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.

The Evolution of our Job Interview. Part 1

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 2, 2015

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

One thing that happens in running a business, of any sort, is that you, hopefully, learn new “tricks” along the way. Some are strokes of genius, but more often, they are things learned the hard way. I wish I could say the trick I’m about to report was a moment of genius, but it happened […]

Continue Reading

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 2, 2015

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

David has spent an inordinate amount of time interviewing job candidates, most of whom never make it to the in person interview by me. In that the vast majority of people whom David has interviewed over the years have not been hired by our company, Magnus, a lot of productive time has been wasted. For […]

Continue Reading

Say thank you

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 30, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

I believe in saying “thank you.” When someone does something nice for me, when someone performs a job I am pleased with, or when someone helps me, I thank him or her. My employees have often expressed surprise about me thanking them for doing a good job. I thank each and every employee, at the […]

Continue Reading

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 30, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Managing Employees

It is interesting how some people are surprised to be sincerely thanked. “Thank you” as a reinforcement of something done and done well is a simple reward that goes a long way. I have worked for at least 2 people who rarely said thank you and, in at least 1 of those cases, it appeared […]

Continue Reading

Working on a Roller Coaster

After well over 20 years in the trial consulting business, I hoped the work load would smooth out and there would not be a constant peak and valley cycle of business. Alas, it appears we’re on a perpetual roller coaster. The cycle is such that there are times we are slammed with what seems like […]

Continue Reading

For the most part, living life on the roller coaster has become easier for me with the passage of time. There used to be a time when, after weeks or months of not having any work to do, I would become convinced we would never work again. Then, just as I had given up all […]

Continue Reading

Directness

No one has ever accused me of “beating around the bush” or being coy. If I say something, there is never any doubt about what I mean and where the other person stands. My employees have sometimes bristled from the feedback I have provided about their poor quality work, even though they have been told […]

Continue Reading

Melissa’s comments are very direct in this post, as they are in her everyday communications. And, while she mentions employee errors, she is also very direct when employees are doing things right. That is, she reinforces their good performance and provides direct praise. And, there is also a need to point out that, while she […]

Continue Reading

Starting out: Use your connections & contacts

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 18, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting

Sometimes, following the theme of my recent posts, using what you’ve got involves who you know. Again, it may seem unfair, but that is the way of the world. And, it is no secret that who you know is critical to success in getting a job, selling your services/products, and in many other ways. One […]

Continue Reading

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 18, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting

When David and I started Magnus Research Consultants in 1993, we literally knocked on the doors of anyone and everyone who would meet with us. I am lucky to be from a small town, Fort Myers, Florida and my family has been there since the 1920s. In Fort Myers, my last name has always given […]

Continue Reading

Eat defensively

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 16, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Travel, Trial Consulting

When I began my career as a litigation (jury) consultant many years ago, one of the first pieces of advice a more experienced colleague told me was “eat defensively,” meaning eat when there is food to be eaten because it may be the only opportunity that presents itself. When I am traveling far and wide […]

Continue Reading

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 16, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Travel, Trial Consulting

Today is one of those eating defensively days for me. I’m attending a conference, writing in the morning before the session which starts at 1:00 p.m. With a specific, 1:00 p.m., start time, clearly lunch has to be early and over with to get to the meeting. And, I am in a “strange” town. Not […]

Continue Reading

What if you don’t have “it”?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 11, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business

In writing the post on using what you’ve got, I left off with, what if you are unattractive (or some other special something) and don’t have that advantage? We’ve interviewed hundreds of job candidates in the past 20+ years, some of whom have not been attractive. Yet, we have hired some of them and not […]

Continue Reading

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 11, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business

Because ratings of attractiveness are, for the most part, universally accepted within one’s culture, it follows that most people also recognize the traits of unattractiveness. In addition, social psychological research has revealed most people are adept at rating themselves on the attractiveness continuum, such that, if one has a mirror, his/her self perceptions are usually […]

Continue Reading

When to keep quiet

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 9, 2015

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

As my late mother used to say, “If you can’t say anything nice about someone (or something), don’t say anything at all.” As a very opinionated person, I have often had difficulty following this motto; however, there are times when the reprehensible behavior, outlandish conduct, or unbelievably stupid comment of someone renders me with nothing […]

Continue Reading

Building on what Melissa has written, I am thinking of the old adage, “better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt,” except in this analysis, it would “better to avoid a confrontation than to open your mouth and get into one!” It has been interesting to observe over […]

Continue Reading

Use what you’ve got

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 4, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business

Okay, from the outset I will insert this disclaimer. This post could be a bit controversial or seen as sexist or perhaps otherwise “unfair” – but it isn’t, and should be read with an open mind. Now to get to the issue. We all need to use what we’ve got (or have been given in […]

Continue Reading

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 4, 2015

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Managing Employees, Marketing your Business

David’s topic is controversial, however, the relationship between physical attractiveness and attributions has been the subject of social psychological research for many decades. There are countless social psychological studies that reveal a positive correlation between ratings of physical attractiveness and perceived personality traits, summarized as “what is beautiful is good.” This research has also revealed […]

Continue Reading

Everyone has a boss. Clients = Many Bosses

Almost everyone who works for a living has a boss. Although I am the boss at my workplace, I have many, many bosses, the attorneys, insurance adjusters, and corporate representatives who hire my company and me to help them with their challenging litigation. Often, I must adjust my plans and work schedule to suit one […]

Continue Reading

“Be your own boss.” That’s the supposed appeal of owning a business. But, it is a very flawed observation about owning/operating a business. Whether the business is small or large, the customers, or clients in a service business, are the bosses. And in a service business, more than a product based business, the owner(s) must […]

Continue Reading

Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes