Passing the baton

The relay race is not necessarily won by the team that runs the fastest, but by successfully passing the baton in the exchange zone. There is also passing of the baton by outgoing seniors to incoming newcomers that determines the continuance of the success momentum of that team.

 

Indian stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from T20 internationals after leading India to a thrilling 7-run victory over South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup final. Their legacies offer valuable lessons.

 

Their retirement paves the way for fresh talent to emerge. It's a reminder that every era must come to an end. This transition showcases the importance of embracing change and creating opportunities for growth.

 

Both chose to retire on a high note, after achieving their goal of winning the T20 World Cup. Their decision is apt on timing and recognizing when it's time to move on, allowing others to take the reins and forge their own paths.

 

As they continue to play Test and 50-overs cricket, their retirement from T20s demonstrates the need to evolve and adapt in our careers and lives. As we bid farewell to these legends in the T20 format, we must embrace the lessons their move (to pass the baton) has taught us.

 

If at the right time, you pass the baton

New stars will continue the momentum!

 

~ Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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Push the Envelope

This phrase became popular after Tom Wolfe’s book about the space programme – The Right Stuff, 1979: ‘One of the phrases that kept running through the conversation was ‘pushing the outside of the envelope’… [That] seemed to be the great challenge and satisfaction of flight test.’

 The envelope here isn’t the container for letters, but the mathematical envelope, which is defined as ‘the locus of the ultimate intersections of consecutive curves’. 

 

The point is that an envelope is that which envelops. To push the envelope is to attempt to extend the current limits of performance. It is about innovating or going beyond commonly accepted boundaries.

 

To push the envelope is to break the restrictive routine and use the out-of-the-box approach. Too often, we limit our potential by playing it safe. We must step outside the framework and discover greater prospects.

 

Enhance your prospect scope 

Choose to push the envelope!

 

~ Pravin K. Sabnis

 

 

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Persist

‘The game is not over till the last ball is bowled!’ 

 

The above quote is from the sport of cricket. Real players don’t give up before the game is over. In fact, they don’t give up even when the game is over. They know that there will be other games to redeem themselves.

 

So often, so many of us are deterred by defeat in the game of life and we give up. We must persist on the path of life and not give up. We must be active and positive instead of lamenting our predicament.

 

We have to rise up to every challenge that looms large. Even when things fail, it is never really over. We must lift ourselves and step ahead to display our willingness to live life to the fullest effort. 

 

Life is about persisting until the end. The indefatigable do not allow an ambience of death when the body is still alive. They persist even when lifelessness sets in. They strive to revive and restore life.

 

Till the end is not upon us, it does not make sense to give up on life. Resolves to persist can delay or sometimes defer the eventuality of death. And even if it does not, it will be a life lived well!

 

Don’t give up or desist

Life is when we persist!

 

~ Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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Reusable

When Pedro travelled to Sikkim, he carried two bottles of drinking water, one for hot water and the other for normal. His children laughed at him, ‘Papa do you think we will not get to buy mineral water bottles there?’

It turned out that Sikkim had prohibited the sale of mineral water bottles as well as single-use plastic items. Pedro’s two reusable bottles turned out to be the wise thing to carry.

 

The Sikkim government was aligned the instruction of the union ministry of environment, forests and climate change. In other States of India, the growing garbage heap contains even small size single use mineral water bottles.

 

In the aftermath of Covid pandemic, most of us would carry our reusable bottles. But we are back to our careless, irresponsible actions. Why can’t we do our bit to reduce the plastic pile by choosing the reusable option? 

 

Every day can be Environment Day
If we opt to walk the reusable way!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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Result

Every time the results are out, be it academic examinations, sports contests or talent shows, there are fewer smiles and many upset faces, including those of parents. The table toppers celebrate victory and the second place onwards concede defeat. 

Whither sense of achievement? Whither sense of acknowledgement to the efforts? In an increasingly competitive world, in the quest to be better, too many of us are insisting on nothing but the best. When we frown upon even second best positions, imagine our disdain for those that come last! 

 

A result is the final consequence of a sequence of efforts. However, besides efforts, other factors influence eventual outcomes. These could be intrinsic like capacities, conditioning and beliefs. They could be extrinsic like environment, competition and other challenges.

A real sense of achievement has to flow from the satisfaction of sincere endeavours and not from the vagaries of results. The very act of taking on a challenge has to be, by itself, a cause for celebration. 

More important than winning is to have a winner’s attitude that comes from celebrating efforts and sportsmanship. The score should not be allowed to douse passion. Eventually, even failure is a stepping stone to success. 

Let not results lead to despair & misery
Let’s choose to celebrate efforts truly!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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Procrastination

The term comes from the Latin word ‘procrastinatus’, which itself evolved from the prefix ‘pro’ meaning ‘forward’ and ‘crastinus’ meaning ‘of tomorrow.’ It implies blameworthy delay due to laziness or apathy. It is an attitude to put off intentionally and habitually the doing of something that needs to be done. 

Procrastination seizes non-lazy, proactive people as well. Even positive qualities of well-intentioned persons can result in a situation of procrastination. Such ‘positive’ qualities include perfectionism, being analytical, saying ‘Yes’ to every thing and being ‘busy’.

Perfectionism is good but making every task hang at its altar results in immobility. Excessive analysis creates paralysis of action. Not being able to say ‘No’ results in overburdening and results in procrastination. And of course, when one is busy with a single task, other tasks go for a toss.

We must look at the larger picture and identify important and urgent tasks. If the task can be delegated, do so! We prioritise our commitments as well as the things we really enjoy doing. Otherwise procrastination will pull down the proactive person in us as well!

Overcome the pulls of procrastination
Prioritise tasks & ensure timely action!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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Not Crooked

Pedro received a photo on social media abiut the hammering of a straight nail into the woodwork, leaving aside a line of crooked nails (that got bent with the first blow of the hammer). The caption spelled out the lesson: ‘The crooked ones will be left alone; the straight ones will get hammered!’ 

Pedro responded with a diagonally different interpretation: Those that are crooked will be discarded in the scrap heap. Those that are straight will end up being useful! 

So often, the nice ones, who walk the upright path, are sure that they are going to face the brunt of being ‘straight’. They may continue to align with their values, yet they are convinced that the crooked cheats will get the better returns. 

The choice to be ‘not crooked’ may result in tough outcomes, but it is the best thing to do. It empowers trust and enhances our trustworthiness. People rely on the ‘straight’ ones and stay away from the ‘crooked’ ones. Mankind has found use of those who are ‘not crooked’. 

Believing in the usefulness of being ‘not crooked’ is important to being happy with the choice that one has made. Just being ‘straight’ is not enough. We have to also believe that we are doing the right thing. We must rejoice that we have chosen to be ‘not crooked’!

The ‘crooked’ may seem to instantly benefit… 
Into worthiness, the ‘not crooked’ will truly fit! 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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