Most of us have crossed paths with gatekeepers and gatecrashers at some point in our lives.
Sometimes they are a necessary evil. Other times, they can be a hindrance.
Gatekeepers vs. Gatecrashers
Remember the time you gatecrashed a party without knowing anyone but still ended up having a blast?
Some may have forgiven your youthful indiscretion, but there were likely others who didn’t take kindly to your intrusion.
If you’ve ever been a desperate jobseeker, gatekeepers are among the worst people to encounter. Whether it’s the plucky receptionist who refuses to let you meet her boss or the stubborn HR personnel who rejected you, gatekeepers just make everything that much harder.
Though their roles garner negative connotations, both gatekeepers and gatecrashers are important in society. They can impede progress or challenge established traditions.
Choosing Sides: Gatekeeper or Gatecrasher?
It becomes difficult when we are forced to pick sides.
Depending on the situation, it might be best served to have one over the other.
When I first got into professional mixed martial arts, the scene was nowhere as developed as it is today.
I fought in makeshift arenas, sometimes in backroom bars, on splintered floorboards surrounded by chain link fences.
A chipped tooth, heavy metal music and the acrid smell of cigarette smoke were my weekly highlights.
It was a messy, unorganized sport relegated to the fringes of society.
Suffice to say, I often appeared the odd man out.
I was many things. A fresh-faced high school math teacher, a proud to be Christian athlete, an eloquent, well-mannered graduate from the University of Cincinnati.
But a bare-knuckled brawler I was not.
My wholesome image challenged the mainstream and public perception of fighters.
Yes, I was the gatecrasher. But I had no intention to ruin anyone’s party.
As the wins started to accumulate, I figured I’d stick around and see where this goes.
Honestly, I never expected to make it 13 years, much less become a World Champion and Hall of Famer.
I stayed true to myself, stuck to my roots, and carved out my own route to success. It’s gratifying to see where the sport is today and acknowledge the role I played in its progress.
Not bad for a gatecrasher.
Is Gatekeeping the Worse of Two Evils?
Three to four years into the sport professionally, I had made a name for myself.
Main event status catapults you into a certain level of stardom.
I handled new responsibilities that came with it – media, photo shoots, advertisements – and gained a reputation as an all-around consummate professional.
Drawn to a sport that was turning the page on its checkered past, newer and younger fighters desperately needed mentorship.
I leapt at this opportunity, because even though my journey into the sport was devoid of guidance, I saw myself as part of the system that was trying to be better.
Was there a sentiment floating among old heads or veterans who felt like ‘these youngins ought to pay their dues, just like we did’?
Maybe, maybe not.
I’m all for hard work, sacrifice and getting dirty in the trenches, but I did not share those views.
I wasn’t about to gatekeep the newer generation of fighters, many of whom displayed the same drive and tenacity for success that I once did.
Through 13 years in the business and more past my retirement, I continue to impart whatever wisdom and experience I gained as a fighter, Champion, and now an executive in this industry.
Can Gatekeeping be Good?
I eschewed gatekeeping in favor of mentorship. That said, I don’t think gatekeepers get nearly enough credit.
Buried beneath jealousy, fear or disdain I believe are genuinely positive motivations for gatekeeping.
By its very nature, law enforcement is like gatekeeping. The police are at the frontier of justice. Their very presence is meant to deter crime.
But do gatekeepers need gatekeeping themselves?
Dr. Michael Wood Jr was an ex-cop in Baltimore who caused quite a stir on social media when he revealed examples of professional misconduct.
Now a police management scholar, Dr. Wood wants to help change the public’s perceptions of the police.
His role as a gatekeeper to keep away unsavory elements from the force is a means to restore honor to the badge.
It’s a solo act but him speaking truth to power on Quite Franklin might go a long way.
He may have changed my perceptions on gatekeeping too.
I learned that just like crime, not everything is black and white or cops and robbers.
Ultimately, it is our choice.
Who do we want to be, and which situation calls for us to become?