Sooner or Later Ideas Take Root
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP, EPC
Professor and Chair
Director, Exercise Physiology Laboratories
Department of Exercise Physiology
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811

“If you want to truly understand something, try to change it.” – Kurt Lewin 

Yesterday, I left the twin cities to Duluth.  It is usually a two-hour and thirty minutes drive.  But, lately it occurred to me that I’ve been driving it in just over two hours.  I can’t say I proud of driving faster than the speed limit.  I don’t like it and, yes, it isn’t as safe as driving 70 mph.  The problem is that “everyone is doing it.”  If I don’t do it, I’m likely to get pushed off I-35 North or worse.  So, what is a person to do?  Perhaps, an Irish proverb is pertinent here:  “You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather is.” 

In other words, to stretch the point a bit, no matter how fast the car next to me is driving, I got to do my own thing.  Neither my grandfather nor the driver of the car flying by me defines who I am.  Each person defines his or her own path in life.  Just because my father was a successful lawyer and state senator doesn’t mean that the world owes me the same or anything similar.  My future depends on what I do or fail to do.  It is all about being responsible for what I want to be.  While I understand this thinking is basic, it isn’t always appreciated for its meaning.  Simplicity doesn’t necessarily mean without a challenge or hard work. 

In fact, almost everything that is simple invariability has taken a lot of planning, strategy, and time.  So, what am I to do about driving faster than I should on I-35?  The answer is simple (i.e., slow down), but it is hard to do.  You may already no what I mean, especially if you live where the number of cars at any given moment on an Interstate is equal to the size of a small city (okay, town).  I’m convinced that between twin cities and Duluth there are thousands of men, women, and children on the Interstate.  And, when they disappear, they are instantly replaced.  Interstates are virtual cities!

Sooner or later my brain will get the message, much like sports supplements, that just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t make it right or safe (however we humans rationalize our behavior).  And, it is very likely that the message will get across to all the hundreds and hundreds of drivers on the Interstate that driving faster than the speed limit is unsafe and chaotic.  Yes, I said it:  “Driving fast is deceptively simple, but potentially, it is chaos in motion.”  Maybe I can learn to be a leader on the road.  After all, as Warren Bennis [1] has concluded, “They do things other people haven’t done or don’t do.”

Sooner or later there will be more exercise physiologists doing things that colleagues haven’t done or don’t do.  Part of the trick is that change is inevitable.  We know this intuitively, but we get caught up in going so fast that we don’t take time to think about it.  This reminds me of the expression, “Inhale deeply, now exhale very slowly, and relax.  It will be okay.”  This is what our leaders must do.  Inhale slowly but deeply and relax.  It is just a matter of time before the ASEP perspective [2] takes on a life of its own.  It’s all about believing that exercise physiologists will lead themselves from the specialist way of thinking to that a professional perspective.

Okay, but when will ASEP be accepted by all exercise physiologists as “the” professional organization?  You may not like my answer, but here it is:  “Sooner or later it will be the case.”  ASEP was founded in 1997.  I have several pairs of shoes older than that!  Less than 10 years of age is nothing.  My dog is nearly twice the age of ASEP.  When anything is likely to happen isn’t the right question to ask.  New ideas and reflections that knock your pants off or causes you to say, “no way” require an orderly timing of events.  What is important is this:  ASEP is in motion.  It is alive, breathing, and pounding at the core of its being. 

ASEP has its reach well into the public sector beyond the leader’s original expectation.  To continue its effectiveness is a matter of heart, determination, and vision.  No one on the Board of Directors is without any of the three.  ASEP’s journey and their journey are linked.  They are proven professionals and ASEP, therefore, is a successful if not a treasure awaiting embracement.  Collectively, the ASEP members represent the classic example of inspiration and vision that is hard to beat.  And, frankly, given the side bar of unusually challenging negativity from sports medicine colleagues, ASEP is a fabulous success story.  Be proud that you are a member of the only professional organization of exercise physiologists in the world. 

Just recently a colleague told me of difficult conversation he had with an exercise physiologist from another university who said, “It doesn’t matter what you guys do.  We are a big organization with a lot of power.  You guys are losers.  Robergs and Boone are nobody.  Lehn and Wattles, who are they?  Diboll is just kissing up to Boone.  I’m a PhD exercise physiologist.  I present my research findings where it counts.  Teaching is secondary.  Anybody can teach.  Students don’t care.  They don’t get it anyway.”  The reader might think this is an aberrant view, but think twice.  It is more common than you might think. 

If I were to read into the statement, I would conclude two things:  First, this person is not just misinformed but abusive as well.  Second, the guy shows no respect for students.  Both are important reasons to be concerned.  Beliefs are powerful guides to behavior.  Apparently, exercise physiologists need workshops on shaping beliefs as well as how to teach and carry out research projects.  Rather than looking out for number one, teachers ought to be thinking about their students and how to help them realize their dreams and aspirations.  This, it seems to me, is the ideal way to think about one’s job.  Sooner or later exercise physiologists will bounce back and dig deep into the ASEP philosophy [3].  

