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.

Quittin’ time

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 22, 2015

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

When working in the office, that is, when we are not working a “research day” conducting a mock trial or focus group, we work “normal” hours – 8 hour days. For a time, we had employees who only worked in the office and those who also worked in the field. It became apparent after a […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 22, 2015

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

Quitting time is, in my world, not a time of day but a time that depends on the amount of work to be done. If work remains to be completed after “the end of business,” “closing time,” or any other pre-defined hour, then I finish it. Furthermore, I expect my employees to finish their work, […]

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And the beat goes on

As Sonny and Cher famously sang in a song, “The beat goes on…” I am a firm believer in this axiom. Think about it. Life goes on, the beat goes on, and each of us can choose to keep the beat or, literally, march to a different drummer. There is only so much each of […]

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The beat is clearly different for each of us. I observe people whose beat is veryyyy slow. Then there are some whose beats are like Neil Peart’s – rapid fire. My energy level is in between so I try to keep it steady. In a business like ours, with spouses as co-workers/owners, being in sync […]

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Who really pays your pay check?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 15, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting

Employees work for that regular paycheck they receive weekly, biweekly, or on some other pre-determined schedule. They earn it, they deserve it, but clearly some do not understand how it ends up in their hands (or bank). Yes, the check has the company’s name on it, and in small companies like Magnus, I usually hand […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 15, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Employment, Managing Employees, Trial Consulting

I have been working for a living since the age of 15. I learned, early in life, that money does not grow on trees and that, at least in my case, it results from hard work. Unlike some of Magnus’ employees, when I worked for other people prior to co-owning my own business, I realized […]

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Keep the beat

One of my responsibilities as a bass guitar player is keeping the beat. The bass guitar is a rhythm instrument (as are drums and other percussive instruments) and, as a bass player, if I fail to keep the beat, I am not doing my job within the band. Sometimes, the beat is up tempo; other […]

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Keeping the beat in business is crucial as part of the juggling act of working on current business, looking for new business, and managing everything. I often feel like I have to keep the beat in terms of nudging clients along because I know how many beats there are in one of our projects and […]

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Working like a Dog

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 8, 2015

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

Recently I posted about our star employee. She came to us as an “employee with benefits.” The benefit is her best buddy, Willy the Schnoodle. Our office environment is casual, but we have never had an office pet. We thought we’d try it. Willy keeps his own schedule; he does not work 40 hour weeks. […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 8, 2015

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

Giving credit where credit is due, “working like a dog” is part of the lyrics to a song called “Hard Day’s Night” written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The first line in the song is, “It’s been a hard day’s night and I’ve been working like a dog.” Since 1964, when the song, album, […]

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Space between notes

In life, just as in music, the space between notes is just as important as the notes themselves. For those among us who are not musically inclined, the “space between notes,” when applied to everyday life, is the silence that often says everything that needs to be said. On the day I am writing this […]

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It is interesting that, in our noisy world, silence, Melissa’s space between notes, is sometimes uncomfortable. But there are times when silence allows someone else to vent, or when silence provides an opportunity to listen. I sometimes find it difficult to stay quiet when I am asking questions of a prospective client who is trying […]

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Peer Reviewed Publications as a Measure of Credentials

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 1, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting

I have written about the challenge in knowing how to select a trial consultant. This is a topic which causes frustrations because there are more and more trial consultants all the time and the qualifications vary from qualified to clearly, not at all qualified. But, while this is apparent to me, it is often not […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 1, 2015

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting

Peer review is one of the hallmarks of any scientific endeavor. In scientific and other academic circles, it is not enough to write an article or book. A scientist has to go beyond merely forming a hypothesis, designing research, conducting research, analyzing data, and writing a report of the findings; a scientist’s original work has […]

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Give others a Stanley

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 29, 2015

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

In a previous post I wrote about “giving yourself a Stanley” when one has done something amazing or otherwise deserving of recognition. Along these lines, I am also an advocate of “giving others a Stanley” when someone else has done something helpful, noteworthy, or wonderful. I rarely miss the opportunity to tell someone “good job,” […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 29, 2015

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

Receiving praise should feel good, and it usually does. But, it has been interesting to observe some of our best performers in the workplace react with surprise when we do praise them. It appears that genuine praise, not of the “everyone gets a trophy variety,” is somewhat rare in the business world. Maybe it is […]

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The Pearl

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 17, 2015

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

It is great thing to find a gem, actually, a pearl, of an employee. Our most recent hire came as a referral from a trusted source, her father. I’ve known him for well over 20 years as our business and personal accountant and friend. Along the way, Melissa and I met his family, including his […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 17, 2015

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

The title of this post is “The Pearl” because pearl is the meaning of our wonderful employee’s name. In every way possible, she fits her name; she is truly a pearl, a gem, of a person! Interestingly, as with another of our best employees, she applied for a job with Magnus at a time we […]

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Give yourself a Stanley

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On September 15, 2015

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

A long time ago, 2 of my employees and I witnessed something that, at the time, seemed rather odd to all of us. We were making a presentation in a client’s office and among the attorneys in attendance was an older attorney of some renown who, upon being told he had done something beneficial in […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On September 15, 2015

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

Our practice of “giving Stanleys” has been an interesting experience. As Melissa points out, telling an employee to give himself/herself a Stanley seems strange at first. But, the old pat on the back seems strange, and perhaps offensive, to some younger employees as well, especially those who do not like being touched. By using the […]

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