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.

Hiring Expertise

A recent client encounter prompts this post.  The client was requesting what we refer to as a “proposal” for mock jury research.  She repeatedly called it a “bid” and I guess it is.  It is (unfortunately) increasingly common that clients seek competitive bids.  And, while I understand this, and do the same for some minor […]

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From the earliest days of co-owning Magnus with David, it has never been our desire to be the cheapest provider of any research or consulting service we provide. It is acceptable, in my view, to provide high quality work at a reasonable/fair price, but being the low cost bidder is not something to which I […]

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Be kind to kids

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 5, 2016

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

In a recent post, I wrote about being kind to old people (or, in politically correct terms, senior citizens). In this post, I will express my views about being kind to young people, otherwise known as kids. Although it has been many decades since I was a kid, now that I have lived for more […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 5, 2016

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

Like Melissa, I was fortunate growing up to have had adults treat me respectfully. In fact, I can’t remember any who did not. But, I do recall those who were tolerant or even welcoming, those who taught me to fish or hunt and about the outdoors in general. I recall adults who took an interest […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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You’ll be old too

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 28, 2016

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy

There is a line in The Beatles’ song, “When I’m 64″ that says, “You’ll be older too…” and just like the composer of that song, Sir Paul McCartney, you’ll be old, I’ll be old, and we’ll all be old (if we live long enough) someday. And, just like Paul McCartney, who wrote this famous song […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 28, 2016

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy

Melissa says, “Get ready – it (growing older) will happen to you.” Well, maybe it already has, those birthdays seem to come faster as the numbers get larger. But, while the years add up, and there is perhaps a desire sometimes to turn the clock back, the reality is one must just enjoy the ride […]

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Not so hidden talents: Cat Writer’s Association

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 23, 2016

Category: Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

We often know our clients, our friends and our acquaintances for specific reasons. We know them through work, school, social groups or church. Unless they are very close, we often only have a 1 dimensional perspective of the person. It has been interesting to us over the years to learn more about our clients. We […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 23, 2016

Category: Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

I have authored and published numerous scientific articles in professional journals, including psychology journals and legal publications.  I have also co-authored and published two books related to my profession, social psychology.  Overall, these publications have earned me the respect of my colleagues and clients, but they are not what anyone would refer to as “light […]

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Be kind to old people

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 21, 2016

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

Even though we view ourselves in consistent ways that often do not involve seeing ourselves as participants in the aging process, time marches on and all of us get older with each passing day. With any luck at all, some of us will live to old age, while others of us will live to become […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 21, 2016

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Work-Life

I remember when, as a teenager, a friend of my father’s celebrated his 55th birthday. I remember thinking that 55 seemed old, and that this guy didn’t look or act old. Now that I’m that age, there are days when feeling old is my new normal. But, when I was maybe 15, being 40 years […]

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I’ve Been Everywhere

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 […]

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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 […]

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I am the Greatest

At the time of this writing, Muhammad Ali passed away less than one week ago. Everyone who knows me well knows Muhammad Ali has been one of my heroes since I was a child.  I grew up reading the Miami Herald and, because Muhammad Ali had close ties to Miami Beach and its 5th Street […]

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Though I have always been aware of Muhammad Ali and have known some of the history, I have not had the long connection with his legacy as Melissa has.  But, having watched documentaries about him, like the movie about the Rumble in the Jungle, I recognized how impressive he was, in and out of the […]

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Optimism is Hard Work

I recently attended a 99th birthday celebration for a wonderful woman who has blazed trails her entire life. Her name is Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne; she is Chancellor Emeritus of Jacksonville University, my alma mater. I have written about Fran in the past, probably more than once. But, a point made during the celebration of […]

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My late mother, who lived until the age of 93, frequently said, “You can choose to be happy or you can choose not to be happy.”  She also had a scrap of paper, attached to her refrigerator door, on which she had written, “I am alive. Life is good. God is with me. I am […]

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Confluence of events April 2 & 3, 2016

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 7, 2016

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

Recent posts for which I have been first author have included pairs of interesting events which, depending on how they are viewed, could be mere coincidences or things that were connected for an unknown reason. I do not have visionary powers to know the answer, but I will say I am not inclined to view […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 7, 2016

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

I suppose none of us will ever know how life’s events coincide. Leola (Melissa’s mother) is a common thread in some of these events and she did seem to have some eerie powers.  (But, that is another story.)  Nonetheless, in relatively rapid succession in 2016, at least 5 events were interconnected and connected to things […]

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