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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.

Ultimately – only 1 boss

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 27, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting

Previous blogs written by my spouse/business partner and me have addressed the issue of having two bosses who happen to be married to each other. It is challenging to have one boss, but having two bosses (who are usually going to side with each other in the event of a dispute with an employee) is […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 27, 2015

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting

Melissa is right. The buck does, and has to, stop somewhere. In any organization someone has the last word or is responsible for everything else. And, it is sometimes that concept, that the ultimate boss’ reputation is a key component of the business’ success. Even though we are a small practice and we have a […]

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Don’t push your luck; stop driving and have a pizza

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 22, 2015

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

There are times when your goal or destination seem so close that you just want to press on even when you should not. The experience that prompted this post was driving back from Jacksonville to South Florida. This trip usually takes 5 hours or less but on this particular day, progress was slow and we […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 22, 2015

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

Many years ago, Magnus consulted on a case involving a terrible airplane crash in which hundreds of people were killed. The crash was primarily the result of pilot error, more specifically, the pilot’s decision to “press on” with the flight despite weather conditions that made flying dangerous. Although there were several safe alternatives the pilot […]

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Have Plants in the Office

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 20, 2015

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

I love plants of all types, including plants commonly referred to as house plants. I spent one summer working in a wholesale nursery in The Redlands, south of Miami, where I learned a lot about taking care of plants. I have plants in my company’s office and I am the primary caretaker of the plants. […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 20, 2015

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

New employees have to meet the plants quickly. And, even I have had to come to understand Melissa’s love of them. She remembers when she got them, where she got them and how, in some cases, she had to nurture them to health. But I do appreciate the benefits they provide in ambiance and, though […]

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Persistence Pays

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 15, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

A time tested adage is: persistence pays. But, in careers and business it is true. We have proof of this in the form of an employee who proved it to everyone, including herself. She applied (several years ago) via fax for a Research Associate position. The position had been recently filled so when her faxed […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 15, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

I have a perpetual calendar and one of the quotes I read every year, attributed to Winston Churchill, is “Never, never, never give up.” This is another way of saying “persistence pays”; “try, try, and try again if at first you don’t succeed”; and, in the vernacular of my generation, “keep on truckin’ baby.” Long […]

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Recycle

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 13, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work

I am an environmentalist, a member of organizations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Friends of the Everglades, and I live a lifestyle involving active participation in preserving our planet’s resources. I recycle. I require all of my employees to recycle. I believe in recycling to the point there is a section in my […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 13, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Life Outside of Work

When home based recycling was first introduced in the area where we were living in 1987 I couldn’t believe we were being asked to separate our garbage. That seemed disgusting. But now it seems normal and I find myself frustrated when I can’t easily recycle bottles, paper, etc. I am disappointed that airports and hotels […]

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Can you Trust anyone?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 8, 2015

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

In small businesses, as in life, it is important to consider whether you can trust a person.  The people around the business may be employees, clients, or vendors and each relationship is unique.  And, as important as trust is, when it is violated there are repercussions, sometimes expensive ones.  We have certainly had more than […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 8, 2015

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

Trust is an interesting personality construct that varies greatly among people and depends on a person’s life experiences, particularly experiences early in life. In the same manner in which my spouse/business partner differ on many traits, we differ greatly in the degree to which we trust other people. My partner, who had a more idyllic […]

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Write it down

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 6, 2015

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

No one can remember everything; it just isn’t possible. Knowing the limitations of human memory and not wanting to forget any important information, I take notes and write down details pertaining to almost every aspect of my life. I take notes when speaking on the telephone to clients; I write down daily “to do” lists, […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 6, 2015

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

As an employer of people just starting their careers post college, it has been fascinating to me to have to tell many, though not all, of them to “write it down.” This has come natural to me for some reason – like Melissa, I have always written it down in some way shape or form. […]

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We are (not) Family

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 30, 2014

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

In a small business environment it is often said that employees are like families (in a way that implies that is a good thing).  The intimacy of a small business environment probably creates an impression of closeness that may be absent in a larger environment.  And, as employers, we often believe we are being generous […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 30, 2014

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

David’s topic for this post has the usual musical connection for me, in this case, the song by Sister Sledge, “We are Family.” However, contrary to the song lyrics, when one is the owner of a small business, it is important to remember that we are NOT family; instead, we are an organization comprised of […]

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When I’m done, I’m done

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 23, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

I am not the kind of person who can be pushed around, by anyone, including myself. In many ways, I am like the battery operated bunny that long ago advertised a certain brand of battery: I am either running full speed ahead or I am very wound down until the point of stopping. When I […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 23, 2014

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Partnerships, Work-Life

When entertaining dinner guests, and my grandfather tired of their company, he was known to say to my grandmother, “Vi, let’s go to bed so these people can go home.” He was done, and had a unique way of saying so. Being done, as Melissa puts it, is hitting a wall. There are times when […]

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Where do paychecks come from?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 19, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

Unlike the question of where babies come from, this question is appropriate in the workplace. And, it is important for employees to understand the answer to this question. Paychecks may be written under the name of their employer, but the employer is really not the source of the paycheck. As employers we are merely passing […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 19, 2014

Category: Careers, Employment, Managing Employees

In the same way in which money does not grow on trees, paychecks do not get distributed to employees by some magical force. Instead, in a service based business such as mine, someone has worked very diligently to convince a client to retain the company for work that will result in all of the company’s […]

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