Exercise is good for you. That’s hardly a newsflash: In the 400s BCE, Greek philosopher Hippocrates wrote “Eating alone will not keep a man well; he must also take exercise.”

Leonardo Da Vinci deeply researched the human body and tried to understand how things like our muscles and joints worked, something inherently linked to the importance of correct maintenance (like any machine).

Even the Titanic had a well-equipped gym onboard, with equipment like a rowing machine and exercise bike (and amazingly, a mechanical horse-riding machine).

That’s all to say, we have known that exercise is good for us for a long, long time. Yet many of us still procrastinate when it comes to doing it. We avoid it, we dread it, we tell ourselves “Tomorrow.”

One of the reasons we do this is because there is always something else to do. Maybe we need to get a little more work done, perhaps we didn’t get much sleep, and what about that latest season that just dropped on Netflix – wouldn’t that be good to watch?

That’s often how we also approach the importance of external opportunities for learning, connecting, and developing in our careers. In other words, when it comes time to leave our facilities and interact with the outside world, oftentimes there are other priorities that cause us to push it a little further down the to-do list.

I believe we do ourselves a disservice when we do this. I know for sure that when I have gone out to conferences, trade shows, user group meetings, and industry events, I am always glad I did it. Not only do they prove a good opportunity to gain new learning I can apply to my work, but they provide an even better opportunity to connect with my peers and share our experiences. As John Donne wrote, “No man is an island…”

I have found that when I am on the fence about going to the gym, a simple step can make the difference. I put on my workout gear. That small action breaks the inertia and makes the next step far easier.

Perhaps we should think about professional engagement in the same way.

Rather than debating whether we have time, we take the first step. Book the ticket. Submit the request. Block the time in the calendar. In my experience, once that initial barrier is crossed, the rest tends to follow much more easily.

Looking back, many of the most valuable aspects of my career have come from doing exactly that. Attending, engaging, and gradually becoming more involved. Over time, that has grown into a long-standing involvement with the Coordinate Metrology Society, where I now serve as Vice President of the Executive Committee.

None of that was planned. It simply started with showing up and allowing myself to experience the process. Just like a good workout, it is something I have never once regretted afterwards.

If you are considering attending CMSC – or any conference, training, or professional event - take the step. Because much like exercise, it is rarely the idea of it we regret, only the times we choose not to go. If you do, and you see me there, be sure to come and talk to me. I am sure we will both be glad you did.