American Society of Exercise Physiologists: Building Trusting Relationships and Career Opportunities 
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP, EPC
Professor and Chair
Department of Exercise Physiology
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811 

“Putting a stake in the ground takes vision, commitment, and courage.”  -- William T. Boone, Jr.

The American Society of Exercise Physiologists is about the students of exercise physiology.  It’s about mobilizing members to ensure career opportunities for students of exercise physiology programs.  It’s about a new vision of healthcare professionals; a vision that all students should have the same rights and opportunities of a college education.  My personal vision for ASEP is that it becomes an organization of members treated with respect for their education, appreciated and valued for their work, and respected for their beliefs. 

Going the Extra Mile
Putting a stake in the ground is a statement of intent or declaration.  It is the equivalent of saying, “This is where we will build our new building.”  Or, “This is what I believe, and I’m not changing my mind.”  It is symbolic to “drawing a line in the sand”.   For example, you have no doubt heard the express: “Step across this line and there will be trouble.”  “Going the extra mile” is a similar expression.  Its interpretation is equally obvious.  None of the three expressions is made without a purpose or a vision of some kind.  None is possible without conviction and courage. 

“Going the extra mile” ought to be motto of the ASEP leadership.  It takes courage to stand up against sports medicine.   It requires a vision for something better for all students who think that they want to be an exercise physiologist.  With this understanding, there is no going back to the days of sports medicine.  Opportunities now exist to restore hope and rebuild a sense of community among all exercise physiologists.  It is about ensuring the ASEP bottom line; that is, the long-term development and survivability of exercise physiology. 

The extra mile can also be defined by the ASEP leadership’s determination and willingness to model the way for exemplary exercise physiologists as healthcare professionals.  The Board of Directors has “stepped up to the plate” by opening up its heart to the world.  Through their emails, conversations, presentations, and publications, they talk about values and professionalism.  They are willing to share their thinking with anyone interested in exercise physiology.  Modeling the ASEP way, they have set the 21st century example for exercise physiology. 

Inspired by a Shared Dream
Inspired by what could be, the Founders set into motion a new belief about exercise physiology.  Beginning with a shared dream, they envisioned how it was possible to invent the future.  The dream inspired the founding of ASEP.  In other words, the Founders drew the line in the sand.  The separation of exercise physiology from sports medicine was official in 1997.  Numerous memorable moments have been played out since then, although it appears that many still remain largely ignored by the academic community.

No one said it would be easy or quick in creating a national organization.  The leadership of ASEP understand this point.  They made on claims on how quickly change would occur.  Rather, they placed their personal and professional thinking and status on the line to grow and improve upon exercise physiology outside of an exercise specialist or fitness professional way of thinking.  Here again, they knew that it would be an uphill battle.  Stepping into the unknown is an experiment in boldness and courage as well as risk and failure.  All leaders understand this and, yet they took the bull by the horns anyway.  It appears that when the hearts of good people are in the right place for the right reasons, change is inevitable.

The key to success is the willingness to walk the extra mile.  If the doors aren’t open, then open them.  If friends and colleagues don’t get the big picture, then keep trying anyway.  This is what dreaming big is about.  It fosters a climate of trust and commitment.  In the end, well beyond the Founders’ influence, there will be genuine acts of caring for exercise physiology by individuals inspired by the shared dream of the ASEP exercise physiologists.  It will create a strong sense of collective identity that will lead to greatness.

Organizational Integrity
Honesty is another key to a successful organization.  If leaders are considered trustworthy, members are more encouraged to support the organization.  This is true also for ethical thinking.  No one likes being misled by unprincipled actions.  This is why ASEP must be above reproach.  It cannot become an organization of special interests groups, especially when its purpose is “professionalism”. 

Organizational leaders are always looking ahead.  Their planning, thinking, and interaction with others are in accordance with the best intentions of the vision for the organization.  It is an obvious style of leadership that defines their values and ethics.  In fact, when collectively put to the test, it inspires confidences in the membership and others who take the time to examine the ASEP goals and objectives.  In turn, the interaction among concerned parties and their professional intentions encourage the development of skills that enable the continued development of the ASEP organization. 

