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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.

Learn names

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 21, 2015

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

How many times have all of us met someone who says, “I can’t remember names,” or “I’m just not good at names,” or something similar? I, for one, cannot fathom how many times I have heard this type of inane statement! When someone does not bother to learn my name it communicates volumes to me […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 21, 2015

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

I once heard the story that Jimmy Carter, when running for the Presidency, studied memory techniques that enabled him to call all 535 members of Congress by name upon first meeting them. Apparently, this was a goal of importance to him. It is pretty impressive and most of could not come close to such a […]

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Employee Quitting Costs

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 16, 2015

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

Employee turnover is a fact of life in business. Some of it is good; some of it is not good. Employees move on for many reasons, including better jobs, more money, furthering their education, geographic relocation, and other reasons. And, other employees are “encouraged” to leave – i.e., are terminated, for performance or other reasons. […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 16, 2015

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

The primary job for which my company needs employees is an entry level position requiring a college degree in psychology or another social science. Because my partner and I hire people soon upon their college graduation, their job at Magnus is often the first professional job they have ever had. Furthermore, because we hire only […]

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Elevators, doors, and gentle people

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 14, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Life Outside of Work

We live in a world of quickly changing norms and other social rules that dictate our conduct, including conduct with friends, family, co-workers, and strangers. Some people believe social niceties are quaint and outdated and are no longer called for in today’s world of gender equality (or, to be more precise, emerging gender equality). Although […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 14, 2015

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Life Outside of Work

Common courtesies should be gender and race neutral. We are all trying to do the best we can getting through life and looking out for each other, even for strangers; makes it easier to get through life. I was taught to hold doors open for people, to leave the door area near elevators clear for […]

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Pro Bono

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 9, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Pro bono is a term meaning work undertaken for the public good, usually without charge.  Our firm, Magnus, has been approached a few times over the past 20 years and asked for input on cases for which there was little or no funding.  Though we had a few cases where someone was trying to get […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 9, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Most of the pro bono work Magnus has done in the past 20 years has been for 1 large law firm that has a pro bono section. We have worked with many talented and caring attorneys, including one, in particular, on a variety of high profile criminal matters. The end clients in these cases rarely […]

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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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