5 Reasons Why You Should Pick A Fight

When's the last time you got into a confrontation? If you're like most people you shy away from altercations. They are uncomfortable, potentially harmful, and can ruin relationships. It's no wonder that many of us never come to fully appreciate their beauty.

I'm not asking you to get into a physical altercation at the bar. What I'm saying is when putting together a digital media strategy, we often focus on how do we connect with people. Strangely enough human beings may connect more over conflict than agreement. Agreement is boring. Conflict is the basis of all good storytelling, and you're ultimately trying to tell a story. Here are 5 reasons why you should pick a fight today.

1. It's In Our DNA

Regardless of whether you cow tow around the attractive woman at the water cooler with the RBF, or you road rage at people who cut you off and meekly retreat when eye to eye at a red light, it doesn't change the fact that human beings love a good fight! I'm not going to do market research on this because we don't have to.

Boxing. Films. The debate team at your high school. It's ingrained into our DNA, human beings love a good fight! And getting into one could spark some enthusiasm, and passion into your work.

2. You'll be forced to train

There's no stronger reason to brush up on your facts, then when you're being fact checked by someone who means to one up you. Being in a healthy quarrel with an organization or another person in the field is going to make you see yourself as they see you. This is an important way of getting out of your own head and assessing your strengths and weakness in your messaging, branding, and position in the community you're engaging. This is the brilliance behind Coke vs. Pepsi, McDonalds vs. Burger King, and other major brand disputes. In reality they keep each other on their toes. Anyone notice that suddenly Burger King started serving breakfast all day....Hmm I wonder why? Getting into online arguments about things you're passionate about, in the right forum, is a sure fire way to whip yourself back into shape, and gives you reason to stay that way.

3. There is a such thing as a good fight

Why do we fight? Wikipedia conflict and you'll eventually see this sentence:

initial conflict is generally caused by differences of opinion, disagreements between members, or scarcity of resources of a group.

Meaning, you fight when something is important to you; when something matters. If you're not having any fights, no fights, not one single teensy weensy fight at all, either you're perfect, or you're not speaking up. Fighting doesn't have to be airing Bernie Sanders attack ads during the Big Bang Theory. It also doesn't have to be impromptu Kanye West tweets at Wiz Khalifa after misunderstanding someones posts.

However, what it should be, is thoughtfully disagreeing about a concept, happening, process, or product's quality within your realm. Something noteworthy. Something you think is important. When you take up causes you become their champion, and champions usually get attention.

4. It's not about winning or losing

First off you can't win if you don't play. Second off it's okay to lose. Conceding an online loss with poise and dignity is not going to kill your reputation. What will kill your reputation is the validity of your fight, the methods you used to fight, and the ultimate spirit in which you disagree.

One unexpected thing that happens when we fight, is people come to our aid who feel the same way. I'm always so horrified when I see losing candidates get on television ,in front of a crowd of thousands of their supporters, to concede a loss. But what has their campaign done? It's rallied their community. It's given their supporters a voice. It's made them a tribe leader. Like her or not look at the brand Sarah Palin has built from losing a campaign.

It's not about being negative, it's about being on the front line. Then when you come home you can sit with the other vets and talk about the war.

5. Our biggest competition can be our greatest allies

I know you've seen Rocky (spoiler alert). Either way, street raised Rocky Balboa goes on to fight Apollo Creed, the current heavyweight champion, in an epic bout. Long story short they end up becoming best of friends. Because when you argue, you begin to develop and understanding with someone. Being momentarily opposed to someone doesn't make them your enemy. They actually become more like a sparring partner.

Once you start to engage a few key people in this way it'll free up communication so that you'll have people in the community that will always tell you things that are hard for your friends to say. They'll keep you mindful of your tone. And they just may turn out to be your best ally.

Dusha Holmes II Digital Media Mind