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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.

Smoking Marijuana at lunch – that’s not on work time…

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 3, 2015

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

As we mentioned in a previous blog, my spouse/business partner and I have established formal, written policies and procedures regarding all aspects of our employees’ conduct. Among these policies and procedures is a policy stating we are a drug and alcohol free workplace. We had to modify this policy many years ago because one of […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 3, 2015

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

Some of our experiences as employers have really surprised us. This one was in the top 5. And, the person’s actions were dumb and dumber with the initial issue and the later call for a job reference. It was dumbfounding to me for sure! But, each experience is a learning experience and things like this […]

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Dealing with Hurricanes: Disaster Planning

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 26, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Floridians, at least we natives, know that hurricanes are a fact of life (some newcomers have to experience one to understand such storms).  And while we are all sometimes a bit complacent about hurricanes or the other disasters that befall others who live in other locations (as I write this, Boston is suffering record snow […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 26, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Several years before David and I owned our business, Magnus, I worked at a large litigation consulting firm that had offices in every major city in the U.S.A. One of the offices was located in Philadelphia, in a large downtown building that burned to the ground one night. Unfortunately for my employer, no one had […]

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Use it up, wear it out, make it do

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 25, 2015

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

My late mother was a teenager during the Great Depression in the 1920s. She was the first person I knew who recycled things, all sorts of things, from last year’s calendar to last week’s orange juice container, and who rarely threw anything away until it could not be used for anything, ever again. Mom’s motto […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 25, 2015

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

I heard Melissa’s Mother say “use it up, wear it out, and make it do” more than a few times. And, while my upbringing was different than hers in some ways, I somehow also have always found ways to re-use or re-purpose lots of things. I keep a selection of boxes in all shapes and […]

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Intervene – get involved

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 19, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

You never know what will happen right in front of your eyes, or ears.  Sometimes you have to, or should, get involved in something, even if you do not know what you are in for or are not completely sure what is going on.  Melissa and I went home for lunch one day, a fairly […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 19, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

I am a social psychologist who is well versed on research pertaining to bystander apathy and bystander intervention. Because of my psychological training and expertise, I intervene in ambiguous situations more often than the average person. Sometimes, however, a situation rises to a level well beyond ambiguity, to the point that failing to render aid, […]

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Don’t hire me just to make you look good; it might not work out like you planned

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 17, 2015

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

Recently, a long time client accused me of being overly critical of his clients’ case. It seems that this client, a well respected attorney, and his law partner, another well respected attorney, were displeased that I did not perceive their case in the same positive light as they and their clients (attorneys for a huge […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 17, 2015

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

The scenario Melissa described is one in which the “truth hurt.” And, for whatever reason, our attorney clients had not been as honest and open with their clients as they probably should have been. In addition, the lack of preparation on the part of a very busy, well respected, trial attorney was shocking. Don’t misunderstand […]

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Facilitating Fraud

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 12, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done

A number of these posts have been conceptualized, while some, like this one, are written in moments of frustration. As business owners, my wife and I have many frustrations, but unfortunately, we have recently been (again) confronted by an instance of financial fraud. In the latest incident it appears we were the victims of someone […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 12, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done

Having several thousands of dollars stolen from my bank account is, to me, a big deal. Furthermore, it is a big enough deal that I would like to see the thief apprehended and prosecuted for the crime. It seems, however, that my view about theft/embezzlement is not shared by large financial institutions, including banks and […]

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Learn to make chit chat

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 10, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done

Because my job requires frequent travel with clients and employees, there are many times when discussions turn to events unrelated to the work we are performing. In addition, when I am a guest speaker at attorneys’ or insurance companies’ seminars, there are often social events included in the meeting that are part of doing business. […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 10, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done

I share with Melissa the introversion trait which makes chit chat difficult to initiate. And, some situations are more difficult than others, but yet, it is so much a part of business and life, that it is important to understand this fact. In understanding it, one must learn what is or is not acceptable conversation […]

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Olie

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 5, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Small Business Success

I’m writing this on what would have been my grandmother’s 110th birthday. We called her Olie; her name was Viola, and she never wanted to be called anything like “grandmother.” She was a woman ahead of her time in many ways because she was a proud working woman. Proud to work, proud of her jobs […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 5, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Small Business Success

David’s grandmother, Olie, was unlike other people’s grandmothers I had met. First of all, I was quite taken aback that she insisted on being called by a derivative of her name instead of the usual grandmotherly titles preferred by most grandmothers. Once I got to know Olie, however, it became apparent she was not the […]

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Be informed of world events

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 3, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

My company has traditionally employed young adults who are working in their first or second professional job following their college graduation. Many of these young employees are “book smart,” however, they often appear to be shallow, even unintelligent, because they have not mastered the art of conversation. One of the best, and non threatening, ways […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 3, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

Melissa and I stay informed by reading newspapers (2 to 3, or more, different ones daily) as well as news magazines (Time) and other periodicals of specific interest (photo magazines for me, Rolling Stone for her). In fact, for both of us, keeping up with the news has always been a part of our lives […]

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Hiring a service professional

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 29, 2015

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

In recent months I have had the need to hire an attorney (usually they hire us) and a new computer technician. I categorize them, like us, as service professionals. These experiences have been interesting and have served as a reminder that there are vast differences in the impressions made, sometimes by even small details, when […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 29, 2015

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

First impressions count. This statement is a tried and true maxim of social psychology that is well known among many non psychologists. Just as one’s personal appearance and demeanor determine the impression one makes on others, a service provider’s written materials also convey information important in determining whether a potential customer/client will hire the company. […]

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