ASEP Members Share in Common
a Vision and Passion
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP, EPC
Professor and Chair, Department
of Exercise Physiology
Director of Exercise Physiology
Laboratories
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
“I relinquished everything
for the dream.” – John H. Johnson
Members of ASEP share in common a passion
for the professional development of exercise physiology. They are
doing things others won’t and, in so doing, they have set the stage for
the professionalization of exercise physiology. While a few words
can't fully explain it, they unerstand the need for professional development
and they are emotionally involved in the process. They also understand
that all members have the right, if not, the duty to express their thoughts,
feelings, and emotions about exercise physiology. This is especially
true when they think about the ASEP vision that drives passion. In
short, when desire comes from within, we can expect great things.
Passion is a form of energy that drives members to a commitment that brings
satisfaction. It all goes back to remembering why ASEP was founded
in the first place.
ASEP exercise physiologists understand
that their future lies within them, and that it is important to work hard
when chasing dreams and embracing a vision. Hence, they have created
their own professional organization with a sense of purpose that has resulted
in less chaos and confusion about “what is exercise physiology” and “what
is an exercise physiologist”? They haven’t forgotten about the past
associations and colleagues. But, instead of continuing to embrace
what they have learned and where they are today, they choose to look to
the future with the belief that a professional organization of exercise
physiologists is a great idea. The belief is akin to the notion that
success lies within each of us. It is also the courage to stop contributing
to the suggestions by others that we should only exist within a specific
context. It is an understanding, if not a responsibility, to develop
exercise physiology (not exercise science) to the fullest degree possible.
And, it is about not selling out for security without considering what
the relationship with others may cost in the long run in terms of personal
and professional growth and development.
The professional development of exercise
physiology is a courageous undertaking. Those who understand the
risks have moved past their fears and towards the ASEP goals. They
have taken action, and they have demonstrated that they care about the
new exercise physiology. Hence, comments such as “You can’t do that.”
“I would rather be safe than sorry.” or “I would rather take no action
than make a mistake.” have not diminished their passion to communicate
to others the ideas and feelings about ASEP. Others outside of ASEP
appear not to understand these ASEP members are already a success!
The path to bigger and better things (such as financial stability and respect)
has already been established. The ASEP vision and purpose are bold
statements written to strengthen the exercise physiologists’ attitude towards
professional development. Those in the organization are already successful,
given their common sharing and shaping of the exercise physiology.
They have demonstrated the ability to understand what must be done that
others miss. Their eyes are open to new opportunities to taking risks
where necessary.
“The sky is the limit.
If you believe that you are capable of achieving something and you’re willing
and disciplined to work at it, then nothing can stop you.” –Reg Lewis
The transformation from being outside
ASEP to inside ASEP is fundamental to understanding the meaning of passion.
Those within ASEP understand the importance of disrupting the status quo
and doing things differently. They have the passion to “walk the
walk”. They are able to step beyond the everyday notion of themselves
to unlock the driving forces to be self-starters, to set goals, to take
risks, and to learn from their failures, and yet to believe in their right
to create and shape their future as exercise physiology professionals.
They understand that the impossible is possible. Creating and managing
change are critical to bringing order of chaos in order to be successful.
In other words, ASEP members understand the logic of making the huge leap
of faith into building their own effective organization. Their success
is directly related to relationships among and between other members and
among and between other organizations. Forming alliance between existing
and/or emerging organizations helps to develop and market expanded applications
for new job opportunities.
“You can and should shape
your own future. Because, if you don’t, someone else surely will.”
– Joel A. Barker
ASEP members can be identified as sharing
a set of assumptions that defines exercise physiology and, therefore, predicts
a particular vision of reality. Their framework of thinking defines
the ASEP boundary and dictates behavior as members in order to be successful.
In general, this is true for any organization. What is important
is that the ASEP paradigm shift, that is, the new exercise physiologists
founded on a new set of rules, has dramatically upset the old exercise
physiologists. The old rules, the older version of exercise physiology
as a discipline, required a less than professional opportunity to measure
oneself against other professionals. The new rules, the newer version
of exercise physiology has significantly changed the structure of exercise
physiology. Gradually, the new pattern of thinking solves the easier
problems first followed by a longer interval of challenges to solve the
more difficult problems. Eventually though, the shift in new thinking
defined by the paradigm shifters convinces everyone that a new (or another)
organization is neither absurd nor impossible. Nothing is impossible
with the right vision, purpose, and passion.
“Those who say it cannot
be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it!” – Anonymous
Nothing is impossible, so don’t let
what others say upset your belief in yourself. Students, in particular,
listen carefully to the members of ASEP, and attend to their words with
your heart. This might be the advice from any member of ASEP who
cares about students and the emerging profession of exercise physiology.
