DECA Direct Magazine | November-December 2020

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020

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DECA DIRECT

CELEBRATE DECA MONTH

GOOD STRESS, BAD STRESS: FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT

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DE-STRESS FOR SUCCESS

5 APPS TO EASE YOUR STRESS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

5 GEARS FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

EDITORIAL

Publisher Frank Peterson Managing Editor Danny Spors Editorial Committee Emily Colucci Caitlin Roberts Debbie Taylor Christopher Young, CAE Advertising Cindy Allen Design Shawna Hession

DECA EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

COLLEGIATE DECA EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Gage Donovan Vice President Zetella Walker Gooch Vice President Shawn Matthijetz Vice President Caleb Nochumson Vice President Hannah Smolicz

DECA INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Mary Peres President-Elect Scott Jones Secretary John Stiles Treasurer Shannon Aaron Members Lori Hairston Steven Mitchell Olga Plagianakos Dave Wait National Advisory Board Chair Mike Brown Ex-Officio Member Frank Peterson Robin Utz

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE DECA Direct Magazine 1908 Association Drive Reston, Virginia 20191-1594 communications@deca.org

DECA Direct (ISSN 1080-0476) is published four times each year—September/ October, November/December, January/ February and March/April. Copyright ©2020 by the Distributive Education Clubs of America, Inc., 1908 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191-1594. All rights reserved.

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MANAGING STRESS AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

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18 5 TIPS

MINDFULNESS YOUR WAY

WORK OUT THE STRESS

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STRESS TO SUCCESS: HOW TO USE “GOOD STRESS” TO SUCCEED IN COMPETITION

HOW TO FIGHT OFF ZOOM FATIGUE

CHAPTER BUZZ

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CLASSROOM CONNECTION

TO TAKE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY TO THE #NEXTLEVEL

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

President Catherine Horton Central Region Vice President Nate Jacobs North Atlantic Region Vice President Ryan Rivera Southern Region Vice President Ramkishore Annachi Western Region Vice President Mattie Bradford

This issue of DECA Direct includes instructional content focused on the following performance indicators from National Curriculum Standards: • • • • • •

Explain the nature of stress management Use time-management skills Exhibit a positive attitude Organize and prioritize work Confront difficult situations Explain the complexity of business operations

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CELEBRATE

DECA MONTH CATHERINE HORTON

To most people, November means pumpkin-flavored everything, falling leaves and cooler temperatures, but to DECA members November also means DECA Month! During November, you have the chance to engage in all of DECA’s next level opportunities and initiatives.

hsdecapresident

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER DECA MONTH

2-20 DECA POWER EXPERIENCE Virtual Event deca.org/power

9-13 WESTERN REGION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Virtual Event deca.org/wrlc

13-23 INTUIT INNOVATION CHALLENGE deca.org/challenges

15 INITIAL ONLINE MEMBERSHIP DUES DEADLINE deca.org/register

16-22 GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK genglobal.org

18 ONE DECA CALL deca.org/onedeca

30-December 4 ACTE CAREERTECH VISION

1 COMMUNITY SERVICE CAMPAIGN DUE deca.org/campaigns

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK CAMPAIGN DUE deca.org/campaigns

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD APPLICATION PACKET DUE MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN DUE

deca.org/campaigns

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD APPLICATION PACKET DUE PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN DUE

deca.org/campaigns

16 ONE DECA CALL deca.org/onedeca

18 STOCK MARKET GAME ENDS

Here are the three ways to get yourself, your chapter and your association involved in #DECAMonth.

1. #DECAMonth Social Media Challenges – Get social and participate in DECA’s daily photo and video challenges. Show off your DECA pride each day by posting, tweeting and sharing your favorites.

Make sure to tag @decainc and use the hashtag #DECAMonth for everyone to see your #NextLevel posts each day!

2. Chapter Campaigns – Chapters have the chance to participate in five campaigns this year, and four of them take place during DECA Month: Membership, Global Entrepreneurship Week, Promotional and Community Service. If your chapter hasn’t already started, there’s still time for some quick planning to put your ideas into action. Check out deca.org/campaigns for ideas and to learn more about each campaigns’ guidelines for the current year.

3. Conferences – Represent your association, expand your network and grow your leadership skills by logging on to DECA’s regional conferences. The DECA Power Experience (the virtual version of the Ultimate DECA Power Trip) will be occurring from November 2-20 and will feature on-demand content for career connections, college opportunities, competition preparation and chapter strategy.

Western Region members will push the limits of innovation at the Western Region Leadership Conference. This year’s interactive WRLC will be held virtually from November 9-13 and will allow Western Region members to connect and innovate together.

November is packed full of DECA opportunities. Show off your social media skills in the #DECAMonth photo and video challenges. Take your chapter to the next level by participating in chapter campaigns. And represent your association and grow as an emerging leader by attending a virtual conference. Let’s all come together to make this November a DECA Month to remember!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION PRESIDENT

Virtual Event careertechvision.com

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Wyoming.

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Get Out Where It’s Open!

GOOD STRESS, BAD STRESS:

FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT GAGE DONOVAN

We all experience stress on a daily basis, but the amount we experience depends on how well we cope with the various stressors in our lives.

@cdecagage

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

DECA MONTH

2-13 VIRTUAL CASE SIMULATION

deca.org/collegechallenges

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1 HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD APPLICATION PACKET DUE

ONE DIAMOND CALL deca.org/onediamond

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD APPLICATION PACKET DUE

13-23

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INTUIT INNOVATION CHALLENGE

deca.org/collegechallenges

16-22 GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK genglobal.org

20 ENGAGE CONFERENCE Virtual Event deca.org/engage

STOCK MARKET GAME ENDS | ROUND 1

30-December 4 ACTE CAREERTECH VISION Virtual Event careertechvision.com

ONE DIAMOND CALL deca.org/onediamond

So what exactly is stress? Stress is typically defined as a feeling of emotional or physical tension caused by challenges or demands — whether they’re real or perceived. This could look like an increased heart rate, quickened breathing, sweaty palms or tightened muscles. This is your body’s “fight or flight” response getting you ready to take action. Of course, it’s up to you to choose what happens next.

Here are a few tips to help you identify good versus bad stress and find the perfect balance.

THINK IT THROUGH The most obvious way to rid yourself of undue stress is to mentally talk yourself through the situation and assure yourself it is not a threat. Like many DECA members, you may get stressed out before competition.

A great way to alleviate this stress is to view the competition as an opportunity to test what you know and to receive valuable feedback.

Once you tell yourself this, you can transition nerves and stress to excitement and take your competition to the #NextLevel.

USE STRESS AS MOTIVATION As the due date approaches, having stress that your big project for school or DECA event is not as far along as it should be is good stress.

