ALTERNATIVE MARKETING LESSONS
YOU MAY NOT HAVE STARTED THE FIGHT, BUT
Krav Maga learning interpretation 4
YOU MAY NOT HAVE STARTED THE FIGHT
This is the fourth in the series of alternative learning from Krav Maga.
I spotted him looking at me, looking at him through the binoculars. He was there on the edge of the mountaintop 2000 meters away, as the crow flies. I was in a similar position, sprawled on the ground. We were looking at each other, like snipers.
What could one ascertain from such a distance? The tenacity of the enemy and the hunger. Hunger for my land and my position — for what I have.
I am that nameless soldier in any war. This one, though, is one for the history books, told my way.
The year was 1948, and two young nations were at war with each other. Wherever the Brits left, they left the place in shambles. My view and most of you would agree. No clear demarcation, confusion, and loads of ambiguity! This atmosphere festers subscription that leads to speculation, envy, second-guessing (mostly hostile), and finally, a fight.
I am an army man, and I hate violence. Yes, you read that right. You may think that all military folks are itching for war. Not so! We are peacekeepers. We provide a very important perception of threat. We are the perimeter wall that prevents people from attacking. Sometimes they jump over the walls and fences and borders.
That is what happened here, high up in the mountains of the Himalayas. Well, the border wasn’t clearly defined, and this was high up. Where are the borders?
The area I am talking about is as politically hot today as it was then. As you can imagine, I am well into my nineties as I tell you this tale — in my words.
The mountain pass of blizzards, “ZOJI LA”: what a name for a pass high up in the mountains! Zojila pass was the only direct connection to Leh and Ladakh, now an integral part of India. Then, though, Pakistan had eyes on this entire region, as they do to this day! In the autumn of 1948, the Pakistani raiders crept up and attacked several areas in Jammu and Kashmir. They did not have much opposition. This attack was not expected. The region was sparsely protected, and both the army of young India was stretched across the country.
Zojila was logistically and strategically very important as a direct connection to Leh. The forces had captured Zojila by March 1948.
The fight had come to us.
Several things happened in parallel. The Leh forces built an airstrip so we could get the necessary supplies and reinforcements. The local forces blew up bridges to prevent any further enemy advance by road.
The road from Srinagar was blocked. General Thimayya decided to clear the route and reclaim Zojila and the surrounding areas.
The enemy position was solid. So, direct and indirect approaches failed. My brave fellow soldiers kept trying, but we need something more significant.
General Thimayya wondered what could be done! What did he have at his disposal that could be used to gain a significant advantage? Something that cannot be comprehended and therefore not planned for by the enemy.
He needed a protected position to fight back.
The unthinkable was thought of!
The army engineers started building stronger bridges to replace the weak wooden ones — the bridges needed to bear significant weight.
In populated areas, a curfew was declared so they were not aware of what was being moved, and in which direction.
Heavily camouflaged vehicles were transported across Kashmir to the point of the first attack.
The Indian army removed the turrets from tanks and moved them in the cover of the night.
The tanks moved into position and was followed by the soldiers. General Thimayya was in the first tank then went in. How is that for leading by example! When the attack began, the enemy was confused, not knowing where it was coming from.
When they looked at tanks firing at them, there was bewilderment, followed by shock, then paralysis and silence. Until adrenaline and self-preservation kicked in and en mass, they vacated their positions and retreated.
The Indian army did not stop with that and chased the ragtag team of raiders until key positions had been recaptured.
The enemy was neutralized, for now.
That’s the story, in my words, paraphrased. A story that ought to be told, in history and management books.
**
You don’t start a fight. When you are pulled into one, you don’t let it go until you neutralize the opponent quickly.
Krav Maga lesson. For life and business.
You avoid violence as much as possible. When it becomes inevitable, then you counter attack with such ferocity that the assailant is neutralized.
You do not linger around gloating! You move to another safer place immediately. This is common sense.
Who would have expected tanks at the height of 11000 feet? The shock in enemy ranks lead to paralysis and then a rapid retreat. The attack neutralized the will of the enemy forces that they abandoned their quest, post haste!
In a boardroom battle, when you pitch a new initiative or idea or there is a war for market share, you don’t go looking for a fight. When one comes your way, you are ready and prepared for swift neutralizing action.
Be an outlier.
Think the unthinkable — and then execute it to perfection.
The silence of the opposition will be louder than any claps!
This is the fourth in the series of learning from Krav Maga.
Research sources:
Pravin Shekar is an outlier marketer, parallel entrepreneur and a raconteur.
mic @ PravinShekar.com .
For creative collusions, join: http://bit.ly/JoinMyOutlierTribe
Pravin is the author of seven books: Devil Does Care, Marketing lessons from Mythology, Getting paid to speak, a Virtual Summit Playbook, Climb your way out of hell & a collection of travel pics/romantic poems, and stories from the heart!
http://tiny.cc/PravinShekarBooks
#Marketing #Entrepreneur #Awareness #Strategy #Outlier #Outliermarketing #micromarketer #idea #tribe #Books #krux108 #PravinShekar #OutlierPravin
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