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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.

Mind your manners

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 7, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Travel

I was raised by parents who prided themselves on being kind and courteous to others. I was taught, at an early age, to mind my manners, be mindful of etiquette and other social norms, and just “be nice.” Much has been written and discussed about people in today’s world seeming to lack good manners, but […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 7, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Travel

Melissa may one day write a book on manners – she could easily do so. And, I agree with her philosophy that manners goes beyond table settings. Accordingly, both she and I take the time to say thank you to housekeepers, servers, and the many people we come into contact with as we work nationwide […]

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Ziplocks

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 2, 2015

Category: Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Travel, Workplace Technology

I don’t know how we survived without ziplock bags (generically speaking, though I know it is a brand name, but Ziplocs or Glad, or whatever).  It seems strange writing about them in this blog, but my partner’s and my goal was to write about things related to our small business(es).  And, ziplocks have been a […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 2, 2015

Category: Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Travel, Workplace Technology

As odd as it may seem to be writing in praise of lowly plastic zippered bags, this handy invention has been a tremendous help to me, in many ways. I use plastic zippered bags to contain all of my toiletries inside my suitcase. I double bag the toiletries to prevent the inevitable leaks from permeating […]

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Employees can/do turn into clients

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 31, 2015

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

Almost everyone who works for a living knows not to “burn bridges” with former employers, lest they need a job reference or something else from the former employer in the future. Rarely, however, have I heard this expression applied to former employees. It seems that many employers fail to consider that, one day, when they […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 31, 2015

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

The employee turned client is an interesting turn about and, a positive sign in many ways. And, it was also interesting when we had someone who had worked for 2 other trial consulting firms hire us at a firm where he was (once again) practicing law on his cases. He did not hire either of […]

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Ring the Bell

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 26, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

I recently wrote about celebrating clients.  And, one of the ways we celebrate them at Magnus, or specifically, their bringing a new case to us, is to literally ring a bell when we get a new case.  We started this practice a few years ago when someone gave us a bell that is mounted outside […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 26, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

I am not a fan of disco music, but David’s topic reminds me of a disco song, circa 1979, called “Ring My Bell” and performed by Anita Ward. The catchy song repeatedly urges the listener to “ring my bell, ding-dong-ding, ring my bell, ring-a-ling-a-ling.” And ringing the bell is exactly, literally, what we do each […]

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Cats, dogs, and other animals

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 24, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I am an animal lover. I like all kinds of animals, particularly cats. I like dogs too, but I really like cats. I have always liked cats and I have almost always liked most cats more than most people. Believe me, if you were a social psychologist who has devoted an entire career to conducting […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 24, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I passed the “Ziggy test” when I first met Melissa or else I would not be writing this. Her cat, Ziggy, had to approve of me – and apparently he did, even though he occasionally bit the hand that fed him – mine. But while I may not consider someone’s affinity for animals or pets, […]

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Celebrate clients

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 19, 2015

Category: Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success

Clients are the reason the lights are on and the doors are open for business.  Since beginning Magnus we have looked for ways to say thank you to our clients.  We give gifts of books to first time clients, referral gifts, and gifts to clients who win their trials.  We know they are working hard […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 19, 2015

Category: Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success

In addition to the things David mentions, we also hosted an appreciation night for a client who, at the time, was Magnus’ best source of revenue, as well as the source of many referrals to other attorneys. We also give nice travel mugs to paralegals, legal assistants, and other members of our clients’ staffs, to […]

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The plane, etc., leaves on time

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 17, 2015

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

Believe it or not, most flights leave on time. Most trains leave on time too and so do buses, ships, and other modes of transportation that follow a schedule. What this means for business, and other, travelers, is that anyone who wants to be on board should arrive either early or on time or be […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 17, 2015

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

Another adage, “be there or be square.” And, Melissa would never want to be square! As simple as the be on time or get left behind message is, this is another detail on which we have had to train, remind or even cajole employees to remember. Perhaps some of the “on time” issues have been […]

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When life gets in the way of work.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 12, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

Many Americans tend to be driven to work hard and often put work ahead of everything else.  We are unique in the world in this way and, while some of the drive is probably unavoidable to be able to afford to buy food and shelter, even those for whom survival is not an issue are […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 12, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

As John Lennon famously wrote, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” (from “Beautiful Boy”). I interpret this song lyric to mean that, regardless of what I may have planned, sometimes, life will get in the way. There are many dimensions to life, one of which is work. As much […]

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I’m your boss, not your pal

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 10, 2015

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

In a small office environment, the lines demarcating supervisor and subordinate are often blurred. This is particularly true in small offices, such as mine, with a casual dress code on all days when we are not among clients. Even though I am decades older than my employees, now that I have been a business owner […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 10, 2015

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

Perhaps another of our top 5 surprises is how often, in a general sense, we have been told what I would consider otherwise to be “private” details of employee’s lives. And, I am not sure whether this is because we are small business in which everyone knows each other well, or because there appears to […]

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Back it up!

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 5, 2015

Category: Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

This post is an extension of the post about hurricanes and other disasters in that it discusses what should be a basic business practice in a world where computers dominate our business lives.  BACK THEM UP!  And back them up in more than 1 way if possible.  And, make sure the back ups are not […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 5, 2015

Category: Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Proactivity is the key in preventing many computer nightmares. Recently, due to an unforeseen, extremely negative event concerning Magnus’ long time computer technician, we were compelled to hire a new computer tech. The new computer tech explained his philosophy to my partner and me during our first meeting: constant monitoring of our system, to prevent […]

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