This stress will motivate you to put your best foot forward and commit to the project or prepared event. Breaking the project down with smaller deadlines is a way to maintain a healthy level of stress and ensure you have time to perfect the final product!

TALK IT OUT Remember that you are not alone; everyone gets stressed. Sometimes simply reaching out to a friend or mentor and talking about your stressors can help to alleviate them. Something that I always do before competing is chat with my friends and fellow competitors. Breaking the silence prevents me from overthinking the situation.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

COLLEGIATE DECA PRESIDENT

I hope these tips will help you to manage your stress levels and have the most successful DECA year yet!

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DE-STRESS FOR SUCCESS MATTIE BRADFORD | Western Region Vice President

What’s the most stressful thing you’ve ever done?

2. TALK IT OUT AND VENT

For me, it was campaigning to become DECA’s Western Region Vice President. To tell you why, I have to take you back. Around this time last year, I knew that I wanted to run for the position.

It had been the journey of a lifetime to serve as an association officer, and serving as WRVP would allow me to continue to make an impact on our members. But the idea of actually doing it was terrifying!

It has never been easier to call your best friend on FaceTime or Zoom to talk things through or walk into the living room to rant to your mom, even if she may not completely understand what is bothering you. It’s often helpful to release your bottled-up emotions and potentially even gain new insights on ways to cope with them.

I had to go through the gauntlet of Arizona DECA’s interview process and prepare all aspects of my campaign. Soon after, COVID-19 arrived and threw all my plans in disarray.

3. CREATE A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT BRINGS JOY

The key I have learned is that stress is not something you should try to eliminate, but rather manage. Life will always throw challenges your way, but the biggest challenges present opportunities for the greatest rewards. If you learn to manage it, stress will become less of a burden on your everyday life.

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.

1. PRIORITIZE YOUR WELL-BEING ABOVE ALL ELSE Although this may seem obvious to many people, for others, including myself, it is not. It is common for leaders to sacrifice taking care of themselves properly in an attempt to be more productive. However, it’s important to recognize that getting a proper amount of sleep, eating healthy and taking time to disconnect will help you feel and do better. This looks different for everyone. For me, it looks like taking regular breaks between work and giving myself grace for not being productive 100% of the time. (Bonus tip: An energy drink does not count as breakfast.)

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It’s difficult for me to start an assignment without thoroughly cleaning my room, organizing my workstation, turning on music and lighting a candle. I’m convinced there is some science behind it. Those simple things put me in a better mood and give me the much-needed motivation to be most productive. Experiment in your room or work area until you find your ideal space.

These are just a few simple things that I have found success with, but is by no means an all-inclusive list of every way to reduce stress and achieve relaxation. You must discover what works best for you and set yourself up for success by consistently utilizing the same techniques.

Know that the most important things you do in life will cause you stress. That’s a sign that you care about what you are doing. Stress and anxiety are unavoidable, but finding ways to limit their negative impacts can make a huge difference in your life. I know I will continue to battle stress for the rest of my term, but it is worth it because I get to do what I genuinely love—serving the members of DECA. If the reward outweighs the stress, the awesome moments of the journey will be the parts you remember, not the stressful nights you spent worrying. So, continue chasing your dreams, keep pursuing your passions and knockdown stress whenever it decides to pop up.

Looking for more ideas to try?

Check out these techniques to help you manage stress in your everyday life.

1. EAT WELL

6. MAKE A PLAN

Eating unhealthy foods can actually increase your stress levels. Healthy eating equips your body with the nutrition it needs to fight stress.

Avoid high-fat, high-sugar foods and go easy on the caffeine.

Get organized, make a plan and stick to it. Prioritize your obligations each week and then schedule time for each—time for studying, working, family, friends, and yourself. (Learn more on page 12)

2. GET MOVING

7. LAUGH IT OFF

Physical activity releases endorphins—the feel-good chemicals that act as natural painkillers—and improves sleep, which in turn reduces stress. Try jogging, walking your dog or yoga.

(Learn more on page 24)

Laughing releases endorphins that improve your mood and decrease levels of stress-causing adrenaline.

Essentially, it “tricks” your nervous system into making you happy. Call a friend or find a new comedy on Netflix.

3. FIND AN OUTLET

8. MEDITATE

You need a break most when you believe you don't have time to take a break. Find a new hobby, play sports, paint, draw, garden—do something that gives you an outlet from the tension of everyday life.

Meditation is a simple way to reduce stress that you can do almost anywhere. Begin with a simple technique such as deep breathing or use a guided meditation video. (Learn more on page 20)

4. THINK POSITIVELY

5. BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM Having a strong support system of friends and family is critical to weathering stressful times.

Surround yourself with people who encourage you, listen without judgment and provide solid advice.

9. REDUCE STRESSORS Do you ever feel that life is full of too many demands with too little time? For the most part, these demands are ones we have chosen.

Practice selecting your priorities, pacing yourself and saying “no” when you need to. (Learn more on page 26) 10. JOURNAL You may already know that journaling is a great way to process life's problems and deal with everyday stress, but did you know it also boosts your immune cells, sharpens your memory and provides a greater sense of happiness? Try it out!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

Stop negative thoughts in their tracks. Your thoughts create your reality, so flip the script whenever negative thoughts arise. Try saying positive affirmations such as, "I am calm; I’ve got this!" or "I will rise to the challenge, no matter what."

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5 APPS

TO EASE YOUR STRESS JULIA PITLYK

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!

Calm

Pigment

Happify

7 Minute Workout

Happify brings science-backed games and activities to help you feel less stressed and get, well… happy! Whether you’re facing general stress or other negative emotions, this app measures your mood before and after you complete its happiness-boosting exercises, helping you shift toward a more positive state with each use.

Channel your younger self and combat stress with creativity through this grown-up coloring book app. You’ll find creative Zen with over 30 coloring tools, endless colors and a massive set of coloring pages designed to give your brain a break and let your creativity flow.

Sometimes the way to ease stress is more sweat than Zen. If your stress is creating nervous energy, use this app for a quick workout to get your blood pumping. After, your mind and body will be ready to focus on wherever your to-do list holds.

(Not into structured workouts? No problem! Just turn on your favorite song and dance to shake out the stress.)

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

There’s a reason why Calm is consistently rated a top app for staying stress-free. This app offers a broad spectrum of stress reduction tools, from guided meditations and sleep soundtracks to breathing exercises and stretches to shake out your physical stress.

Strides

Keep track of the habits that keep you stress-free with Strides.

Set up a dashboard to track all of your habits from drinking more water and meditating to sleeping a certain number of hours. After logging your progress, you’ll get tailored progress reports and stats to help you keep up the good work!

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FIVE GEARS FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HANNAH SMOLICZ | Collegiate DECA Vice President

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, select a college, apply for scholarships, navigate social relationships and gain job experience.

