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.

Do what the man, or woman, client, says…

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 14, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

When one hires someone to do a job for them, the hiring person, i.e., the client, expects the other person/entity (henceforth, vendor) to perform the job in the manner, or to the satisfaction of, the client.  When the vendor fails to follow instructions or the directives of the client, there is a problem, for both […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 14, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

Sometimes, I am the client and other times, I am the vendor. (Although I am a consultant, with expertise in an area my clients lack, by virtue of the fact I am selling my services to someone, I am, technically speaking, a vendor.) When I am the client, I expect to be treated like a […]

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Sexism is alive but not well: Part 2

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 12, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

In a recent post, I wrote about my friends’ shock and dismay over my attendance at a rock concert with a male friend of mine, after which I spent the night in his home (located in the same town as the concert, and several hours from my home). In this post, I will describe the […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 12, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

I wasn’t there – that point is now well established! But, I can visualize the scene. And, I don’t know whether jealousy was a part of it, because Fifi has been on some dates with Freddie. But, my attendance at this concert had never been a part of the discussion so why was it assumed […]

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“Know” your clients

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 7, 2015

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

One interesting aspect of our trial consulting work is that we often work for people whom we do not meet in person until we all show up at a mock jury project or Melissa arrives at the courthouse.  We have considerable contact with clients via phone calls and email, but often, there is little face […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 7, 2015

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

As a social psychologist, I am what many people describe “a people person.” I like human beings, in general, and I enjoy getting to know people, including learning what makes them who they are. My job, as a litigation consultant, requires me to interact with a variety of attorneys, insurance adjusters, corporate executives, and other […]

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Sexism is alive, but not well: Part 1

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 5, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

Recently, I had the honor and privilege to be able to attend a rock concert (a 12 hour festival involving 15 bands!) with one of my best friends, a wonderful man I have known over 50 years, since we were in first grade together. The concert was held in my hometown, Fort Myers, requiring me […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 5, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

Sexism, like racism, takes many forms. This scenario is clearly sexist in that, if 2 men or 2 women attend an event together, no one gives it a 2nd thought, but if 2 people of opposite genders do, red flags go up for some people. But, why? In a business setting, co workers are often […]

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Self actualizers

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 28, 2015

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

Self actualization is the highest level of human existence. Self actualization is achieved by only the rarest among the rarest people. Few of us will ever meet someone who is truly self actualized, and fewer among us will achieve this lofty goal ourselves. Self actualized people are true to themselves; they are often altruistic, with […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 28, 2015

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

I had learned about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in my Psychology 101 class, but the concept is a bit abstract, until you meet someone at the top of the pyramid. And it took my spouse, a psychologist, to point out to me what should have been obvious in these 2 individuals. One of the most […]

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Know who you are hiring: Vendors

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 23, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

Operating a business presents ever evolving challenges. Recently we had a “new to us” experience when we uncovered something about a vendor/service provider that was disturbing and apparently, hidden to the degree possible. Without naming names, what happened is that we hired a company to provide us a specific service. The working relationship was never […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 23, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Relationships, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

In today’s business world, the client/vendor relationship is no longer as personal as it once was. Decades ago, it would have been unheard of to hire a vendor sight unseen, but in today’s climate of virtual employees, off shore service providers, and others whom a client has met only on line, the dangers involved in […]

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Learn names

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 21, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

How many times have all of us met someone who says, “I can’t remember names,” or “I’m just not good at names,” or something similar? I, for one, cannot fathom how many times I have heard this type of inane statement! When someone does not bother to learn my name it communicates volumes to me […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 21, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success

I once heard the story that Jimmy Carter, when running for the Presidency, studied memory techniques that enabled him to call all 535 members of Congress by name upon first meeting them. Apparently, this was a goal of importance to him. It is pretty impressive and most of could not come close to such a […]

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Employee Quitting Costs

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 16, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

Employee turnover is a fact of life in business. Some of it is good; some of it is not good. Employees move on for many reasons, including better jobs, more money, furthering their education, geographic relocation, and other reasons. And, other employees are “encouraged” to leave – i.e., are terminated, for performance or other reasons. […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 16, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

The primary job for which my company needs employees is an entry level position requiring a college degree in psychology or another social science. Because my partner and I hire people soon upon their college graduation, their job at Magnus is often the first professional job they have ever had. Furthermore, because we hire only […]

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Elevators, doors, and gentle people

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 14, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Life Outside of Work

We live in a world of quickly changing norms and other social rules that dictate our conduct, including conduct with friends, family, co-workers, and strangers. Some people believe social niceties are quaint and outdated and are no longer called for in today’s world of gender equality (or, to be more precise, emerging gender equality). Although […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 14, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Life Outside of Work

Common courtesies should be gender and race neutral. We are all trying to do the best we can getting through life and looking out for each other, even for strangers; makes it easier to get through life. I was taught to hold doors open for people, to leave the door area near elevators clear for […]

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Pro Bono

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 9, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Pro bono is a term meaning work undertaken for the public good, usually without charge.  Our firm, Magnus, has been approached a few times over the past 20 years and asked for input on cases for which there was little or no funding.  Though we had a few cases where someone was trying to get […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 9, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Most of the pro bono work Magnus has done in the past 20 years has been for 1 large law firm that has a pro bono section. We have worked with many talented and caring attorneys, including one, in particular, on a variety of high profile criminal matters. The end clients in these cases rarely […]

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