This brings me to the lyrics I heard earlier today, “…save a horse, ride a cowboy.”  It may be the first time the idea is used with exercise physiology, but how about this:  “…save a profession, join ASEP.”  I know how it sounds, but it’s worth a try.  By the way, that’s the point isn’t it?  Exercise physiologists must be willing to make mistakes if they are to get out from under the inertia of sports medicine [4].  This means endlessly trying what works and what appears to work to attract the qualities that are valued by ASEP exercise physiologists.  Gandhi said, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

As you may know, I’ve written more than once about change [5-7] and the importance of failing to succeed [8-10].  As an example, at one time, I lived on the notion that research was enough to be a professional or a member of a profession.  It never occurred to me that I was wrong on both counts.  I guess you can say that today I’m a transformed person.  I’ve learned there is magic in studying healthcare professions.  If you look hard enough, you will see images and visions of exercise physiology that are coming into focus.  Getting on board to help the public understand the spirit and vision of exercise physiology is critical to our professional development.

The things I’m talking about represent the new generation of leaders who believe in change, and who believe the answer to their problems lies between their own ears.  Sooner or later this idea will take root.  ASEP is not your enemy – instead, it is part of who you are and what we will become.  The leaders of other professions have this in common with each other.  They aren’t that different from us.  But what they have had on their side for decades is their own professional organization and spirit.  The ASEP organization is an outcome of similar thinking and commitment.

Only by coming to this understanding will our future become even more than we would have dreamed under the sports medicine flag.  The simple truth is that we have a lot to offer society.  It is strange how others understand this point better than we do.  Their ideas are plain and direct for getting involved with fitness and athletics.  Their path is less direct than ours, but very focused nonetheless.  The real challenge lies in how we come together as members of the exercise physiology profession.  However unpopular it might be, professors across the United States must break the rules of conventional (established) thinking.

I understand it isn’t easy.  Even worse, some will pass the buck forever.  Others will retire saying, “It is a crazy idea.”  But, in the long run, the promises of ASEP will come true – sooner or later!  Yes, sooner or later, the rest of the fleet of exercise physiologists will join ASEP and become, collectively speaking, a competitive force to be reckoned with in healthcare.  The faster it happens the better for everyone involved, including the public sector. 

Just think about it, however hard it is to imagine [1], “By 2030 one in five Americans will be 65 or older.”  One consequence of the graying of America is a growing realization that exercise physiologists are going to bear directly on the problems of aging.  Exercise physiologists must take advantage of their opportunities.  The rehabilitative issues of diabetes, depression, obesity, osteoporosis, muscle wasting, coronary artery disease, maintenance of health and fitness, and the intrigue that underpins athletics and training are obvious examples of work for exercise physiologists.

Armed with the scientific background that most other professionals do not have, the links between health and athletics represent the business of exercise physiology.  The way to do get this point across to others is to define the exercise physiology mission [12] with passion.  Embrace the challenges with faith, commitment, and hope of something better for our students.  Sooner or later students will rightfully inherit their future as healthcare professionals.  Sooner or later they will share with others who they are, what they feel, and what they do.  Sooner or later, you will see – doing the right things for the right reasons will take root.

References

1. Bennis, W. (2003). On Becoming a Leader. New York, NY: Basic Books. p. 133.
2. Boone, T. (2003).  You Are Not a Healthcare Professional. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 6:12 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/ExercisePHYSIOLOGISTasHEALTHCAREprofessional.html
3. Boone, T. (2004). Show Some Backbone.  Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 7:11 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/ShowSomeBackbone.html
4. Boone, T. (2003). Overcoming Institutional Inertia With Leadership. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 6:2 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/OvercomingInstitutionalInertiaWithLeadership.html
5. Boone, T. (2003). The Making of American Exercise Physiology. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 6:1 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/AmericanExercisePhysiology.html
6. Boone, T. (2003). Leaving the Old Reality Requires New Thinking. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 6:4 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/LeavingTHEoldREALITY.html
7. Boone, T. (2004). The EPC Exam:  A Challenge for Academicians. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 7:3 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/TheEPCexamChallenge.html
8. Boone, T. (2003). The ASEP Organization is a Paradigm Shift.  Professionalization of Exercise Physiologonline. 6:2 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/TheASEPparadigmShift.html
9. Boone, T. (2002). Exercise is Therapy, Prevention, and Treatment: An Exercise Physiologist’s Perspective. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologonline. 5:3 [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/ExerciseIsTherapy.html
10. Boone, T. (2001). The Sports Medicine Myth.  Professionalization of Exercise Physiologonline. 4:7 [Online].  http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/SportsMedicineMyth.html
11. Bennis, W. (2003). p. 168.
12. American Society of Exercise Physiologists. (2005). Managing the Organization:  Understanding Vision and Mission Statements. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologonline. 8:5 [Online].  http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/ManagingTheOrganization.html

 

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