Add in virtual or hybrid learning, a global pandemic and a tumultuous political environment and these things become even more difficult. So, how can we manage it all? How can we achieve a healthy lifestyle?

First, you must ask yourself a rather insane question: Who are you?

While there are countless ways to answer, think in terms of the type of personality that you have. More specifically, are you more naturally introverted or extroverted?

Extroverted people usually find that after a long day of work, they recharge their energy by going out to dinner with friends and socializing. On the contrary, introverts may recharge by watching a movie on their own or cooking dinner for themselves.

Of course, these personalities often overlap. Introverts do not only enjoy spending time alone and do not always work well individually. They may actually love to go out with a group of friends or work best with 12

a team. Likewise, extroverts also need—and may even crave—alone time. The main difference between these personality types is how they recharge. Trying to recharge in a way that doesn’t match your personality can actually increase your stress level, rather than alleviate it. So, rid yourself of the belief that being introverted means antisocial and that being extroverted means having an unlimited social battery. Everyone has a social battery, but some batteries last longer than others.

Remember that extroversion and introversion are not all-or-nothing traits; they’re actually based on a continuum. Neither personality type is 'better' than the other.

Now that you understand your personality a little better, it’s time to learn about the Five Gears. Essentially, the gears are different modes, or mindsets, that humans switch between when we want to achieve a specific goal. Think of it like driving a car and shifting between different gears. It’s all about learning to shift into the right gear at the right time.

EXTROVERTED OR INTROVERTED? You might be EXTROVERTED if…

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You love to talk and socialize

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You thrive from group interactions

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You discuss problems openly

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You like to try new things

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Your ideal party is a huge event where you can meet new people

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You feed off the hype around you

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You’re the “life of the party” who loves having an audience

You might be INTROVERTED if…

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You enjoy solitude and time to think

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You have a small group of close friends

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You are happy to listen and observe

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You require advance notice to best prepare feedback and ideas

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Your ideal party is a small gathering of close friends

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You feel distracted and unfocused from too much stimulation

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You prefer to avoid being the center of attention

RECHARGE MODE - How do you recharge?

This may include reading a book, watching your favorite show, taking the time to cook a meal, going out with friends or even exercising.

Recharging refers to the way humans relax; what we enjoy doing despite being stressed. Some people like to recharge alone, while others need a social setting to feel rejuvenated.

Ask yourself whether you recharge too much or too little.

Some may use recharging as a way to procrastinate and avoid responsibilities, as they have a difficult time switching to other gears. Others may have a difficult time switching to this first gear because they find it hard to relax.

CONNECT MODE - In second gear, we connect with our family or friends without the interruption of work. Some may recharge by connecting with the important people in their life, but for others, this can be a completely separate gear. Regardless, all people must connect to those around them through meaningful conversations to fuel personal relationships. For instance, if someone is constantly working and does not take the time to reach out to their friends, they will begin to weaken or lose those relationships. Connecting with someone on a personal level is significant and can even help you further understand yourself. It allows us to digest and comprehend emotion, as well as feel love for our family and friends.

SOCIAL MODE - No matter one’s personality type, everyone needs social time. Individuals must meet new people, make new friends and spend time with their friends and family.

Whether through Zoom or in person, people must interact with others on a casual level and do this in ways they personally enjoy. Be sure to pay attention to how much time you spend socializing, as extroverts may use social mode to shirk other responsibilities and procrastinate on important tasks.

TASK MODE - Fourth gear is a time for working and multitasking. When we switch into this gear, we may be doing simple chores around the house, changing our phone plan or running errands. This mode often includes checking off items on your to-do list, even if they are simple. If one ignores those simple tasks, bills may not be paid, emails not sent and groceries never bought. Therefore, the ability to switch into this gear is actually very significant. In this mode, you can work productively on several tasks, but not necessarily have laserlike focus.

FOCUS MODE - When you enter fifth gear, you are in complete focus and thinking strategically or working without interruption. You may refer to it as being “in the zone”, usually completing a significant, complex task. Some may struggle switching to this gear and have trouble focusing on one task for an extended period of time. So, understand how you most effectively work. Are you able to work in your home or do you need to be in another location? Do you need silence or the buzz of other people?

Do you focus best in the morning or at night? By answering these questions and adjusting your environment, you will be able to switch into this gear more easily, even if the task is not particularly enjoyable.

Which gears do you find yourself spending the most time in?

Each gear is important to leading a healthy lifestyle, so strive to find a balance. Be aware of what you need to spend more time on or what gears may be dominating your day. Like learning to drive a car, it takes practice and repetition. To de-stress and be genuinely happy, everyone needs to balance these modes and understand how to best take advantage of the Five Gears.

This article is based on the book 5 Gears: How to Be Present and Productive When There Is Never Enough Time by Steve Cockram and Jeremie Kubicek. Discover other tools and learn more at www.giantworldwide.com.

2nd GEAR

CONNECT MODE - Being present with family or friends without work

1st GEAR

RECHARGE MODE - Personal recharge; completely unplugged

3rd GEAR

SOCIAL MODE - Present with people and can shift up or down easily

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

Let’s learn more about the Five Gears:

4th GEAR 5 GEAR th

FOCUS MODE - Task-centered; fully focused and moving quickly

TASK MODE - Multi-tasking; working hard in various ways

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MANAGING STRESS AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER NATALIE STRAHORN

THIS YEAR HAS REMINDED ME of an episode of

The Handmaid’s Tale, where life as we know it has changed so drastically—and what's scarier is not knowing what the future holds. My small business, The MVMNT Society (formerly known as Xtend Barre Old Town) was in financial debt before the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, we experienced a governmentmandated shut down for three months, followed by re-opening at 30% capacity since July with no idea when we will be able to operate at a larger capacity.

In June, I left my previous franchise and rebranded, which is basically like starting a business all over again—new website, logo, marketing materials, décor, class programs, trainings, merchandise, props and the list goes on! Then, when we were able to open our doors, only three team members felt comfortable returning to teach, so I taught four to five fitness classes a day. To say it has been a stressful year is probably the biggest understatement of my life. Yet somehow, I’ve managed to stay focused, remain calm and keep charging on. 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.

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CRAZY BELIEF IN YOURSELF I’ll let you in on a secret: when I started my business over six years ago, I had no idea what I was doing! Securing a retail lease and all the required permits and licenses is a bit like finding your way in the dark. You don't realize you need a certain license until you get down to City Hall and are passed from one counter to the next. Despite the obstacles, I knew that if I could have my own small business teaching fitness classes, I would be successful.

It’s not that failure wasn't an option; I honestly never even thought about failing. I believe that if you are passionate about your business, it will be felt by whomever you’re selling or providing to, and that will translate to success. When I decided to rebrand my business, I knew in my heart it was the right time. It wasn’t an easy choice, but I believed that giving my community something to be excited about during this unique year would be successful. And so far, the rebrand has brought in a lot of new business.

MANIFEST SUCCESS AND REJECT WORRY I’m a big believer in manifesting your own destiny. I love listening to entrepreneurial podcasts, especially Ed Mylett and Boss Babe. Ed once said that “worrying is wasted energy,” and no good comes from worrying. Stop and think about that because it’s really powerful. What does worrying do? Nothing but make you feel bad. Whenever I begin to worry, I remind myself that I’m wasting my energy and try to focus on the positive. I visualize whatever successful outcome I want; this helps eradicate my stress.

EXERCISE It’s a great thing I teach fitness for a living, otherwise I’d probably be a huge stress-ball! In all seriousness, exercise is an incredible stress reliever that is great for overall health and wellness. Exercise produces endorphins, which are like natural painkillers that reduce stress. When exercising, I like to remind my clients to tune out everything else and focus on what their bodies are doing. Making this mind-body connection not only enhances performance but allows you to escape your daily stressors for the duration of your workout.

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MAKE LISTS AND JOURNAL Organization is extremely important for me to keep a handle on my life and business. I use Evernote to keep a personal to-do list, business to-do list and more. I also use a Moleskin notebook to write down lists of things that must get done each day. This list needs to be reasonable enough to tackle, but also include the most impactful things I need to do. There is a difference between things that are important and things that are impactful. This list must be impactful, with actions that move my business forward. Finally, I keep a Five-Minute Journal—focused on gratitude—beside my bed. I always tackle my lists and journal before I start work. This helps me feel like I’m working in a productive state, rather than a reactive state.

owner, I cannot do it all. I’ve learned to outsource the things that I’m not good at—like bookkeeping and reporting—and lower-paying tasks to more junior teammates so that I can focus my efforts. My time is better spent creating marketing plans and class programming than it is on tasks like checking clients in for class.

LEAN ON A SUPPORT SYSTEM I would not have my business today if it wasn’t for the support of my husband. From day one he has believed in me and never doubted me. The same goes for my parents. Knowing that I can lean on them—even if it’s to use them as a sounding board—has helped me manage the stress of operating a small business. It’s important to surround yourself with people that believe in you and can lift you up.

Starting and operating a small business will always be stressful, but if you learn to properly manage your stress, there’s nothing that can stand in your way!

KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS AND OUTSOURCE YOUR WEAKNESSES Delegating whenever possible is important for keeping a handle on my business and reducing stress. As a small business

JULIA PITLYK

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HAVING THE RIGHT HABITS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER AS YOU NAVIGATE a busy school year, especially one with more screen-time and less in-person structure. 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!

BUILD BETTER HABITS

BREAK YOUR BAD HABITS

STACK YOUR HABITS: Use your current habits as a foundation to create new ones with habit stacking, an approach that recommends scheduling a new habit to occur immediately after an existing one. For example, if you wanted to develop a daily stretching habit, “stack” that habit to happen after something you already do daily, like brushing your teeth. This method creates a consistent trigger for the new behavior you want to build, making it easier to remember your habit goals at the right moment.

MASTER YOUR MINDSET: When it comes to breaking a bad habit, adopt a mantra of who you want to be without the habit, like “I am not the kind of person who is late for meetings.”

While this mantra alone won’t break the habit for you, it will get your mind focused on your improved, future self and remind you what you’re capable of!

BREAK IT DOWN: DECA members don’t lack ambition, which means you may aspire to create some major new habits all at once. But trying to change too many behaviors too quickly can be a recipe for failure. Instead, break down the bigger habits you want to form into smaller “mini-habits” that you can master and expand upon over time. For example, if you want a habit of eating healthier, start small by asking yourself to master the mini-habit of eating an extra serving of vegetables every day. Once that becomes routine, add on another minihabit, like preparing your breakfast the night before. Over time, your mini-habits will add up to create some pretty big habits you can be proud of!

You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

JAMES CLEAR

USE POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE: Finding an accountability partner is key to making your new habits stick and breaking old ones. For example, if you want to stop hitting the snooze button a dozen times, find a friend or family member who is an early riser and ask them to send you a text each morning until you confirm you’re awake. If your habit goals involve making larger lifestyle changes, like dedicating more time to studying or spending more time on physical fitness, start surrounding yourself with people who have these same goals and habits.

The positive “peer pressure” from this group will make sticking to your habits seem like the normal thing to do!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

BUNDLE TEMPTATION: Similar to habit stacking, temptation bundling associates a new habit you want to build with something you like to do (the “temptation”). For example, if you love frequently treating yourself to a fancy coffees, allow yourself to do that only when you also add a desired new habit to that routine—like studying for your competitive event or reading the latest business news. Your new, good-for-you habit will form quickly when bundled with something you find so rewarding!

SWAP THE BAD FOR THE GOOD: Habits are repeated behaviors triggered by certain cues – that’s why habit stacking works for forming a new habit. But getting rid of a bad habit doesn’t mean the cue will go away – you need to adopt a better, substitute habit to replace the bad one. For example, if you have a habit of constantly checking your phone at the dinner table, replace that behavior by instead taking a sip of water every time you feel the urge to grab your phone. If you stay committed, your mental “muscle memory” for the old, bad habit will fade away over time.

No matter what habits you’re hoping to build or break this school year, find the method that works best for you and always stay focused on your goals.

Tips in this article are inspired by the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. Learn more at www.jamesclear.com.

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MADDY SCHILLER | DECA Alumna

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.

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There are a wide variety of ways to approach meditation that can be tailored to your personal strengths and preferences.

Even if you’ve had some initial success with meditation, finding something that works for you (instead of settling for a one size fits all approach), is likely to help you get even more out of your meditation practice. It all begins with your perspective.

At first glance, people tend to associate meditation with all things spiritual or “woo-woo.” Meditation certainly can be used to enrich one’s spiritual path—if that’s the path that feels right for you—but even if you’re not interested in spiritual pursuits, you may not wish to write meditative practices off so quickly. At its core, meditation is a straightforward, secular tool for getting you more dialed in to what you value by making you more present and engaged with whatever task is in front of you.

Rather than meditating to clear one’s mind, a meditative practice has a few parts that work together to develop your executive functioning—cognitive tasks like planning, decisionmaking, emotional regulation and focusing intentionally on whatever is truly important to you. While there are many variations of meditation, the core of the practice is choosing some anchor on which to focus your attention. Traditionally, this might be one’s breath as it moves in and out of the body, or a mantra like chanting, “om,” but we’ll chat later about how you can modify the focal point to work best for you. Focusing intentionally on the anchor you’ve chosen is only step one. The real practice begins when you might otherwise write yourself off as having failed or done something wrong: when your mind wanders.

The real practice begins when you might otherwise write yourself off as having failed or done something wrong: when your mind wanders.

