PEPonline Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline An international electronic journal for exercise physiologists ISSN 1099-5862 Vol 9 No 6 June 2006   Thinking, Talking, and Writing as an Exercise Physiologist Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP, EPC Professor and Chair Director, Exercise Physiology Laboratories Department of Exercise Physiology The College of St. Scholastica Department of Exercise Physiology Duluth, MN 55811 What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. – Walt Emerson Yesterday, I was asked: “Are you human?”  Obviously the question was a joke, yet it did take me back somewhat.  In desperation, I said: “Get serious, please.”  To the disbeliever, it is worth knowing that I work, sleep, eat, and live like everybody else.  Long story short, I am convinced of a coming revolution in exercise physiology.  There is a voice deep inside me that cries out for the profession of exercise physiology.  And, it says: “The development of exercise physiology can’t take place without dealing with the sports nutrition problem.”  The problem is that the influence of the supplement industry on athletics has gone on longer than it should.  Failing to transcend their own interests for the good of exercise physiology, some college teachers have allowed the CEOs of the industry to gain the inside advantage in regards to the sports nutrition course.  The change in what sports nutrition was in the 80s and 90s to what it is now is crazy.  And, it should go without saying that it is a sure way of keeping an evolving profession from realizing its potential.  We must recognize that the change is not just ugly, but a real serious problem.  The behavior of those who promote sports supplements is inappropriate, if not dangerous.  Of course, most people do not fully see this truth that sports supplements have changed the culture of athletics [1].  Instead they appear to turn a blind eye to it.  Their motto begins with the words “but this is the way it has been for decades.”  The truth is that many colleagues are interested in doing sports supplement research.  They believe it is okay to look for an angle to exploit the athlete’s performance over other athletes.  They also believe that the effort will help them to be successful.  Society disagrees with them [2].  Which do you think is more important: ethical athletics or research publications?  If you believe the answer is the latter, then you are probably a doctorate prepared exercise physiologist with an interest in being successful.  The problem is that the number of publications of someone may have little to do with integrity.  Are you striving to achieve recognition?  Don’t get me wrong.  Recognition per se is not a problem.  But, if the focus is on recognition regardless of what it takes to be recognized, then it is a problem.  This may sound trite, but it is important to understand the difference.  You have probably heard of Enron!  What is your attitude towards what the CEOs did?  Do you think it was right what they did to their employee pension plans?  A person might say, “There is nothing about Enron that bears a relationship to promoting the use of performance-enhancing substances?”  Are you sure?  Successful exercise physiologists publish their work, and they do it without bankrupting their profession.  The point is this:  Members of a profession have the power to impact the outcome of their profession.  The way to do it in a positive manner is to focus on ethical thinking [3] and avoid ties with the sports supplement industry.  It seems obvious to say that the wrong way is to focus on a person’s “right” to promote the performance-enhancing substances [4].  Understandably, the decision between the two is not always simple.  Making the right decision is necessary for successful professional development of exercise physiology.  When exercise physiologists focus on avoiding conflicts of interest, they are making important professionally-altering decisions with integrity.  Let’s face it:  Exercise physiologists want to publish, but they don’t want anyone to tell them what they can and cannot research and write.  They want to be successful, and they want to do it their way.  The idea of professional self-discipline is too new to be employed by the majority of exercise physiologists.  The truth of this statement can be found in the fact that so few academic exercise physiologists are members of their own professional organization, the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.  So often no one wants to acknowledge this critical piece of information. Yet, clearly, no discipline ever achieved profession status without the members coming together.  This is a critical understanding.  Academic exercise physiologists can fail themselves, their students, and their profession by failing to change their thinking and, therefore, failing to grow professionally.  It is time to turn this around, and it is time to get started now, today! You have a choice!  The gift is yours!  Most often, among those who do well with the influence of their work in the public sector do so with a positive attitude.  This is why exercise physiologists must make adjustments in their attitude towards the ASEP organization.  This is why focusing on the professional infrastructure put in place by the ASEP allows for possibilities, not differences.  In other words, a great attitude and possibility thinking are all exercise physiologists need to be successful as healthcare professionals.  However, please keep this important point is mind:  Exercise physiologists must decide to be healthcare professionals.  The failure to choose will postpone the inevitable.  Hence, if exercise physiologists want professional status, then they need to think, talk, and write as healthcare professionals.  Yes, it comes down to “perspective” (i.e., the ASEP perspective) and boldness [5].  At the individual level, the place to start is with your views of the ASEP organization.  It starts with you.  What are you thinking, talking, and writing about your professional organization, ASEP?  Of all the opportunities available to you, there is no reason for the “I can’t” or “I don’t believe” kinds of thinking.  Decide today to think right towards what you can do to help ASEP grow into an international organization of influence to help all exercise physiologists.  After all, it is just a matter of a positive attitude towards colleagues who are interested in the very best for students of exercise physiology.  And, yes, it is also about believing and giving it everything you have.   Now is the time to get with managing the future of exercise physiology [6].  If this means changing your priorities, then do so.  Stay focused.  Let others know that you are thinking and writing about exercise physiology from the ASEP perspective [7].  Let others know that your time is important and, where possible, you do not have time for tasks that take you from your priorities.  Remember: Stay focused on thinking, talking, and writing about the ASEP organization.  It is no exaggeration to say that you must “believe that ASEP is the right road to success.”  In other words, this is exactly the same as coming to the understanding that yesterday’s thinking and/or strategies cannot solve today’s problems.  Exercise physiologists must do their own thinking.  Obviously, just as thinking about college precedes attending college, thinking as a healthcare professional precedes the public’s recognition of the same.  This is why the ASEP ideas are important to the future of exercise physiology.  This is why ASEP exercise physiologists think, talk, and write about the right things.  Yes, this is why they stay committed in face of personal and professional challenges.  They understand the struggle is worth it.  That is why they are living the ASEP commitment.         References   Boone, T. (2006). The Culture of Athletics is Over the Edge.  [Online]. http://boonethink.com/?page_id=36 Boone, T. (2006).  What is to Become of Sports Nutrition in 2010 or 2020? [Online]. http://boonethink.com/?page_id=6 Birnbaum, L. (2004). The Future of Exercise Physiology:  A Matter of Ethics. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 7:12 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/MatterOfEthics.html Boone, T. (2005). Cheating, Performance-Enhancing Supplements, and Accountability: A Call for Action. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 8:6 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/CheatingPESandAccountability.html Boone, T. (2005). Dare to Dream:  Boldness has Magic! Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 8:5 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/DareToDream.html Boone, T. (2004). Americanizing Exercise Physiology. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 7:8 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/AmericanizingExercisePhysiology.html Boone, T. (1998). Perspectives on Change. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 1:1 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/pro2.htm ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Book Advertisement Exercise Physiology: Professional Issues, Organizational Concerns, and Ethical Trends by Tommy Boone.  The Edwin Mellen Press at http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?aid=5727&pc=10 Copyright ©1997-2006 American Society of Exercise Physiologists   All Rights Reserved.