Take a look out the window. If your offices are in a majorAmerican city, chances are a group of Occupy Wall Street protestersare converging near the financial district.

When the revolt began in September, most major media outletsignored it. Since then, the movement—although still without aleader or a message beyond protesting economic imbalance—has spreadto more than two dozen cities and grown to include more than adozen trade unions, celebrities and everyday people who aren'tdisenfranchised college kids.

And although the protesters' demographic skew towardMillennials, recent polls indicate the movement is supported by allsorts of fed-up Americans: A recent Time magazine national poll indicates that OWS hasa 54 percent favorable rating compared with 27 percent for thetea party movement.

Aside from the fact that your friends, family or customers maybe protesters, there also are implications for your businessinvolved in the movement:

1. The affluent demographic is shrinking.High-net-worth customers can be a profitable niche, but there are 5percent fewer affluent Americans than before the recession—and lessmobility by lower income groups into the affluent category.
2. If the protestors aren't your customers, theirsympathizers are. Middle-income jobs have fallen from 52percent in 1980 to 42 percent in 2010, a reality that has affectedat least some of your customers or prospects.
3. You want to know about Millennials? Ourgraying industry's lust for young blood has spawned dozens ofinitiatives attempting to discover how to attract and retainMillennials. Maybe a trip to an OWS protest site would provide someanswers.
4. Doing good can do you good. Smart agenciesknow that being involved in charitable works can build a positivereputation and bring in business. At a time when consumers of allstripes are lashing out against perceived corporate abuses, it'snice to point to the positives your business provides to thecommunity.
5. Those who fail to learn from history… The OWSprotests may not have the same impact as the civil rights oranti-war movements of the 1960s, but then again, they might.Dismissing this grassroots movement, with its unprecedented use ofsocial media to engage supporters, means ignoring history.

On another note, this month's issue of AA&B isproud to salute the winners of this year's Commercial Agency Awardsfor Excellence (see coverage on pages 28 to 39). Parker, Smith& Feek, KMRD Partners and Bartlett & Co. Inc. have mergedinnovation, creative thinking and dedication to forge businessesthat are succeeding in spite of historically poor economic andmarket conditions. Their stories are great examples of how creativeprofessionals respond to unprecedented challenges and turn them toadvantages. Check out more CAAFEcoverage.