Interlude: Investments, Data Sharing, and Short Peer Reviews

What do you think is the best investment you can make?

Many people jump to thinking about savings, retirement, buying a house, etc. Although these assets are valuable, I don't think they are the best investment you can make.

I think the best investment you can make is in yourself.

Unfortunately, many of us let investing in ourselves fall low on our list of priorities. We put it off—sometimes indefinitely—until we have more time, money, or motivation.

But investing in yourself by learning new skills and developing your mindset can enrich your life personally and professionally in so many ways. And investing in yourself can lead to growth in your career, relationships, health, and more.

I like to invest in myself daily by reading non-fiction books while I drink my coffee in the morning. I also invest in myself annually by allocating time and money to participate in professional development programs, such as courses, conferences, and workshops. These investments have come back to me many times over.

Do you have a practice of investing in yourself?

If you're thinking about investing in your writing skills, I hope you will join me in the Scientific Writing Masterclass. I'd be thrilled to have you. Enrollment is open until January 29, 2024.

Now onto this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

​How to Request Funds for Professional Development Programs​
Although your institution may not offer professional development programs in scientific and medical writing, they may support you by sponsoring your participation. After all, these programs benefit you and the organization. If you want to request resources to participate in a professional development program, such as the Scientific Writing Masterclass, you can follow this easy four-step process.

👓 Reading

Prevalence of Short Peer Reviews in 3 Leading General Medical Journals​
"In this study of 3 leading general medical journals, one-fifth of initial editorial decisions for published articles were likely based at least partially on reviews of such short length [>200 words] that they were unlikely to be of high quality."

​Data Sharing — A New Era for Research Funded by the U.S. Government​
“Many journals now require data-sharing statements in published articles, but studies have shown that authors rarely honor these statements and data generally aren’t made available upon request.”

💬 Quote

"Ultimately, there’s one investment that supersedes all others: Invest in yourself. Nobody can take away what you’ve got in yourself, and everybody has potential they haven’t used yet." – Warren Buffet

📝 Experiment

Take a moment to think about the last opportunity you took to invest in yourself. How did that opportunity benefit you? Now what do you plan to do next to invest in yourself again?

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal