”Lead, follow, or get out of the way”— a quote widely attributed to Thomas Paine

As you might suspect, as the creator of inspirational content, I also follow a select group of world-class thought leaders in the fields of holistic wellness, servant leadership and elite coaching.

You might also think that if anyone were well positioned to glide effortlessly through the current phase of transition that the world is experiencing, that those leaders would be the people.

You would also be mistaken.

Shocking as it may be, they have been largely missing in action — thrown off their game, sulking in a corner bingeing on wheat grass and video games, feeling sorry for themselves that all of their personal appearances have been cancelled due to the pandemic.

And to make matters worse, some of them have now emerged from their pity parties writing tell-all blog posts about all of the time that they are wasting while they struggle to come to terms with the loss of their perfect lives and looking to their followers for support, which frankly turns my stomach.

How can anyone claim to be a leader only when the sun is shining upon them and their travel calendar is full?

Where are their words of wisdom and leadership skills now when people need it most?

What I suppose this sorry situation really clarifies is the difference between following a person because they are encouraging you to emulate (or worse, worship) them and following a person because they support your own efforts to learn and grow.

It is one thing to say “we are all in this together”, but if the person that you are turning to for support is hiding out in their mansion avoiding social media, instead of using their influence to encourage you to find the strength within yourself to stand on your own two feet and fight to build a new future for you and your family, are they really the right role model for you now?

The interesting thing about huge success is that it can also engender huge complacency — don’t fall for it. Now is not the time to sit by the wayside and wait until next week, or next month, or next year or until things “get back to normal”.

Now is not the time to tell yourself that it’s no use trying to build anything, when you don’t know how things are going to be.

Now is the time to stop circling the wreckage of your old life and start something new.

Will it be hard? Definitely.

Will you fail? Possibly.

But no matter what happens, at least it will get you out of your PJs and at least you will be able to tell yourself that you are doing everything you can to move forward with your life.

And you know what else? No matter what happens you will gain experience and find a way forward with your life.

Now get up, get dressed, get bold, and get going.

• Robin Trimingham is an author and thought leader in the field of retirement who specialises in helping corporate groups and individuals understand and prepare for a new life beyond work. Contact her at www.olderhoodgroup.com, 538-8937 or robin@olderhood.com