Even for highly experienced meditators, it’s next to impossible to completely prevent the mind from wandering; it was built to think, analyze and work out problems. Trying to prevent it from doing so tends to be a huge source of frustration. Instead of preventing the mind from wandering off, the primary goal of meditation is to simply notice when your mind has wandered.

Take a curious note of where it’s gone—since it might be a source of some unexpected insight—and gently redirect your mind back to whatever you had chosen as your focus. This act of bringing yourself back to the task at hand is where the meditation muscle really gets flexed. Every time your mind

wanders, you have the opportunity to do “one rep” toward strengthening your executive functioning.

Over time, this skill will translate more easily to your day-today life. If you find yourself ruminating on worries or selfdefeating thoughts before your DECA presentation—running on an unhappy hamster wheel and getting nowhere—you might find yourself better equipped to catch that your mind went there, avoid getting attached to the negative thoughts and redirect your attention back to more productive and empowering thoughts. If you find your mind off on an adventure of its own while you’re meant to be studying for a cluster exam—leaving you to read the same page four times before you finally retain the information—a meditation practice can give you the tools to rein your mind back in and focus more intently on what’s in front of you. Even recreational or social activities can be more rewarding if you are practiced at bringing your full attention and presence to whatever you’re doing.

Even recreational or social activities can be more rewarding if you are practiced at bringing your full attention and presence to whatever you’re doing.

Even with this new outlook in mind, traditional meditation might still not be for you… and that’s okay. There’s no use in forcing yourself to meditate in a way that leaves you fidgety, anxious and frustrated. The good news is that you can apply these same principles to whatever you enjoy doing and get just as much (or more) out of the practice. If you love music, you can use that as the anchor for your focus. Just put your favorite music on your headphones, set your phone aside, close your eyes and make listening intently your meditation.

If you find yourself fidgety sitting in one place for too long, you can make a moving meditation out of activities like yoga, running, lifting weights, riding your bike or walking your dog. In this case, focus on the sensations in your body or what’s going on in the world around you. If you don’t have much spare time but do have plenty of chores to tend to, you can even make a meditation out of folding laundry, washing the dishes by hand or mowing the lawn. As long as you have the intention to be fully present where you are, notice when you’re not and redirect your attention back to the task at hand, you are meditating successfully.

Crafting your own unique practice is the cornerstone of developing a consistent mediation habit, and with greater consistency comes more noticeable results. Why force yourself to “mediate” (in a traditional sense, that is) if you hate it? The best form of meditation, or the kind that will bring you the most benefits in the long run, is the one that you’ll actually do regularly and the one from which you’ll derive a sense of joy. To get the most out of meditation, ask yourself: How can I creatively approach mindfulness my way?

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

For others, meditation itself can be a source of frustration.

Novice meditators often believe you’re supposed to close your eyes and immediately clear your mind, and that if you have trouble doing so, you must be doing something wrong. For some, the idea of meditation or mindfulness might also conjure up images of a bearded old yogi in robes, sitting quietly alone for weeks at a time in a faraway cave… But if you’re someone who values actively engaging with the world around you, that image could very well be the opposite of what you’re looking to embody in your own life. If you share any of these beliefs, this article is for you!

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Visit campus to learn more about the McColl School of Business and scholarships for DECA members.

Learn more at queens.edu

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DEBBIE TAYLOR | DECA Inc. Leadership Specialist

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!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

WORK OUT THE STRESS

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What are your recommendations for someone wanting to begin their own fitness journey to help with stress relief?

Remember your “why.” What are your reasons for wanting to begin an exercise program? Keeping your motivation factors top-of-mind will help you stay focused. Also, ask for help! This could be a knowledgeable friend, an online resource, a fitness app or even a trainer. You want to achieve your goals and not injure yourself as you begin your fitness journey.

How can stressed DECA members find the right exercise routine for them?

What do you do to relieve stress?

The bulk of my stress release comes from physical exercise. I enjoy weightlifting, but with many gyms being closed, I have been doing more running, yoga and bodyweight exercise.

You have often discussed your journey to overcome the obstacles you have faced emotionally, mentally and physically. Exercise and physical activity seem to have played an important role. How has physical activity helped you to deal with the stress and anxiety you have faced?

I use physical activity as a source of success. Anytime I go to the gym or on a run, it presents a challenge or self-imposed adversity. I focus on meeting the challenge head-on to get a little bit better each day. I use that same strategy in my personal life to overcome adversity and fill myself with the confidence to overcome the challenges I face in school and life.

As a former executive officer and current fulltime college student who recently started a new business, you are no stranger to a busy schedule. How do you make time to plan and prioritize fitness into your daily life?

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Like most young adults, my schedule is packed from the time I get up until I go to bed. The key for me is to wake up early. It is difficult for me to sit through virtual classes without becoming restless. It is instrumental for me to make time in the morning and exert that energy. It helps me stay awake and focused during class, increases my retention and boosts my creativity.

I recently launched a marketing consulting business that helps small businesses to stay afloat during the era of COVID-19.

The time I devote to physical activity each day helps me stay innovative and come up with my best ideas.

Start slow and conservative. Sometimes when starting something new, it is exciting and you want to do everything.

Don’t sprint first. Consider walking, hiking, jogging, then building your way up. Determine what success is for you (building muscle, losing body mass, de-stressing, etc.) then develop a plan of activities to help you meet that goal.

What are some tips you have for staying motivated to exercise when struggling with stress and anxiety?

I’ve always been a firm believer in consistency. It is tough to get started, but you have to start somewhere. It takes an average of three weeks to build a new habit into your routine. First, try to find a free resource with helpful tips or guides based on your goals. Second, stay consistent and make time every day. Third, don’t get discouraged. It can seem intimidating to compare yourself to others, but remember that it is a process; it doesn’t happen overnight. Finally, find what motivates you and let that be your reason why.

When serving as Executive President, I wanted to represent DECA’s members fully and be someone who doesn’t give up.

When I would get tired during a run, I would channel my energy and think, “If I can give my full effort here, then I will be able to provide that much more to DECA.” Remember what motivates you during those tough times!

In an era of virtual or hybrid learning, many school athletics may not be happening, or gyms may not be open. What is your advice for members to stay active and fit during this time?

Focus on your mental health. For many, this could be relieving stress or anxiety through physical activity. Put yourself first and devote the time to help you stay sane, productive, efficient and happy. This will motivate you to stay productive in other areas of your life and to focus on the positive outcomes that you can control. Also, remember that you don’t need a gym or specialized equipment to be active.

Do you have any last thoughts or advice you would like to share with DECA’s members?

Stressing about your to-do list and procrastinating will only increase your stress. I encourage you to chip away at your tasks and organize yourself as much as possible. Invest your time in creating and using a planner or productivity app. Try to stay on top of things and take baby steps in the right direction until you’ve created a system that works for you. In the end, you will be happier, less stressed out and hopefully more productive.

