Occupy… Something… What? I Dunno

Are you making New Year’s resolutions this year? Three years ago was the last time I did so. I worked hard at it too. I created three categories – Healthy, Wealthy and Wise – and made two resolutions in each. It was a serious endeavor. (No one who knows me would be surprised. I have been told I am too serious since I was in the second grade.) It took me two years to achieve them all. I am still tired from the effort.

Despite my exhaustion, I feel compelled to have another go at it. This time, I’ll keep it simple. My resolution is to Occupy something. I am not sure what just yet. But I will do it. I will Occupy something.

Many serious commentators have made Occupy their Word of the Year. Indeed, Ben Zimmer who heads the Word of the Year effort at the American Dialectic Society told NPR that Occupy leads this year’s voting (although he admitted his personal favorite is Humblebrag).

Occupy has several meanings, of course. I don’t mean that I will Occupy something in the conventional sense. If I Occupy my Lazy Boy recliner, that won’t count. It’s doubtful I could Occupy it any more next year than I did this year anyway. Taking up residence somewhere else doesn’t count either. I could plop myself in a first class airline seat on my way to the capitals of Europe or Occupy a suite at the Four Seasons; but, that wouldn’t capture the essence of the resolution either.

Nor, do I mean Occupy in the military sense. The US military Occupied Iraq for eight plus years. It’s not what I mean.

Occupying my time with something would not require much resolution either. I already occupy my time writing this blog and reading about this and that.

The real resolution to Occupy something requires that I embrace and idea or concept and immerse myself in it. The folks who Occupied Wall Street made a serious commitment to an idea. They physically and visibly took up residence in a downtown NY park. Their idea – and their attitude – were picked up throughout the western world and went viral (that phrase – went viral – must have been the word of the year sometime in the past).

In my professional career, I have found that for change to be effective in any institutional setting there must be a physical and visible manifestation of it. If the CEO wants a realignment of functions to be effective, he should move people’s offices around. Preferably this should happen during the work day so that everyone can see it.

I have a good friend and colleague, Larry Litowitz, who, as CEO of a manufacturing company, moved his desk to the factory floor to make sure everyone knew he was serious about getting in touch with his workforce and the need to improve equipment and safety.

That’s how you Occupy something!

So, I must decide. What will I Occupy? Maybe you can help. Any suggestions?