Students should welcome instruction, and faithfully put it into practice
to clarify “what is exercise physiology” and “what is the right path to
professionalism”. Without answers to these questions, students will
continue to live with contradictions. And yet, nowing that there
are no short cuts or simplistic answers to understanding the promise of
a new exercise physiology, all we can do is help others be who they are.
The truth is felt in our hearts. We find we cannot ignore the honesty,
and unless we do something we don’t feel right. Life is too short
not to be on the right path or to be mis-understood by others. Clearly,
part of the problem stems from the fact that the past is not buried or
forgotten. It continues to define the present and yet, as exercise
physiologists, we should be searching for the right instructions if we
are to grow into the fullness of professional stature to which we are called.
This search for the right path to
professionalism is a search that is common to us all; it is basic to our
academic preparation and employment in the public sector. The setting
is ASEP, and its presence is felt. Most are members of ASEP while
others remain separated from it. But above all there is an alternative
to standing in the shadow of an organization that has an image and purpose
something other than exercise physiology. ASEP is the way of expressing
beliefs about exercise physiology. When thinking about its mission
and purpose, it allows exercise physiologists to remain hopeful, open,
and sensitive to the ways in which we can shape the emerging profession.
Are you willing to get involved and to let it happen. Are you ready
to get involved? Members share in their desire to see students with
increased job opportunities come into play. Realizing that in the
next decade they will not only have increased financial stability and more
defined jobs in the public sector, members are willing to stand confident
that ASEP is making a difference. It is the certainty of that outcome
that makes communication so important and, similarly, that we dare to move
forward on the path of professionalism and a new exercise physiology.
Communication is rooted in self-reflection
and self-worth. Here is the secret of bringing life to academics,
whereby upon graduation students are prepared as professionals. Members
suspect the way most of us understand this point is our mutual respect
for credible certifications. And, they find it liberating and encouraging
that the members of the Board of Certification have created the way to
professionalism through the “Exercise Physiologist Certified” exam.
Each of us knows only too well the conflicting claims of dozens of different
certifications. A few are very credible but they do not certify exercise
physiologists. Most certifications are designed to certify individuals
who are not exercise physiologists. Living with this paradox is not
easy or comfortable. It is not right either, but contradictions aren’t
resolved easily. ASEP members suspect it is true for all of us, that
is, that we learn from good professors who take the time to explain discordant
ideas. Their words help to liberate and affirm us. In time,
the students’ thinking becomes less carefree and more vision focused.
It is time to listen, to open our
eyes, and to give support to ASEP. Raising the bar significantly
is never easy, however. There are risks for everyone attempting it,
and there will always be skeptics who will argue that it can’t be done
and that there are too few resources. That’s why leadership is so
critical. Effective leaders know that communication is necessary
to deal with risks and to find the resources to support where the organization
is headed (i.e., the vision). Leaders also create the strategy that
governs the decisions and actions taken to realize the vision. Part
of the strategy process is to get involved with spreading the good news.
Infecting others with the determination to carry the process to completion
is leading with passion.
To understand how the leader acts
as a change agent is to understand the unending expectation that students
are also involved in setting high standards for the profession. And,
since change is rarely realized without major work, networking with students
is necessary. This can and does happen when a professor says, “Listen
carefully students to the members of ASEP, and attend to their words with
your heart.” It is a necessary step in the communication of what
we value and to understand our vision. It is the building of a partnership
between the faculty and the students that is imperative to the success
of any organization. Students (or just graduated students), as members
of ASEP, can become the driving force in the ASEP organization. They
can deliver the message and vision to inspire confidence as well as any
professor, but they must first listen, then take action.
Take, for example, two recent graduates
with a master’s degree in exercise physiology from the College of St. Scholastica.
Both are “Certified Exercise Physiologists”; both passed the EPC examination
during the May 5th administration of the exam. Their names are Aliisa
Seppala and Jason Young. Aliisa, with a master’s degree in exercise
physiology, just recently founded the Nebraska Association of Exercise
Physiologists (NAEP), and Jason, also with a master’s degree in exercise
physiology, just this month founded the Wisconsin Association of Exercise
Physiologists (WAEP). Presently, there are officially five state
associations (including Indiana, Idaho, and Minnesota), and all five were
founded by master-prepared exercise physiologists.
“Leadership is like beauty
– it’s hard to define but you know it when you see it.” – Warren Bennis
ASEP needs leadership and leaders are
hard to find. But, when you see a leader, you know it. Aliisa
and Jason are leaders; their belief in ASEP starts from within. Their
leadership stems from internal motivation and confidence in ASEP leading
exercise physiologists where they want to be. They have taken the
responsibility to think for themselves. ASEP owes a debt to these
members and their passion and work on behalf of the American Society of
Exercise Physiologists.
Copyright
©1997-2007
American Society of Exercise Physiologists All Rights
Reserved.