help, including financial, advice on how to […]

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I grew up with parents who were always willing to help others.  They would quickly invite my friends to visit, or come to dinner, including a near ritual Sunday night pizza feast that usually included several friends.  In an open and non judgmental way, they were always willing to include an array of friends.  My […]

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Either you are wrong or I am right. Part 2: Clients

As I was writing the post, “Either you are wrong or I am right,” I thought that, like the album title from which it came, About Face (by David Gilmour) there are perhaps more than 1 way to contemplate this lyric. In the first post I wrote about the implications of behaving, in a personal […]

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I admit to being frustrated by some clients’ insistence that they know everything there is to know, including in an area in which they have zero expertise.  However, I am somewhat entertained by their willingness to set themselves up for failure, when something happens to disprove their incorrect assumptions, and I usually ask them to […]

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Either you are wrong or I am right. Part 1: Business Partners

One of the songs from David Gilmour’s 1984 Album About Face was titled “You Know I’m Right.” I enjoyed the entire album by Pink Floyd’s vocalist and (extraordinary) guitarist, starting with the album title which seemed so clever in its dual meanings. But, the lyrics of this song were particularly compelling to think about how […]

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I am not sure whether this statement, “Either you are wrong or I am right” was aimed at a particular person, nor do I know whether it was intended to be interpreted in a tongue in cheek manner.  I am certain, however, that it made a lasting impression on David because he frequently quotes it […]

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Jumping up and down when TV breaks

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 19, 2016

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

Temper tantrums are never cute. They are not cute among children and they are certainly not cute among adults. (My husband’s relative had a temper tantrum in our home when he was way too old for such a violent outburst, resulting in my having to repair and re-paint the wall he repeatedly kicked, such that […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 19, 2016

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

Our work in the trial consulting arena necessitates the use of technologies that are not perfect.  And, we work in unfamiliar places, with rented equipment like televisions, all of which lead to problems with some regularity.  This is one of those areas where, in our work, “ it happens.”  But, we are almost always able, […]

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Story telling

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 15, 2015

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

One of my responsibilities when helping my clients (all of whom are trial lawyers and litigators) is to suggest ways in which they can tell the story of their case, to captivate the attention of the jury, mediator, arbitrator, or judge. Almost everyone is familiar with story telling as a way of conveying information, but […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 15, 2015

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

Unfortunately for the characters in the very real life stories surrounding many of the cases we handle, the endings do not result in living happily ever after.  Thus, the stories told to our mock jurors are often tragic.  But, regardless of the facts of the situation, the way in which the story is told by […]

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Adventures

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 8, 2015

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Travel, Work-Life

There are all kinds of adventures in life. Some adventures require travel to faraway places; others take us nearby, to places that are sometimes easily overlooked; while others happen in our back yard. I love adventures and I enjoy planning them, as well as reminiscing about them years afterward. One of the most exciting adventures […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 8, 2015

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Travel, Work-Life

Starting with the premise that life is an adventure, the question is how adventurous do you want to be?  The boating adventure taught us a lesson in planning (and, in our boating skills which were not very strong at the time causing delays in getting underway).  But the lessons from being adventurous are a big […]

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My mother

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 1, 2015

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

Given that my last post was about my dad, it is logical for this one to be about my mother. The first thing the astute reader will note is my reference to each parent, the informal “dad” and the formal “mother.” Mother was, at most times, a formal person. She considered herself to be a […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 1, 2015

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

While I never met Melissa’s father, I met her mother, Leola, very soon after meeting Melissa.  And, Melissa’s description of her as formal was certainly on display then.  She not only considered herself a “lady,” but a “southern lady” whose routines included daily naps and never wearing pants.  Closer in age to my grandparents than […]

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My dad, my hero

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 24, 2015

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

I am a fortunate person who had the benefit of having a wonderful father who was in my life until I was 14. Although I have spent a lot of time wondering why I was unfortunate to have lost my dad unexpectedly when both he and I were too young for his untimely passing, I […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 24, 2015

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

I never had the pleasure of meeting Park Pigott, Sr., but I’ve heard so many stories, from a variety of sources, so I have come to understand his status as personal hero for Melissa, and her family, and a local hero in Ft. Myers.  I mean, there is a baseball stadium named for him, so […]

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Have a hero

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 17, 2015

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

A hero is usually defined as a person who has performed an act of bravery or is greatly admired for his/her achievements. People vary in whether or not they have one or more heroes. I have several heroes, all of whom serve an important function in my life. Some of them are people actually known […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 17, 2015

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

Readers of our blog probably know the scheme.  Each post was envisioned by whomever is identified as the first author, meaning, for this one, Melissa.  She picked the topic and wrote her content leaving it for me to write a commentary. And, this is one, “Have a hero” that I’ve found difficult to write because […]

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