Issue #21: The Annual Physical (and Other Meetings We Avoid)

August 12, 2025

💌 From the Editor’s Desk

Welcome back to Work In Progmess — the newsletter that believes “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” is a terrible health plan and a questionable career strategy.

This week, we’re looking at one of the most dangerous games men play:
Avoiding the doctor because “it’s probably fine.”

It’s the same logic we use for our inbox, our LinkedIn profile, and that awkward career conversation with our boss.
What could possibly go wrong?

— The Mess

📰Headline Shocker

THE MOST DANGEROUS FORM OF HEALTHCARE: HOPE

For millions of men, the annual physical isn’t a yearly ritual. Instead, it’s a once-a-decade surprise attack.

We’ll gladly Google “weird shoulder pain” at 2 a.m. or crowdsource advice from a buddy who once dated a nurse, but make an actual appointment? Not unless there’s visible smoke coming out of our ears.

It’s not that we don’t want to live longer. We just have a little voice in our head whispering:

“If you don’t ask, you can’t get bad news.”

Which is why the only thing scarier than a waiting room is an honest conversation about your cholesterol. Or your career.

MAN REFUSES TO SEE DOCTOR, CALLS IT “MANAGING RISK”

Also avoiding annual review for same reason

ATLANTA, GA — Local marketing manager Dan Phillips has proudly not seen a doctor in nine years, claiming he’s “never been sick” and “doesn’t need some stranger telling him to cut back on brisket.”

Phillips confirmed he uses the same approach at work... ignoring anything that could bring bad news.
“Performance review? Nah, I’ll pass. If they don’t tell me I’m underperforming, am I really?” he said, polishing off a leftover cheeseburger.

🩺 The Career Diagnosis Problem

Just like skipping the check-up, skipping hard conversations at work can feel safer in the moment — but it lets small issues turn into big, career-threatening ones.

The truth?

That “we should talk about your future here” email from your boss?
That’s your professional blood pressure check.
That networking coffee you’ve been putting off?
That’s preventive medicine for your career.
That skill you’ve been meaning to learn?
That’s your flu shot... before your role gets automated.

🪑 From The Editor’s Desk

Denial feels easier.
But avoidance is just a slow form of self-sabotage - in health and in work.

The best leaders don’t skip the check-ups.
They make them part of the plan.

And in career development, that means:

- Asking for real feedback before it’s critical

- Updating your story before someone else writes it for you

- Doing the uncomfortable thing now so you’re not in surgery later

Go ahead. Make the appointment.
Your future self will thank you.
Your current self will find a way to complain about it anyway.

📩Until Next Time…

Forward this to the guy who says “I don’t need a doctor, I feel fine” and still hasn’t updated his resume since 2011.

Avoidance is not a growth strategy.

— The Progmess Editorial Team

P.S. You know avoidance is only a short-term strategy—whether it’s a doctor’s appointment or a hard conversation at work.

Our Bitter End this week is a micro dose of truth disguised as comedy: a TikTok clip about how someone actually looked forward to their colonoscopy—and why that might just be the healthiest decision they’ll make all year.

Click to watch. It’s awkward, it’s bold... and it might just change how you think about vulnerability, health, and the stories we wait to tell.

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