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 plane, etc., leaves on time

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 17, 2015

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

Believe it or not, most flights leave on time. Most trains leave on time too and so do buses, ships, and other modes of transportation that follow a schedule. What this means for business, and other, travelers, is that anyone who wants to be on board should arrive either early or on time or be […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 17, 2015

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

Another adage, “be there or be square.” And, Melissa would never want to be square! As simple as the be on time or get left behind message is, this is another detail on which we have had to train, remind or even cajole employees to remember. Perhaps some of the “on time” issues have been […]

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When life gets in the way of work.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 12, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

Many Americans tend to be driven to work hard and often put work ahead of everything else.  We are unique in the world in this way and, while some of the drive is probably unavoidable to be able to afford to buy food and shelter, even those for whom survival is not an issue are […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 12, 2015

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Employment, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Partnerships, Work-Life

As John Lennon famously wrote, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” (from “Beautiful Boy”). I interpret this song lyric to mean that, regardless of what I may have planned, sometimes, life will get in the way. There are many dimensions to life, one of which is work. As much […]

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I’m your boss, not your pal

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 10, 2015

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

In a small office environment, the lines demarcating supervisor and subordinate are often blurred. This is particularly true in small offices, such as mine, with a casual dress code on all days when we are not among clients. Even though I am decades older than my employees, now that I have been a business owner […]

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Perhaps another of our top 5 surprises is how often, in a general sense, we have been told what I would consider otherwise to be “private” details of employee’s lives. And, I am not sure whether this is because we are small business in which everyone knows each other well, or because there appears to […]

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Back it up!

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 5, 2015

Category: Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

This post is an extension of the post about hurricanes and other disasters in that it discusses what should be a basic business practice in a world where computers dominate our business lives.  BACK THEM UP!  And back them up in more than 1 way if possible.  And, make sure the back ups are not […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 5, 2015

Category: Getting the Job Done, Small Business Success, Workplace Technology

Proactivity is the key in preventing many computer nightmares. Recently, due to an unforeseen, extremely negative event concerning Magnus’ long time computer technician, we were compelled to hire a new computer tech. The new computer tech explained his philosophy to my partner and me during our first meeting: constant monitoring of our system, to prevent […]

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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

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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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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