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About this blog

After more than 25 years operating a trial consulting practice together as co-founding partners of Magnus Research Consultants, Inc. and Magnus Graphics, Inc., and more than 30 years of marriage, Dr. Melissa Pigott and David Fauss decided to share some of their thoughts, experiences, pet peeves, and perspectives on operating a small “mom & pop” business. The intended audience for their writings is other business owners, as well as employees of small businesses. Trial consulting is a professional service business, as was David’s photography business. There are many unique issues faced by professional service providers; Melissa and David share some of their insights on running a successful business.

Window of Opportunity for Trial Consulting Work

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 13, 2017

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Science

Recently I’ve received calls from attorneys who wanted mock jury research on their cases, but the calls have come so late that I have been reflecting on when the window of opportunity is open for mock jury research. I have mentioned this issue in other posts, but because I’m noticing this recent spate of last […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 13, 2017

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Science

Attorneys and social psychologists share few personality traits. Different types of people are, of course, drawn to different occupations. Social psychology is a research based doctoral degree; as such, it attracts people who are detail oriented; mathematically inclined; proactive; possessive of highly advanced logical reasoning skills; capable of designing, executing, and analyzing complex research programs; […]

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Cliques

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 11, 2017

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Psychology, Trial Consulting

I recently authored a post about poseurs. This is post is on a closely related topic, cliques. Cliques are present in almost all social groups. Social psychologists have, for decades, conducted research on in groups versus out groups and the societal roles played by these categorizations of people. Generally speaking, we humans prefer to socialize […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 11, 2017

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Psychology, Trial Consulting

Other than being in the band, marching and concert, for much of junior and senior high, I don’t think I found myself in too many cliques.  And, I’ll report that, even within the unit of the band, there were sub cliques of those who thought they were the best of the bunch.  While I was […]

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How NOT to do mock jury research!

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 6, 2017

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Research, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

I recently had a telephone call from a prospective client who wanted help with a case going to trial within 2 weeks of his call. It was a big case and he asked that we conduct mock trial research on a specific Saturday (which was 10 days after the call), in our home venue (despite […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 6, 2017

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Research, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

No one hates to turn down work, and more important, revenue generated from work, more than David and I do. However, we have turned down quite a bit of work over the years, for a myriad of reasons. In the recent unfortunate instance David mentions, any of the incorrect and unreasonable requests the prospective client […]

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Poseurs

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 4, 2017

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

We all know poseurs. Poseur is a French word derived from pose and poser and as we all know, it is used to describe someone who adopts a fake or insincere way of presenting himself/herself to others. There are all kinds of poseurs, including many politicians and celebrities, who affect their public image in ways […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 4, 2017

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I’m sure that Melissa and I are compatible because we share this genuine personality trait. I’ve never “gotten” or understood the poseurs – whether high school jocks or cheerleaders, or in any other context, including our current work. I know that in our current work, trial consulting, our clients have to put on a “show” […]

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Blogger from Way Back

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 30, 2017

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Travel, Work-Life

In thinking about our blog, which is about 3.5 years old, and has well over 300 hundreds posts. It has been a challenge from time to time to keep up with the pace we set for ourselves of 2 posts (1 each as primary writer) per week. Sometimes, we are ahead of ourselves by a […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 30, 2017

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Travel, Work-Life

I learned something about David today as I read his latest post. I never knew, until now, that David was a “blogger” over 30 years ago with his creative newsletters from Australia! What a cool and efficient way to keep family and friends informed of his exciting adventures in an exotic land that many of […]

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Porch dogs (& cats)

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 28, 2017

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

I have a well worn tee shirt that says, “If you can’t run with the big dogs, you’d better stay on the porch.” Although I like this expression, I prefer my porch to almost any other location, thus, I am perfectly happy to stay on the porch. I believe there are several types of people, […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 28, 2017

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

To answer Melissa’s question, my preference is to be an outdoors person. But, the reality is, I spend more time on the porch than in the field. Growing up, I spent as much time as possible exploring the woods near my house, pellet gun in hand, before moving beyond that to bigger woods and bigger […]

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Entrpreneurial Hats

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 23, 2017

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

I don’t wear (real) hats that often, unless I’m going to be in the sun, or in the cold weather.  I have lot of hats, a habit of collecting them picked up from my Dad.  He has quite a collection, many of them from trucking companies or manufacturers.  In fact, as a child I thought […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 23, 2017

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

David is right: I don’t wear as many hats in owning and operating our business as he does. My job primarily consists of preparing for research projects, for example, mock trials; conducting research; preparing detailed reports containing research results and recommendations for litigation strategies; supervising our research team; selecting juries; making presentations to lawyers, insurance […]

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B&Bs v. hotels – what kind are you?

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 21, 2017

Category: Business Travel, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Travel

I have traveled, for both business and pleasure, for decades. I have traveled extensively throughout my native state of Florida, in all 50 states in the U.S.A., and in many places internationally. Over the years, I have developed a keen understanding of the types of accommodations where I like to stay, when possible. I include […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 21, 2017

Category: Business Travel, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Travel

When I did the backpacking thing in Europe (and Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and more) after a year of grad school “down under,” I found myself in many youth hostels, with many varied types of accommodations. These included open air co-ed bunk beds in Fiji, to double rooms in Paris and Madrid – with bathrooms […]

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Trial Consultants & Dentists

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 16, 2017

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Trial Consulting

Okay, what do trial consultants and dentists have in common? I was prompted to think about this recently when I met a dentist who is participating in the Jim Moran Institute/Florida State University Small Business Executive Program with me. He and I were discussing how people dread going to the dentist. It is one of […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 16, 2017

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Trial Consulting

I don’t understand why some of Magnus’ clients, all of whom are trial lawyers, are afraid of retaining us as a way to prepare for trial, mediation, and arbitration. In that lawsuits and litigation is their sole reason for their professional existence, why would they resist improving their chances of success by benefitting from our […]

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Hippies love God too

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 14, 2017

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work

There is an old expression, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” which rings true in many situations. When I tell people I am a social psychologist, they usually have no idea what I mean, but upon hearing the word, “psychologist,” they often jump to conclusions regarding my personality, political orientation, religious affiliation, and much […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 14, 2017

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work

I was raised in a very religious family; Mother was the pastor’s secretary, Dad was a deacon, and I attended a church affiliated high school, I, too, have seen many people who were active in organized religion in various ways. My observations were, however, that the degree of authenticity of people’s beliefs varied and were […]

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