Thank you, D’Andre for sharing your personal connection between exercise and stress relief – and why physical activity should be part of your stress management plan.

Physical activity is a powerful way to help individuals manage stress. It benefits both the body and the mind and creates lifelong physical and emotional health benefits. Almost any form of exercise, from running and yoga to dancing and playing frisbee, can act as a stress reliever. You don’t have to be a Varsity athlete!

Whatever form of exercise you enjoy most is the best bet. Why? Because if you like doing it, you’re more likely to want to do it on a daily basis! Find a way of being active that’s enjoyable.

Making time for exercise is a crucial part of having a healthy balance in life and keeping your mind focused and clear. The benefits that come from moving your body will help keep your stress under control.

Note: Physical exercise can be subject to a risk of serious injury.

Listen to your body. Consult a doctor before using workout equipment or starting any routine program.

I use physical activity as a source of success.”

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

Exercise is an effective tool for stress management for two reasons. First, it provides an opportunity for immediate stress release by boosting feel-good endorphins that distract you from daily worries. Even though making time for exercise can be challenging, be consistent and you will feel the benefits.

Second, with consistency and repetition over time, your body and mind will learn to respond to stress more effectively.

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5 TIPS

TO TAKE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY TO THE #NEXTLEVEL

JULIA PITLYK

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.

1. Schedule Smarter Days When it comes to maximizing productivity, timing is everything.

Take note of when during the day you feel most suited to do certain tasks. Do you feel particularly creative first thing in the morning? Use that time to knock out a writing assignment or design some slides for your DECA project. Or maybe your creative juices flow in the evening and you can schedule basic tasks, like small assignments and emails, for earlier hours.

Spend a few weeks tracking your productivity flow, and then use that data to determine the peak time for every type of task on your to-do list.

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2. Make the Most of Every Minute You’re finished with school, work and extracurriculars for the day, but your evening to-do list is longer than ever. How can you make the most of your evening? Productivity gurus love the Pomodoro Technique for breaking up long stretches of work into productive sprints. Start by choosing a single task and set a timer for 25 minutes of uninterrupted work. (Yes, that means putting your phone away!) After 25 minutes, take a five-minute break. Repeat that cycle four times, and then reward yourself with a longer break (15-20 minutes). Then, start the method all over again. This is a proven way to increase your focus and get more done in less time!

3. Put Your To-Do Items into Action 5. Redef ine “Doing It All”

4. Get Fierce About Your Priorities Despite all our best productivity hacks, there’s only so much time in the day, making prioritization more important than ever. If everything feels like priority #1, use the Eisenhauer Matrix (below) to determine what is most deserving of your attention. Rank each task or to-do item on a matrix of urgency and importance. The most urgent and most important items are ones you should get to right away (like studying for tomorrow’s test), while less urgent and/or less important items get delegated or scheduled for later. And those items that aren’t urgent or important? They may not be worth having on your to-do list at all!

With the right productivity hacks, you really may be able to do it all. But if you still have too much on your plate, the hard truth is that you might not be able to do it all well. Over-committing yourself can lead to more than just burnout—it can also lead to things like missed tasks and lower quality work. This isn’t a bad thing; it just means you’re human! If you think you’ve reached this point, take a hard look at all your commitments and do some big-picture prioritization. While some areas are nonnegotiables (like school or your part-time job), you may find that you’re only keeping other commitments out of pressure, obligation or old habits. Consider finding ways to take those off your plate.

Discover which method works best for you and you’ll be on your way to reaching your peak productivity!

DO FIRST

DO LATER

DELEGATE

ELIMINATE

Focus on important tasks to be done the same day.

What’s urgent, but less important, delegate to others.

Important, but not-sourgent stuff should be scheduled.

What’s neither urgent nor important, delete from your list.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

The secret to knocking out a never-ending to-do list all comes down to how you write it. Make sure that every task on your list starts with a specific action verb. This helps break down bigger, more vague tasks into clear, actionable items that are easier to accomplish and harder to push off. For example, rather than writing “Work on DECA written event,” break that down into specific actions like “Develop project outline” and “Identify three sources for research.” You’ll find it easier to gain momentum as you cross off these specific items and make strides towards your overall goal.

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STRESS TO SUCCESS

HOW TO USE "GOOD STRESS" TO SUCCEED IN COMPETITION JULIA PITLYK

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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!

TWO TYPES OF STRESS

2. TURN WORRY INTO ACTION

Stress tends to feel the same no matter what, but it turns out there are actually two types of stress. So, what are they?

Distress, or the “bad” form of stress, feels like massive overwhelm or anxiety, and is usually brought on by something that seems threatening or unsafe. This usually comes from negative situations, like losing a loved one, having financial issues or being overwhelmed with commitments. The physical and mental anxiety you feel is your body’s way of signaling that something is wrong.

Being stressed about a situation – even if it’s good stress – often means running through future scenarios and “what if’s” over and over in your head. Don’t let your overthinking spiral out of control; use your worries to help determine how to best prepare for the real event. For example, if you keep worrying about something going wrong with your PowerPoint during your written event presentation, turn that worry into three action items to prevent that. They could be emailing a backup to an advisor, saving a copy to the cloud and having your advisor bring an extra laptop. This technique turns your worry into productive, proactive action steps to help you succeed.

distress eustress TURN “GOOD STRESS” INTO YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Some of the most successful athletes, performers and professionals will tell you that it’s not a lack of stress or nerves that make them great, but how they channel that energy to help them succeed. So how can you use good stress to make yourself a better competitor?

1. OWN IT First, recognize that feeling “good stress” about a big challenge, like a DECA competition or job interview, isn’t something to be ashamed of. Feeling a bit of anxiety means that you really care about doing well – and that’s a good thing! It shows you take the opportunity seriously, which is something judges and interviewers appreciate. But don’t let the stress own you. To start, tell yourself that your nerves are okay and that you are in control of your stress – not the other way around.

3. FOCUS ON POSITIVE OUTCOMES Despite your best preparation, not every scenario will go according to plan. A judge may ask you a tough question in a role-play that makes you fumble, or your talking points may not flow as smoothly as you would like when presenting. These situations can open the door for more bad stress in already stressful situations if you let them. Instead, remember that stress is usually a state of mind and that you can turn these bad stressors into positive motivation. For example, critical feedback from a judge could be viewed as negative or hurtful, creating a bad stress response. Or, you could view it as expert information that will make you better the next time you compete. It may sound like just a mind trick, but over time this re-framing technique will build a habit of turning potentially stressful outcomes into opportunities to fuel your future success.

"

Remember that stress is usually a state of mind and that you can turn these bad stressors into positive motivation.

