2's Company - MagnusInsights.com

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.

Traveling for Work does not mean Fun & Games

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 28, 2016

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Travel, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

Any reader who travels extensively as part of work can skip this post because you know the realities. We travel to trial venues for mock jury research and the reality is that traveling for work is work in itself. Over the years I have had friends whose jobs do not involve travel say our job […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 28, 2016

Category: Business Travel, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Travel, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

I can’t begin to count the number of times that, upon returning home from a business trip, I have sung (loudly): “Gee, but it’s great to be back home. Home is where I want to be. I’ve been on the road so long my friend. And if you came along I know you […]

The boss doesn’t want to see your: tattoos

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 26, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

Tattoos are not for everyone and not for every workplace. Just as I am fond of piercings, I am fond of tattoos. But, similar to piercings, I am not fond of tattoos in a professional office environment such as the company I co-own. My fondness for tattoos probably stems from growing up in Southwest Florida, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 26, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

As with the piercing issue, we had the foresight to address tattoos in our earliest policy manual. Thus, we had the ability to address this issue with new hires, or prospective employees, from the beginning. And, as with several of these issues, it was not the case that we were “old farts” or “uncool” about […]

If you are bored, you are boring

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 21, 2016

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

I heard the statement which is the title of this post many years ago when one of “Fran’s friends” visited Jacksonville University as part of Dr. Fran Kinne’s efforts to broaden the horizons of JU students. Dr. Kinne was, at the time, the President of JU and her Rolodex (for those too young to remember, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 21, 2016

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

“I’m bored” is something I learned, from an early age, never to say to my mother. If I made the mistake of whining or whimpering something approaching “I’m bored,” Mom would assign one or more tasks to me, most of which were undesirable, to occupy my time. Having grown up mostly alone, due to my […]

The boss doesn’t want to see your: piercings

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 19, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

Some people tell me I am stuck in the 1970s, or “old school,” or “retro.” I thank these people for recognizing this characteristic. I may be retro, but I am up to date on the latest fashions even though I choose not to partake in many of them. One of these fashions is multiple piercings, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 19, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

Piercings. Again, not something I gave much consideration to other than when purchasing some earrings for Melissa with some regularity. However, this was one detail that we did cover in our original policy manual; the issue was on our radar in 1993 at the beginning of Magnus. What was, perhaps, not on the radar was […]

Traveling as a team

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 14, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consulting

Like Palidin, the adventurous, “gentleman gunfighter for hire,” played by Richard Boone in the TV series from 1958 to 1963, whose calling card said, “Have Gun will Travel”, as trial consultants, we go where the action is. The action is the case; we travel to the trial venues. Members of the Magnus team have worked […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 14, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consulting

I met a naive young person recently who, upon learning I travel with a team of people for work purposes, remarked, “That must be great not to travel alone!”, to which I replied, “It depends on who is traveling with me.” I have traveled far and wide in the performance of my job on behalf […]

The boss doesn’t want to see your: belly

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 12, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

The world of workplace fashion is constantly evolving. I never thought I would be working someplace where I had to counsel employees on what to wear to work, but I have spent a lot of time doing so. Some people, it seems, believe that what is acceptable attire in their personal life is also acceptable […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 12, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

Fortunately, today we can laugh about some of these topics related to dress code. When the problems arose, however, we had some moments of distress trying to reconcile the notion that we were going to have to discuss such things as underwear, exposed bellys, etc. The manly part of me admits such sights were sometimes […]

Disappointments

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 7, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Operating a small business is not for the faint of heart. Though some say, “its just business,” I can say it is still personal. There is a saying, life is full of disappointments. And, running a business is full of them. By definition, because an entrepreneur is taking risks, seeking business, etc., hearing “no” is […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 7, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

I share David’s frustration over the ratio of proposals sent to clients versus cases for which we are retained. In fact, I have contemplated charging potential clients for their proposals, particularly those who repeatedly contact us about their cases and rarely or never retain us. However, as much as I would like to be able […]

The boss doesn’t want to see your: underwear

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 5, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

When I wrote Magnus’ policies and procedures manual in 1994, prior to hiring any employees, I put a lot of thought into all of it, including the part pertaining to our dress code. Prior to co-owning Magnus, I had worked for a variety of employers, all of whom had strict dress codes, including a few […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 5, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

Talk about some awkward conversations. Because my role in this partnership is the business side, that includes human resources. When these new challenges “revealed” themselves (pun intended) it fell to me to “handle.” The easy part was to add a few lines to the employee manual prohibiting “visible underwear,” and the best way I could […]

Bad Employees

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 31, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

One of the inspirations for this blog, as has been noted previously, was the 2011 movie starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis. It was a comedy about an oppressive boss and work environment that I quite enjoyed. But, I have to say, when I first heard the title, it was at a time […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 31, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

I have been working since I was 15 years old. In the years since I have been working, I have had my fair share of bad bosses, bad co-workers, bad subordinates, and bad employees (not to mention bad clients and bad assistants of clients). David and I rarely forget the bad experiences we have had […]

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.) […]

← Previous 1 … 75 76 77 … 100 Next →

About this blog

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

About Magnus