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Announcing the 2023-2024 Virtual Business Challenge Round 1 ICDC Qualifiers
DECA congratulates finalist teams in the first round of the 2023-2024 Virtual Business Challenge (VBC). They have earned the opportunity to compete during the DECA International Career Development Conference this spring.

Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs
Successful entrepreneurs are self-aware individuals who cultivate these traits, allowing them to navigate the challenges and uncertainties of the entrepreneurial journey with resilience and determination.

Using Generative AI to Power Student Entrepreneurship
This article provides an overview of how Generative AI technologies like ChatGPT can be leveraged by student entrepreneurs while offering a balanced guide for navigating the entrepreneurial landscape with AI.

Case Study of the Week: Increasing Sales by Adding New Services
Step into the role of the general manager at Madison Foods, a local grocery store in a city with 50,000 people. The owner of the store wants you to determine a new service to offer that will lead to increased sales.

From DECA Advisor to Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator
Vince Merrell found ways to encourage youth throughout his career as a DECA advisor and a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this article, discover how Merrell's path to Chick-fil-A was surprising and unexpected.

Case Study of the Week: Creating an Employee Volunteer Program
Step into the role of the director of human resources for Platter Group, a large global media, marketing and corporate communications company. The president of Platter Group has asked you to create an employee volunteer program.

Giving Back to DECA
I recently had the privilege of attending the MO DECA Fall Leadership Conference. This experience was particularly special as it allowed me to impart valuable knowledge in various domains critical for their future success.

Cracking the Code on Black Friday Marketing Strategies
One of the biggest holiday sales is coming up, but what makes it such a big event and even an American tradition? The key is all in how it’s marketed. Explore some of the top marketing strategies for Black Friday and explore how you can apply them to your brand.

Entrepreneurship Advice From DECA Members
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong goal for some people, and DECA members work to tackle that and make their dreams a reality. Look at what some members are doing to reach their goals!

Maximize Your Black Friday Shopping Experience
Black Friday has come a long way since its early days. What started as a one-day event has now become a week-long shopping extravaganza and the growth of e-commerce has revolutionized Black Friday shopping.

Workplace Skills for Success
Unlock your path to success in the dynamic job market by discovering 7 emerging workplace skills you need to stay ahead of the competition. This article guides you to becoming the ideal candidate in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.

Chapter Campaigns: Ideas for Involvement
Are you and your chapter looking at ways to develop your program of leadership and gain recognition during the best month of the year, DECA Month? Check out this article to learn about all five of DECA’s Chapter Campaigns and ideas for submission.

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.