Next time you notice the warning signs of stress, pause to consider if it’s good or bad. If it’s good, embrace it; if it’s negative, find a way to flip it to positive!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

On the other hand, “good” stress, or eustress, is the stress you feel when encountering a big life event that’s positive, like starting college, asking your crush to prom or competing in a DECA event. The scenarios that bring on good stress are often more challenges than threats, but the anxiety and stress you feel can be similar to distress.

Note: The bad kind of stress is no joke, and prolonged periods of distress can be bad for your health. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with mental, physical or emotional distress, don’t wait. Talk to a trusted adult or medical professional.

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5th

11:1

92%

@@@

in nation for boosting graduates’ earning potential

student to faculty ratio

students employed or registered for graduate school at commencement

admissions@ltu.edu www.ltu.edu Southfield, MI

ARCHITEC TURE AND DESIGN

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ARTS AND SCIENCES

BUSINESS AND IT

ENGINEERING

TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF DECA

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS EACH YEAR, DECA AWARDS OVER $200,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING

high school and college members thanks to the generous support of our National Advisory Board members and corporate partners. Many of these scholarships are offered exclusively to DECA members to help them pursue their next level of education.

Here are five tips to help take the stress out of applying for DECA scholarships: 1. START THE PROCESS NOW.

4. DON’T DO IT ALONE.

The deadline for scholarship applications is January 15, 2021.

This date may seem far away, but between navigating virtual or hybrid classes, the holidays and winter break, January 15 will be here sooner than you may think! Do yourself a favor and start now so you’ll have adequate time to perfect your application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

Ask a trusted friend, family member or advisor to review your application to save you the potential embarrassment of unnecessary typos or mistakes. Often, others can notice things about your writing that you have trouble seeing, like being too repetitive, including unnecessary information or not being engaging.

Think carefully about who you will ask to write your letters and choose people who can speak to your strengths and ability to overcome your weaknesses. Give your recommenders no less than two weeks’ notice—more is even better—so they have time to write a strong letter. Be prepared to provide them with additional information about yourself and the scholarship.

Make sure to follow-up with your recommenders as needed.

3. SING YOUR OWN PRAISES. Your scholarship application is not the place to be humble.

Include all the DECA activities you’ve been involved with, the leadership positions you’ve held and your accomplishments to increase your chances for scholarship success! Don’t ignore the little things—you’d be surprised how quickly they can add up!

5. LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO YOU. With scholarships from a wide range of corporate sponsors, your affiliation or interest with a certain company or industry could help increase your chances of receiving that scholarship.

For example, if you help operate an SBE that sells Otis Spunkmeyer products, then be sure to apply for the Otis Spunkmeyer Scholarship; if you are an associate of Publix, apply for the Publix Scholarship.

Apply today and take advantage of these scholarship opportunities offered exclusively to DECA’s members. Find more information and start your application at deca.org/scholarships.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

2. REQUEST LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION EARLY.

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HOW TO FIGHT OFF ZOOM FATIGUE AVERY ORAVEC | Vector Marketing

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AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN AN ERA OF VIRTUAL JOBS and education, constant digital interaction can wear us down and stress us out.

Stress can cause irritability, anxiety, headaches and a lack of motivation or focus. All of this can impact our productivity, work and general quality of life. When this happens, it’s important to implement some small but impactful changes to your daily lifestyle.

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.

stress can consume large amounts of energy, so it’s important to consume high energy foods, such as fruit or eggs to make up for that deficit.

As mentioned previously, it’s important to schedule breaks where you completely disengage from your computer or phone. Taking a small break to have a healthy snack can improve your focus.

And of course, it’s most important to stay hydrated. Stress can cause tension headaches, and if you’re dehydrated, you’re more susceptible to getting one. Make sure to always have a bottle of water on hand and to drink regularly—even if you are not feeling thirsty.

1. SCHEDULE BREAKS

3. DO THINGS FOR YOURSELF

Consider this: Instead of speed-running all of your work, try scheduling a 20 to 25-minute break as soon as you notice yourself becoming restless or unproductive. Remove yourself from anything digital. (And no, this doesn’t mean it’s time to pick up your phone and start scrolling through Instagram).

Take a short walk outside to get a change in scenery and give your eyes a break from staring at a screen.

As long as you’re not as financially self-destructive as Tom and Donna from Parks and Rec, it’s important to “treat yo’ self” every once in while!

If you’re unable to go outside, try doing another task that involves little concentration. Go grab a small snack, have a quick chat or call with friends and family, stretch or perfect your next TikTok dance. After sitting hunched over a computer for hours a day, your body will thank you! You will find that giving your mind a quick pause will make you more productive in the long run.

School and work should not consume your life. Try removing yourself from your source of stress and do something that’s fulfilling for you. After all, the most important thing you can do is to take care of yourself first over all else.

Make sure to set aside time that is solely dedicated to you and whatever makes you happy. Binge-watch a show on Netflix, buy something you’ve been eyeing for a while or gather a group of friends for a virtual game night.

Now more than ever it’s important to take care of both our minds and our bodies. With the ways that we learn and work rapidly changing, it can be difficult for us to adapt and keep up.

In turn, this can cause us to easily feel stressed out or lost.

If you find that daily digital interaction is having an impact on your mental health, don’t fret! Take a deep breath, then try one of these tips to help shake it off!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

It may be tempting to hunker down in front of your laptop and plow through all of your work in one sitting. Perhaps you’re even attempting to fit in more course work between online classes so you have more free time in the evening.

2. EAT HEALTHY & STAY HYDRATED When we get over-stressed, it’s normal to resort to comfort food as a way to cope. Most of the time, it’s easier and less time consuming to satisfy that craving for Cup Noodles instead of taking an hour out of your schedule to cook dinner. However, 33

CHAPTER BUZZ ALMA DECA ARKANSAS

SOUTH FORSYTH DECA GEORGIA

You know those shoes you don’t wear anymore? Alma DECA is taking donations of gently worn shoes from their community for a shoe drive in partnership with funds2orgs.

The shoes will be distributed by microentrepreneurs in developing countries like Honduras and Haiti. The chapter’s goal is to collect 100 bags of 25 pairs of shoes each!

While Georgia DECA’s Fall LDC looked a bit different this year, South Forsyth DECA still had a blast! Members split into teams and decked themselves out in their assigned color from head to toe. Their two-day Ultimate Leadership Challenge involved competing in a role-play, learning from local leaders, competing in marketing trivia, participating in a scavenger hunt and painting pumpkins. They can’t wait for competition this year!

AMERICAN DECA CALIFORNIA American DECA held a five-day boot camp to introduce new members to the world of DECA and allow returning members to brush up on their skills for upcoming competitive events. Each day included workshops, guest speakers and lessons that brought in over 50 students. Guest speakers included Oliver Zhang, NorCal DAT Officer, finance TikTokker, Errol Coleman, and DECA alumni. After the event, members were invited to participate in a virtual conference hosted by the chapter.