Trustworthiness is the foundation of good organizations.  Everyone must be able to believe in the purpose of the organization and its leadership.  When they do, the organization stands for something important.  Hence, the way into the ASEP future for all exercise physiologists is directly connected with the members’ vision of a better tomorrow.  In short, the organization becomes the voice of exercise physiology.  This is a generally recognized fact, but its importance is seldom appreciated.  Just one voice, however small, if it speaks loudly enough with integrity, it won’t go unnoticed. 

Standing Up for Your Beliefs
Take a look around you.  How many times have you observed your friends and  colleagues stand up for their beliefs?  Not surprisingly it isn’t always easy to do so.  Everybody seems to end up influenced by someone to favor a special color, a movie, or a book and, yes, a particular organization.  At times, wanting to be part of something takes on a groupthink mentality.  Members forget to think for themselves.  They think their beliefs are actually real when, in fact, they are unconsciously committed to the beliefs of their colleagues.  All of us should pay more attention to the point.

The Founders’ beliefs are clear and simple.  They believe that exercise physiologists have the right to their own professional organization.  They also believe that exercise physiologists have the responsibility to express their concerns to others.  In other words, it is a matter of standing up and letting others know where the buck stops.  Exercise physiology is not sports medicine.  Exercise physiologists are not sports medicine professionals.  Exercise science is not exercise physiology.  Fitness professionals are not exercise physiologists.  Personal trainers are not exercise physiologists.  Just because a person has taken several exercise physiology courses, that doesn’t mean that the person is an exercise physiologist.  Kinesiologists are not exercise physiologists. 

Students need to know “what is exercise physiology” and “who is an exercise physiologist”.  They need to understand the journey is not endless, except when told to go the wrong way.  Others have figured this out decades ago.  Physical therapists understand that their success comes from majoring in physical therapy.  Nurses understand this point, too.  The priority step to becoming a profession begins with the academic major.  What does it stand for?  What are the credentials?  What is the professional organization?  What are the fundamental principles that guide the field?  What kind of practice do exercise physiologists engage in?

A Unified Voice
The message here is that students need a unified voice that defines a unified message for all exercise physiologists.  A voice that clearly speaks to the ASEP vision and shared message is the ASEP 21st century view of the emerging profession of exercise physiology.  The critical point is this:  Together, with other ASEP exercise physiologists, all members are empowered to sustain the dialogue for change.  The one-voice serves as a significant inspiration for everyone who has taken a risk at getting involved with the change process.  It is virtually impossible to fail when members are willing to suffer 24/7/365 for their shared vision of the future. 

The unified voice is therefore about making a difference.  It sets the ASEP exercise physiologists apart from everyone else.  Their uniqueness is special; it fosters a communion of ideas and support for professionalism, self-respect, and self-esteem.  The voice differentiates accredited from non-accredited exercise physiologists.  The voice is future-oriented.  It is the beginning step in realizing what is ahead for exercise physiologists, how ASEP is making life better, and how our collective hopes and dreams influence our shared understanding of the future.

Simply put, the ASEP voice is the commitment to the shared vision of all ASEP members.  The commitment is consistent with what the members want, what they believe is important, and what they want shared among all exercise physiologists.  The “sharing” is about making a difference by communicating a “can-do” attitude to accomplish what sports medicine failed to do.  Communication is done step by step; old mindsets and habits are gradually put aside for new ones.

We’re in This Together
The mandate is obvious.  An organization for students of exercise physiology requires students to sustain a culture in which exercise physiologists learn to know and believe in each other.  Collectively, we are neither invisible nor alone.  We have friends and colleagues to share the challenges with, to discuss issues and concerns, and to plan our future.  This personal commitment and accountability for what we believe has increased our control of the professional development of exercise physiology.   We believe in ourselves, and we now understand the role of a professional organization in the development of exercise physiology.  In other words, the American Society of Exercise Physiologists is crucial to building trusting relationships and career opportunities.