Goodbye Lab Manager

Today, I say “good bye” to Lab Manager Magazine as I leave their list of contributors and post this link for my final article, “Troubled Standards”: http://www.labmanager.com/?articles.view/articleNo/4141/article/Troubled-Standards

Why I’m Leaving
Previously in this blog, I did mention that I’m cutting back on the conferences I’m attending, as it’s become costly to attend so many and difficult to allocate the time, not just to attend, but also to create all the presentations and workshops they tend to require. Likewise, with writing, I’m finding that I’m stretched between many writing commitments.

Thus, I’ve decided to focus more on creating good content for both this blog and for my free newsletter (http://www.geometrick.com/newsltr_signup.htm), and less on external articles. As part of that, and not without a lot of thought about it, I’m stepping down from my spot at Lab Manager Magazine (http://www.labmanager.com/?members.subscribe) as Contributor and as their resident Laboratory Informatics expert.

More Background
Lab Manager Magazine gave me an opportunity to write fairly steadily for an industry magazine at a time when I was especially interested in doing so. The timing couldn’t have been better for both of us, I think, as they were then entirely reformatting their magazine and looking for more authors in order to expand their content. For awhile, I wrote quite a number of articles for them, served as a point of reference when they had industry questions and did my best to guide them when topics regarding our industry came up.

Over the years, as both our needs and interests changed, they asked me to write fewer articles and I tended to volunteer fewer of them. On their end, you’ll notice they now specifically focus on what a laboratory manager needs on a daily basis, such as personnel management issues, safety updates, and equipment reviews. Truly, they’ve grown into a magazine to serve their audience. At the same time, I’m now writing more for my own purposes and less for industry magazines.

Finally
I want everyone to know that I appreciate the opportunity Lab Manager Magazine gave me. It was great working with them. I thought long and hard about leaving, not wanting to leave them in the lurch, but I see from their articles and content that they are full of useful information. While I might be missed, there, the magazine will certainly continue to be an excellent resource for laboratory managers.

I should especially thank their Editor in Chief, Pam Ahlberg, who gave me the chance to be part of their list of contributors, who saw something in my writing that I don’t think most others had noticed, and gave me the chance I’d waited so long for. Not only did I get an opportunity, but a lot of encouragement and appreciation. That’s a lot more than most of us get on most days, and I’m glad for all of it.

Gloria Metrick
GeoMetrick Enterprises
http://www.GeoMetrick.com/