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From Your Chapter to Your Community: All Those in Favor Say, “Let’s Vote!”
This November, general elections will take place. After registering to vote, research local poll locations, schedules and each candidate running. Be prepared to stand in line for your turn to vote on Election Day (Tuesday, November 8, 2022) or seek the availability of early voting.

Put DECA+ to Work in Your Classroom
Are your DECA members looking to earn DECA glass this year? Are you looking for ways to integrate DECA into your classroom instruction? Are you looking for ways to provide your students with self-guided instruction? Then read on!

Prepare for Role-plays at Association-level Competition
Need help showing your students why DECA is the best at preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management? Use this chronological guide to get started and develop role-play champions!

Spotlight on Customer Service
What is customer service and why does it matter to your future career? Experts from Chick-fil-A, Men's Wearhouse, Publix and Walgreens share their thoughts.

Case Study of the Week: Gambling with Financial Security
Step into the role of a financial advisor. A client has asked you for advice on investing for the future.

Blacksburg DECA's September Soiree Is a Success
In early September, Blacksburg DECA hosted its first annual "September Soiree" for potential members, including current marketing students and students enrolled in a marketing class next semester.

Case Study of the Week: Peacocks on Board?
Step into the role of customer relations at Star Crest Airlines. Star Crest Airlines offers over 900 domestic flights daily and prides itself on its number one ranked customer service.

Accepting Differences: Adding LGBTQ+ Inclusivity into Your Leadership Style
Tuesday, October 11, is National Coming Out Day. To many, this may be just an ordinary Tuesday, but for LGBTQ+ individuals, this is a day of celebration for being yourself—no matter how you identify. This article is the perfect stepping stone to help educate yourself and get the edge in an inclusive leadership style!

Get the Edge on Your Personal Essay
Around this time of the year, thousands of seniors panic and stress over their personal essays with the hopes of getting into amazing universities. Having been through the process myself, here are a few tips I have received that can help you enhance your story and put your best foot forward in the application process!

DECA Announces a New Partnership with Chick-fil-A
DECA is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Chick-fil-A! The partnership will focus on connecting local Chick-fil-A Operators with DECA chapter advisors, DECA members and chartered associations

Case Study of the Week: In-house Wellness Opportunities
Step into the role of director of human resources for Mitchem Designs, a small graphic design firm. The owner of the company has asked you to recommend low-cost options for an in-house employee wellness program.

An Advisor's Perspective: The Benefits of Operating an SBE
Operating a School-based Enterprise (SBE) can be an enormously rewarding experience and offers a great opportunity for DECA members to learn practical business skills and prepares them for college and careers.

5 Gears for a Healthy Lifestyle
Let's face it: being an emerging leader is not easy! We’re supposed to get good grades, be involved in our community, excel in extracurriculars and gain job experience. So, how can we manage it all? Read on the learn about the Five Gears!

DECA Direct Magazine: De-stress
Between school, volunteering, extracurricular activities and DECA, there’s never a shortage of things to do! Learn how to hit pause, slow down and discover the best ways to manage your stress.

5 Apps to Ease Your Stress
Looking to beat bad stress? Rather than endlessly scrolling through Instagram or stress-shopping on Amazon, turn to these apps to breathe, play and move your way to less stress!

Build Better Habits (and Break Your Bad Ones!)
Having the right habits is more important than ever as you navigate a busy school year. Read on to learn how you can create better habits in any area of your life, plus our tips and tricks for getting rid of your bad habits for good!

Mindfulness Your Way
You may have heard about mindfulness in one of your classes, and perhaps you’ve even tried meditating a time or two. For many people, meditation and other mindfulness practices are a go-to source for stress relief, getting in the zone before a role-play or resetting emotions after encountering an upsetting situation.

De-stress for Success
Life will always throw challenges your way, but the biggest challenges present opportunities for the greatest rewards. So, what’s the best way to manage stress? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, here are some of the ways that work best for me.

Stress to Success: How to Use "Good Stress" to Succeed in Competition
Stress is often perceived as a negative experience, but the right kind of stress can actually fuel your success in competition and beyond. Read on to learn about "good stress", how to distinguish it from the bad and ways you can harness it to take your competitive edge to the next level!

Work Out the Stress
Today’s teens pack a lot into their busy schedules, which has caused stress levels and anxiety to increase in recent years. D’Andre Vasquez, DECA’s 2019-2020 High School Division President, discusses how he handles the stress in his life and how you can too!

How to Fight Off Zoom Fatigue
Whether it’s trying to combat Zoom fatigue or attempting to deal with the strain and stress that comes from staring at a screen all day, here are three tips to help you de-stress in an age of virtual living.

Take the Stress Out of DECA Scholarship Applications
Each year, DECA awards over $200,000 in scholarships to deserving high school and college members. Here are five tips to help take the stress out of applying for DECA scholarships.

5 Tips to Take Your Productivity to the #NextLevel
Schoolwork, volunteering, extracurricular activities, DECA... can you really do it all without endless all-nighters? We think so! Check out five of our favorite ways to level-up your schedules, to-do lists and priorities for peak productivity.

Managing Stress as a Small Business Owner
After six years as a small business owner and entrepreneur, I’ve adapted a few habits and philosophies that have helped me along the way. Here’s what I’ve learned.