Touch Base

The phrase comes from the sport of baseball where both runner and fielders have to ‘touch base’ in order to be safe or record an out. The corner bases are stations with which a runner must make contact before being put out or, perhaps, the need for a fielder possessing the ball to make contact with one of the bases to record an out.

The current idiomatic use of touch base implies a meeting of sorts between two people. One possible explanation for the derivation could be that the idea of base as a home or headquarters might lead to the suggestion of a salesman in the field returning to headquarters to meet with a client or colleague.

Our base could be close family, core team or our passion, our reason for true joy. Every time we touch base, we reconnect to people and priority. It is said so well that not keeping in touch is injurious to relationship. When we reconnect we are reenergised and also connect to initial vision and mission.

Touch base is not just meeting or reconnecting. Often it needs seeking or searching for the base as we may have strayed far away from that base. We may have lost sight of that base. Hence it is important to maintain the conscious link to our personal or collective base. When we touch base we reclaim original purpose.  

Do not run around an aimless race

On a regular basis… do touch base!

- Pravin K Sabnis

Possible

At a workshop for students, Pravin Kakode shared the story behind his popular slogan. He would help his daughter get ready for school. After she wore her uniform, he would help her put on the tie, as the clip of the tie needed to be locked behind the neck.

 One day, the little one was not eager to go to through the routine. The father firmly asked her to be independent & dress on her own. She was upset but did so grudgingly. She managed to wear the tie all by herself and happily said in Konkani, ‘zai naa ashe kai na’ (Nothing is Impossible)

 It became a war cry at his business, aptly called Upgrade and a lot changed since. It empowered ownership and commitment to a solution focused on 'can do' attitude. The tag line has helped people beyond Upgrade as he loves sharing his motivational quote with everyone he interacts with.

 The word ‘possible’ refers to not just what is attainable but also what can be done only if we were to put sincere efforts. Over the centuries, the unimaginable has been achieved because someone did not let doubts to deter the determination. The greatest of inventions seemed impossible yet they came to fulfilment

 We must choose to believe in the power of the possible. We must step beyond the restrictive limits of what is practical and holds confirmation of feasibility. We must align to the attributive angle that rises from conviction that it is always possible!  

 Heed that no deed is impossible

Positive belief makes it possible!

 - Pravin K Sabnis

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward. Watching someone else take credit for your idea can be one of the most infuriating things to happen. While it is unethical and unfair, it is important not to lose cool. We must calm down and think about the real source of the anger…

Why are you reacting so strongly? Do you always feel undervalued and underappreciated? Is credit important to you? Finding out what it means to you can help you tackle it reasonably. It can also reveal the stories you tell yourself; sometimes we connect events that have no external connection.

We must frame our claim as a question, so the colleague has a chance to explain his or her actions. This could involve directly asking the credit-stealer about what happened, in neutral language. ‘Talking about the project, why did you say ‘I’ instead of ‘we.’ It sets strong boundaries by letting the plagiarizer know you know what they did.

You ultimately defeat plagiarism by making it clear who did what, so make sure your contributions are known to those around you and above you. And if credit-stealers persist, enlist your friends and colleagues to stand up on your behalf. But the best way is to focus on ‘doing’ things that are better. They can’t compete there!

plagiarism pirates can be challenged for false credit

but they cannot steal your inner process that led it!

- Pravin K Sabnis