There is a commercial on television where a woman and man are sitting in a reception area, the woman turns to her husband and says, “I just want to stop paying checking fees” and a woman at the reception desk says, “If you want to stop paying checking fees, then stop paying Checking fees.”  I love this commercial because of its simplicity.

Simplicity is beauty, especially when one wishes to rally a large group of people with a single message.  The message must be clear.  I am not sure what the message is regarding Occupy Wall Street protestors, as what I’ve heard varies and some pieces are complex.  This doesn’t work for most folks, many wish to have something clear and simple to follow before they get on board to champion and rally with others.  I know I want to know what I am rallying toward and the outcome this rally is to achieve.

Of course most of us know some of the reasons behind what drove people to Occupy Wall Street. I recognize people want desperately for the decision makers who put the world economy at crisis to take notice, to pay for their mistakes, for corporate greed not to get the best of us.  I know people are frustrated feeling starved while big CEOs took in buyouts to pay themselves handsomely.  I get that, I feel for those sharing their stories on the “We Are the 99 percent” webpage and I ache for the populations of all countries who are suffering with the loss of homes and jobs.  What I am not certain I understand is what outcome these folks wish to achieve by doing what appears to me to be an un-focused sit-in.

What I wish everyone understood is that all of us, by choosing to ride the wave of boom and buy, we were a large part of the train that brought us here.

But think about this…WE have the power to change things in this world with actions that can truly affect Wall Street.  Think about it, if 99% of us are financially hurting or trying to make sense of where we find ourselves within this brutal economy, then the number-odds are pretty much in our favour.

Mere groups don’t create change, actions do.

Gathering in groups in Tanzania, Egypt, Libya and Bahrain did not accomplish change.  Showing the world by committing to being part of covert operations and dangerously sending video footage overseas to present to the world the atrocities occurring within their borders did.  Being brave enough to organize with a clear message of what they will and will no longer accept and then taking action to gain world-wide support, this created change.  Gathering was only a step in the process.  Simple message, understood outcome and actions toward that outcome achieved their goals.  They were the majority, and they acted together in solidarity to accomplish an outcome.

Like those countries, the majority here have the power to make every day choices that will speak more loudly than a sit-in or a tent in a central park location.  We don’t have a simple message such as, “oust the dictator”.  WE do have the power of numbers, but not only numbers with messages on placards, but numbers who make every day choices and take everyday actions to truly guide where our countries need to go, and we have the freedom to do so.

We all need to Occupy OUR Own Street and we can do it by using the power of the purse, even if all you have are pennies.

• If you want a better environment, change your spending habits to green or ecological companies.
• If you want to increase small business, then buy from small business.
• If you want to grow local businesses, then shop at local businesses.
• If you want more jobs within this country, start purchasing brands made only in this country (if you can find some).
• If you want better transit then choose to ride on transit until the sheer numbers force it.
• If you don’t like how a company works, fight it by not giving it your money, then support the kind of company you trust.
• Be strong enough to fray from the party line and vote for what is best for the 99% and your country instead – listen to your heart not the rhetoric.
• Be willing to teach your children fiscal responsibility by showing them and modeling for them the kind of change we need to take as individuals to contribute to positive change.

You got it, do the research, make the choices and then do these things in large numbers and there you have the power.  But, you have to know the outcome you wish to achieve so you know what to choose, and then you need to choose it.  Stop whining because things have changed and you want it back the old comfortable way but still want OTHERS to drive the change for you.

Right now isn’t comfortable for most of us, right now we are in a great shift and shift means leaving our comfort zones and making decisions that will CREATE the change, but we need to know what we want.

CHOOSE, ACT, and make it YOUR responsibility right at home:

• Share what you are doing with others and give them a chance to make it their responsibility, and then share it some more.
• Tell people where they can buy, how they can make different decisions, find a way and a path that makes sense, movements require action.
• Show people what actions will help, where they can turn and what support you have found.
• Repeat the actions over and over again in as many numbers as you can to drive change.

Be the leader you were meant to be…Occupy YOUR Street.

Patti Blackstaffe works with people and organizations to develop

Happy Workplaces world-wide guiding them toward mastery and leadership

through advising, coaching, speaking, and delivering training.

You can reach Patti at 1-855-968-5323 | contact her here | book her to speak