For some reason, I just can’t forget the immortal video of the “Tank Man” as shot in Tiananmen Square in June of 1989 during the (in)famous protests that led to a terrible tragedy of students getting killed and injured .
For those who don’t know this incident or need a refresher, take a look at this 2 minute video and watch the man with the 2 bags carefully :
(From Wikidepdia : The incident took place near Tiananmen in Beijing, China, on June 5, 1989, one day after the Chinese government’s violent crackdown on the Tiananmen Protests. The man stood in the middle of the wide avenue, directly in the path of a column of approaching tanks. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, and held two shopping bags, one in each hand. As the tanks came to a stop, the man gestured towards the tanks with his bags. In response, the lead tank attempted to drive around the man, but the man repeatedly stepped into the path of the tank in a show of non violence. After repeatedly attempting to go around rather than crush the man, the lead tank stopped its engines, and the armored vehicles behind it seemed to follow suit. There was a short pause with the man and the tanks having reached a quiet, still impasse.
Having successfully brought the column to a halt, the man climbed onto the hull of the buttoned-up lead tank and, after briefly stopping at the driver’s hatch, appeared in video footage of the incident to call into various ports in the tank’s turret. He then climbed atop the turret and seemed to have a short conversation with a crew member at the gunner’s hatch. After ending the conversation, the man descended from the tank. The tank commander briefly emerged from his hatch, and the tanks restarted their engines, ready to continue on. At that point, the man, who was still standing within a meter or two from the side of the lead tank, leapt in front of the vehicle once again and quickly re-established the man–tank standoff.
Video footage shows two figures in blue pulling the man away and disappearing with him into a nearby crowd; the tanks continued on their way. Eyewitnesses are unsure who pulled him aside. Charlie Cole (there for Newsweek) said it was the Chinese government PSB (Public Security Bureau), while Jan Wong (there for The Globe and Mail) thought that the men who pulled him away were concerned bystanders. In April 1998, Time included the “Unknown Rebel” in a feature titled Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century.
Why does this video haunt me?
First of all, I want to know – Who is this man? (His identity was never discovered, but almost all rumors and reports confirmed that he was caught and executed).
I also introspect and ask:
What was your Tiananmen Square moment?
Would you have the courage to stand in front of something that could kill you just to stop it from happening?
What is it that would make you flip your switch and make you ready to lost it all?
As a startup entrepreneur, there are several such moments that happen in the journey of a startup that include
– Co-founders trying to bulldoze their way into getting their way
– VCs dictating the path of a Company and threatening to not fund the business if their wishes are not met
– Key employees acting strange by threatening to quit if obnoxious salary terms are not met
– Key customers acting tough and asking for business terms that are just not favorable for the Company.
– Many personal problems of friends, family, relatives, loved ones ‘giving up’ on you and threatening to not support you if you continue with your passion…
What do you do in these situations?
Most of us crumble and understandably so. No one wants to lose or throw away what they have worked hard for – so what if a big compromise is required..
But in my humble opinion, it NEVER works.
You have to SAY NO. Even if the odds are getting run over by a giant tank.
In this blog, I ask YOU : “Have you been to Tiananmen Square”?
If yes, please share your story (without naming people or companies if that makes you comfortable). Just share what you can so that people can get inspired.
*****
I will also share my story too…
*****
asha chaudhry
very deep analogy alok.
somehow i can’t visualise you being bulldozed by anyone!
am sure you’ve grown a thick skin (which we all need to grow) in the last 15 years. and though i’ve read the toughest decision in your life, etc i still can’t see you being bulldozed by anyone. not even a VC!
Alok Rodinhood Kejriwal
My story:
I dreamt of contests2win.com in late 1997. As I began to think of it deeper, a very very close friend (will not disclose his name) liked the concept and said ‘Alok, lets do it together.’
This was a great relief because he had money; I was dependent on my dad and his brothers for my stipend which was 20k a month. I was married and had 1 daughter. So the partnership made sense. Also his sister was from an IIM and she was a super brain in marketing. So we had her support in thinking.
In the next few months, my friends manager actually began coming to my Nana’s office (where I would go post my factory) and started looking for ‘contacts’ to connect to to do this promotions business.
A WEEK before launch, my friend called and said “Alok, I can’t do this with you. My family does not approve.”
I was CRUSHED. I had started losing grip on my factory work, had a full family, no degree and no body to help.
When I think back, the situation was like this Tank. Trying to run me over.
My Nana heard of this problem and simply said, “Koi baat nahi hi yaar…. lets do it…”
That was it. I stood in front of the Tank and told it to get lost. And it did.
Imagine – I would have given 50% away of everything I have built if that call would not have come. And my friend was in no way someone who would have operated the business.
I was at Tienanmen Square..
asha chaudhry
alok… it’s interesting how your dad encouraged you to start small. and your nana has always been a problem solver.
and to think i thought i knew all of your stories….
quick q – has this incident affected your ability to trust people who come to you and say let’s partner on this…? just curious to know how tiananmen square experiences impact one…
Mithun Chandra
Funny how this one documentary, was the stepping stone for me to start exploring all the mind blowing stories that otherwise were not open to the public.
I have been in two minds on how to get myself to share my first failure story, for obvious reasons that any entrepreneur goes through. One of the main fears were, what will people think? what will they say? But after a while, what people think ceases to make sense completely You realize people don’t make you. Its truly a defining moment for any entrepreneur.
Thereon out, they go guns blazing, regardless of what people might think or whether their venture is a failure or not. All that matter is, launch, give it your 100% and see where it goes.
Will be posting one in the Celebrate Failure section soon.
PS: This is a must watch. The Tank Man
Hardik Khanna
I am still facing my Tienanmen Square moment.
When I started my coaching institute I suddenly found my parents fear turn into anger. Why do you want to leave your cushy job for teaching school kids.
But I moved on and started my class, however keeping my 9-5 job on (that’s why I mentioned that I am still facing my Tienanmen Square Moment).
I have been working for 7 days continuously for last 2 years (5 days – Corporate and 2 days- Coaching).
With my wife supporting me in taking few lectures during weekdays, I managed to earn profit in my second year.
I don’t know what the future holds. I believe that with my 24×7 effort -dedicated towards the class, I will do better.
But suddenly the pressure from all ends have started to build up again. Why do you want to leave job?
I know I have an answer – I love to teach. I dont have an answer whether this will grow big. Whether I will end up earning equal , if not more than my corporate job.
Too many tankers in my head shooting continuously.
Deeti Dave
Deciding to be an entrepreneur is standing at this Tiananmen square confronting these tanks one by one
Deeti Dave
Like you say, universe conspires for what you want so badly, and your story is a living example!