Archive | Workplace Technology

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The more the merrier

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 30, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

I have recently been working with a client to explain some concepts that are part of our work. These concepts are some of the fundamentals of social science research, concepts which are so well understood by those educated in this area that they are second nature. This particular concept is easily explained by the adage, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 30, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

One of the most challenging, not to mention frustrating, aspects of my career has been explaining scientific research methods, statistical principles, and other complex aspects of the work I perform to people who lack the education, knowledge, and experience to understand what I am talking about. There is only so much “dumbing down” that is […]

I’ve Been Everywhere

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 16, 2016

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Driving on I-95 from Jacksonville to south Florida for the second time in about 10 days, I happened to hear Johnny Cash’s version of the song, “I’ve Been Everywhere” (released in 1996) and did the song ever ring true! In our trial consulting work, we go where the clients and cases are. This has taken […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 16, 2016

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Although I haven’t been everywhere, I’ve been almost everywhere, at least in the U.S.A. My traveling days began in childhood, when my parents and I took long road trips every summer for our vacation. All of my teachers knew about my dad’s penchant for traveling, thus, when school began each fall, I was asked to […]

Ziggy Stardust A Cat’s Tale

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 29, 2016

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

I recently published a nonfiction book entitled, “Ziggy Stardust A Cat’s Tale.” The book immortalizes the nine lives of my amazing cat, named Ziggy Stardust. Ziggy Stardust lived his 9 lives for 19 years, during which he accompanied me to college, then to graduate school, then to life in several big cities. By the time […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 29, 2016

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

When I met Melissa she introduced me to her “old” cat, Ziggy. I think he was 9 at the time and I thought, wow, that’s an old cat. (I didn’t realize that meeting him was an audition – that if I had not passed, Melissa would have picked him over me, but I digress.) […]

Dun & Bradstreet: Part 2

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 18, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

As I have come up with topics for this blog I have found that often a brief title triggers multiple thoughts. Dun & Bradstreet was the subject of a prior blog which related my distaste for fear based marketing. But, it is because Dun & Bradstreet has a well known name that it can engage […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 18, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Sometimes, despite our best efforts in preventing disasters, disaster strikes, usually, without warning. The Dun & Bradstreet / Dun and brad street debacle was, at the time it was perpetuated on Magnus, well known within the computer industry, to the point that Magnus’ long time computer consultant held a special meeting with David, me, and […]

Loud is good, except when I want quiet

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 26, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Loud, for me, is good. I have a shirt that says so! I am not afraid of loud music and other happy loud sounds, including cars, boats, and motorcycles. However, when I am working, particularly on something that requires concentration, I must work in absolute silence. I do not allow anyone who works for me […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 26, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Thankfully, Melissa’s and my offices are situated such that we have the ability to close the door to reduce distractions. But, noisy distractions can transcend doors, windows and walls. Leaf blowers and weed eaters are big offenders. Maintaining focus on technical, detailed work requires concentration beyond what school requires and as such, we have had […]

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Archive | Workplace Technology

A Point of View

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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