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.

Jury Duty

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 2, 2017

Category: Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

Jury duty is one of those things that brings up a groan from many people – not unlike the idea of going to a dentist. Of course, we at Magnus, and the clients we support, depend on jurors, or rather prospective jurors, to show up to participate when summoned. That, however, is not the focus […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 2, 2017

Category: Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

I have lost count of the number of times people ask me how to “get off” jury duty. Despite knowing my occupation and perhaps, in spite of knowing my occupation, these individuals persist in believing I am going to tell them to look and/or act strangely, say ridiculous things, or provide them with other ways […]

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Smile at people

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 31, 2017

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Trial Consulting

I took a women’s self defense class with friend of mine. I learned many valuable things that I have put into practice since then. I also learned that my education and skills as a social psychologist have been paying off as they apply to my interactions with strangers, including those who might have an intent […]

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I sometimes have to cogitate on these posts before writing, especially when responding as 2nd blogger. This topic is one of those so I read Melissa’s writing and then I have been thinking about it. Part of that thinking about it has been to pay attention to people on the street. Do they smile? Do […]

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Generational Work Ethics

Digressing before I get started, I begin this post by reporting that Melissa and I read many newspapers, magazines and professional publications to stay current. Melissa subscribes to and promptly reads many psychology journals and publications. This post was prompted by a January 2017 Monitor on Psychology article synopsis reporting findings from a meta-analysis of […]

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Stereotyping, although it is commonplace, is never a good idea. I will repeat: Stereotyping is never a good idea. Social psychologists, beginning with Dr. Gordon Allport in 1948, have studied stereotypes and their negative impact on decision making in a multitude of contexts. Research on stereotyping has, in general terms, revealed that stereotypes contain a […]

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Common sense

Let’s face it: Some people have no common sense. Other people have some common sense and then there are those fortunate people who have an abundance of what is often referred to as “horse sense.” Like other personality traits, common sense is present on a continuum, with certain people having more than others. Life experience […]

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It has been interesting as an employer to observe the common sense, and intellectual sense, of employees – at all levels. As Melissa pointed out, a high degree of education often has no correlation with common sense. In fact, in the many years I have known Melissa, I have observed that some of her colleagues […]

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Take Initiative

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 19, 2017

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

I’ve been reflecting on what makes a good employee, a good student, or even a “good soldier.” One variable I think makes a tremendous difference is the willingness of an individual to take initiative to get things done. And, borrowing, and modifying the use of the term “lean in” from the 2013 book by Sheryl […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 19, 2017

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

People vary on the personality dimension David refers to as taking initiative. Some people are on the lower end of the spectrum, and are colloquially referred to as “slackers,” while other people are on the higher end of the spectrum, and are often referred to as “taking charge,” “leaders,” and “dependable,” among other things, while […]

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I Don’t Care about Research

This post was inspired by a recent encounter I had with a young, inexperienced attorney who told me she did not care about research results; instead, she preferred to base her decisions on her past experiences.  Wow!  Hearing this statement was shocking, in and of itself, but hearing it from a young person was, in […]

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Sticking one’s head in the sand and digging in one’s heels when faced with new information  are two bad behaviors.  Melissa related this story to me upon her return from the courtroom and it amazes me as much as it does her.  I don’t know whether it is because this attorney is young, and as […]

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You can’t be in the conversation if you don’t open your mouth

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 12, 2017

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work

I thought of this topic, “You can’t be in the conversation if you don’t open your mouth” while thinking back on situations where I perceived post action grumbling by people who did not participate in discussions or decisions. Specifically, there have been many times over the years when, during, for example, a staff meeting, some […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 12, 2017

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work

There are plenty of times when I do not wish to participate in a conversation. These include when conversations involve: (1) people I don’t enjoy being around; (2) topics I am not interested in discussing; (3) someone’s attempt to obtain my professional advice without remuneration; (4) someone’s attempt to engage me in “tie breaking” discourse […]

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Drive your own car

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 10, 2017

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

A facet of growing up in a small town was that it was safe to get in a car and ride to just about any destination with a new friend, including on a first date.  As I mentioned in a previous post, my family and I knew everyone I was destined to become friends with, […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 10, 2017

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

Melissa drove her own car, a bright red Camaro, when we first went out for dinner, movies, or other dates. I don’t know how long it was before she decided to let me pick her up and yes, it seemed strange to me for her to be so cautious. But, as I learned about her […]

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Ejecting Jurors – Rarely

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 5, 2017

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

When we conduct mock jury research, we slightly over recruit the mock jurors/participants to ensure that we have adequate coverage for the size of the actual trial jury panel. In Florida, this usually means recruiting 10 people to ensure we have enough mock jurors for a 6 person panel. Our show rate averages 8 people […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 5, 2017

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

The fastest way for a mock juror or other research participant to get kicked out of a research exercise is to insult, harass, or assault one of my staff members. My research associates and research technicians are top notch. They have been trained by David and me to perform all aspects of their jobs with […]

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Check out his family

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 3, 2017

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

When I was growing up in the small town of Fort Myers, Florida, where my family has lived since the 1920s, meeting someone new always involved finding out their parents’ names, which street they lived on, and other details my mom and dad believed were pertinent in deciding whether or not I would be permitted […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 3, 2017

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

I am from the (relatively) big city of Jacksonville. Compared to Ft. Myers in the 60s and 70s, it might as well have been New York! I never had background information on my friends, other than those in a close circle around our family’s church. My junior high and high school was one that attracted […]

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