The Room You Walk Into: Why showing up changes everything

Next week, I’ll be at the TVMA Annual Conference in Frisco and I’ve been thinking about why I keep showing up.

Not just to conferences. To all of it.

The early mornings. The hard conversations. The work of building something when nobody’s watching. For me, that is honoring my value of integrity, one of my Authentic Values.

Because here’s the truth: showing up is wildly underrated.

The Myth of "Just a Conference"

It’s easy to write off conferences. The CE credits, the vendor hall, the awkward networking. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of attending, speaking, and now leading at these events:

The room changes when the right people walk in.

And you? You’re one of those people.

Every time you choose growth over comfort, every time you book the flight, find the coverage, leave the kids or the clinic for a few days, you’re making a statement.

You’re saying: I’m not done evolving.

What the Research Says About Showing Up

Professional conferences are one of the most effective interventions against burnout.

A 2020 study in the JAVMA found that veterinarians with stronger professional networks reported significantly higher resilience scores and lower rates of depression and anxiety (Perret et al., 2020).

It’s not the CE sessions that make the difference. It’s the connection; the togetherness.

It’s the conversation at the coffee station where someone says, “Me too” or, "I've been there."

It’s the reminder that you are not alone in this profession.

The U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness a public health epidemic,  and veterinary medicine is statistically one of the most isolated professions.

Conferences break that isolation. Even for a few days. They build connection and community.

Three Reasons I Keep Showing Up

1. Vulnerability is not weakness... it’s leadership.

It's showing up brave and courageous. The sessions that hit hardest aren’t the clinical ones. They’re the ones where someone says, “I struggled. Here’s what I learned.” or "Can someone tell me how you worked through this?"

2. The energy in the room matters.

That feeling when you’re surrounded by people who get it? That collective understanding is healing. Research shows that feeling part of a professional “in-group” directly supports well-being (Haslam et al., 2018).

3. Your next breakthrough is one conversation away.

Some of the most important moments in my career didn’t happen in a meeting, they happened in an unplanned conversation with someone brave enough to show up, be vulnerable and show me kindness. 

⚡NEXT SATURDAY: Energy Management Workshop

If you’re going to be at TVMA, I want to see you there!!!! If you're at the conference, come find me. Introduce yourself, and let's talk about this work!

I’m leading an Energy Management Workshop: How to Beat Burnout at the TVMA Annual Conference in Frisco.

📅Saturday, February 28, 2026
⏰8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍TVMA Annual Conference, Frisco, TX

This isn’t a lecture. This is a hands-on, interactive workshop on the neuroscience of burnout, nervous system regulation, and practical tools you can use immediately to protect your energy.

If you’ve been running on fumes, this is for you.

You Don’t Have to Go to a Conference to “Show Up”

Showing up looks different for everyone:

• Joining a community where you’re seen and supported (hello, TEV 👋)
• Asking for help instead of white-knuckling through another shift
• Signing up for coaching instead of hoping things magically improve
• Replying to this email and saying “I need something to change”

The point isn’t the venue. It’s the decision to stop standing still.