EAST PAULDING DECA GEORGIA East Paulding DECA participated in each day of DECA SBE Week by posting on their Instagram account. Their decorated-forfall SBE, The Raider Trader, will be selling pumpkin spice coffee and apple cider for the fall season. This year they are also selling customized stickers.

MILL CREEK DECA GEORGIA Mill Creek DECA kicked off the year by taking it to the next level! They held their first virtual kickoff meeting with great success and gave out DECA swag bags to all members—including a t-shirt, custom sticker and other great items. They are also getting ready to start a virtual Krispy Kreme fundraiser. They know this year is going to be great!

Alma DECA

LAKELAND DECA INDIANA Lakeland DECA’s Aubree Hall is turning her SBE dream into a reality. After developing a business plan to launch a school-based coffee shop with her DECA partner last year, Aubree has been working to secure the funding needed to launch The Lighthouse.

She recently received a Dream Young Visionaries Grant for $1,000 from Believe in a Dream and several other grants and sponsorships.

Mill Creek DECA

KAPION DECA JAPAN Kapion DECA members in Japan hosted an online business contest with ten teams from nine high schools competing. The leaders provided mentorships to every team to assist in the two-week competition, sharing tips on effective problem solving and presentation skills. Kapion DECA in Japan also developed a policy proposal for the Ministry of Education to increase business education and create an opportunity for high schoolers’ voices to be heard by the government. They hope to ignite changes in Japan for the future generation.

East Paulding DECA

ELK RIVER DECA MINNESOTA Elk River DECA purchased an enclosed trailer and converted it into a mobile store called the SWAGON. This has allowed their SBE to go where the people are since no outside visitors are allowed into their school. With the new SWAGON, they can

Lakeland DECA

ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT Everyone needs help from time to time. If you’re experiencing extreme stress, depression or anxiety, it's time to ask for help. Reach out to: • Your school or university’s counseling services • A doctor or therapist • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.

The information contained in this magazine is not intended as professional advice. The information is not a substitute for advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation

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SALINE COUNTY CAREER CENTER DECA MISSOURI Saline County Career Center DECA members have been hard at work to get ready for #DECAMonth! Chapter leaders have been creating DECA diamond messages for members and appreciation items for teachers who support the program.

from school, wrote personalized messages and returned the postcards to be mailed.

The postcards were a great way to appeal to incoming high schoolers and gain some new members! Their campaign was even recognized by Pennsylvania DECA as the winner of September’s marketing challenge

LAKEVIEW CENTENNIAL DECA TEXAS Lakeview Centennial DECA’s leadership team lives by a work hard, play hard mantra. They took time to catch-up in person, while getting some serious DECA work done over frozen yogurt.

TIMBERLAND DECA MISSOURI

LOS FRESNOS DECA TEXAS

Timberland DECA hosted their first social of the year—a Hawaiian Luau—including tons of fun games like Simon Says, Wah!, cornhole and volleyball. They held several ice breaker activities to welcome new members and introduce veteran competitors. Following health and safety regulations, they required masks and gave out prepackaged food. Their officers networked with members, answered questions about competition and led the games and activities. The event had a great turnout with lots of prospective members!

Los Fresnos DECA members met virtually before class every Wednesday of October to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Wednesdays, the chapter members wore pink! Even while virtual, the chapter is finding unique ways to raise awareness and make a difference in their community.

HILLSBORO-DEERING DECA NEW HAMPSHIRE Hillsboro Deering DECA members have been out and about making a difference in their community. Students partnered with members of their local Rotary organization to do a roadside cleanup.

PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH DECA PENNSYLVANIA Plymouth Whitemarsh DECA members wrote postcards to all incoming freshmen to welcome them and promote joining DECA. Previous members picked up postcards

Kapion DECA

Hillsboro-Deering DECA

Lakeview Centennial DECA

MILLBROOK DECA VIRGINIA Over the summer, Millbrook DECA welcomed their 2020-2021 officers with gift bags filled with tie-dye supplies and a DECA officer shirt. They took on the challenge of dyeing their shirts and showing them off on social media!

Los Fresnos DECA

WAUSAU WEST DECA WISCONSIN A virtual start to the school year won’t stop Wausau West DECA from having an awesome year! Practicing social distancing and wearing masks, the officers are allowed to meet at school and have been hard at work to develop their Program of Leadership, including creating new activities and events for their members.

Wausau West DECA

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SUBMIT TO DECA.ORG/CHAPTERBUZZ

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

(1) Publication Title: DECA Direct. (2) Publication Number: 0566-200. (3) Filing Date: 10/10/2020. (4) Issue Frequency: 4 times/year: Sept./Oct., Nov./Dec., Jan./Feb., Mar./Apr. (5) Number of Issues Published Annually: 4. (6) Annual Subscription Price: $5.00. (7) Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not printer): DECA Inc., 1908 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1594. Contact Person: Frank Peterson. Telephone: 703-860-5000. (8) Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: DECA Inc., 1908 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1594. (9) Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Frank Peterson, DECA Inc., 1908 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191- 1594. Editor: Frank Peterson, DECA Inc., 1908 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1594. Managing Editor: Danny Spors, DECA Inc., 1908 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1594. (10) Owner: Full Name, Complete Mailing Address: DECA Inc., 1908 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1594. (11) Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. (12) Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates): The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months. (13) Publication Title: DECA Direct. (14) Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 19, 2021. (15) Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months/No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: (a) Total Number of Copies (Net press run): 72,209/146,427. (b) Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (1) Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541. (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies): 137,725/138,059. (2) Paid In-County Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies) 0/0. (3) Paid distribution outside the mails: 3,353/6,632. (4) Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 0/0. (c) Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation [Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)]: 141,079/144,691. (d) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Outside-County included on PS Form 3541: 0/0. (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: 0/0. (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 0/0. (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): 0/0. (e) Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3), and (4)): 0/0. (f) Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e): 141,079/144,691. (g) Copies not Distributed: 1,670/1,736. (h) Total (Sum of 15f and g): 72,209/146,427. (i) Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100): 100%/100% (16) Electronic Copy Circulation: (a) Paid Electronic Copies: 0/0. (b) Total Paid Print Copies + Paid Electronic Copies: 141,079/144,691. (c) Total Print Distribution + Paid Electronic Copies: 141,079/144,691. (d) Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies): 100/100. I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are paid above a nominal price. (17) Publication of Statement of Ownership: Publication required. Will be printed in the November/December 2020 issue of this publication. (18) Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: Frank Peterson, Executive Director. Date: 10/21/2020.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | 2020

set up in the parking lot before and after school and during football games. They plan to bring the SWAGON to the local farmers market and community events, pull it through parades and continue to set up at sporting events.

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