on the ground

on the ground: 

  (1) At a place that is exciting, interesting, or important.  (Am Heritage)

  (2) Events on the ground are where things are actually happening, not at a distance. (UsingEnglish.com. http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/on+the+ground.html)

your feet on the ground:

   a realistic understanding of your own ideas, actions, and decisions. 

• It is hard to keep your feet on the ground when you suddenly become famous.
  

   Usage notes: sometimes used in the form both feet on the ground: 

• She's a woman with both feet on the ground, who knows what's what.