Farewell

Cameron McCutcheon

              Hard working, life changing, emotional, eye opening, friendships for a lifetime. Only a few words that summarize my term. Florida DECA, you have made this an amazing year. I cannot believe my term is coming to its last hours, it seems like it was just yesterday being called on stage as the new Florida DECA Team 54 Vice President. In a few days, the same experience will be happing again for a few individuals, as we announce Team 55. Words cannot describe how blessed I have been throughout my years but escealliy this last one. I have made such strong connections with team 54, powerful business owners, International officers, congress but I believe the most important connection was myself. I have gained so much leadership traits, communication traits and believing in myself. This term as lead to many nervous hours, late nights, stressful days but I’ll tell you this, I would do it all over again. It will not be the same this next year,  a piece of me is leaving as a state officer but a piece of me is stay with DECA. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and pushed me this last year, I would not be where I am today without y’all. As wrap up my last monthly blog I leave you with this, don’t blink, it goes faster than you think. For one last time Florida DECA, stay safe.

Cameron McCutcheon

Florida DECA State Vice President 

Take That Leap

Cameron McCutcheon

               Many people are scared of one thing and that is the courage to become a leader. But who wouldn’t? Being the leader makes you in charge, you pull the trigger but at the same time… when everything fails it comes all down on you. And one of the biggest challenges is becoming one of your officers at your chapter. Not only becoming one of your officers but to succeed as the position and make your chapter better then when you started it. People ask many times what it takes to be a good officer. There is only a few things that come to mind when I think of leader characteriscts I think of one thing, courage. You need it in life, because yes you will become a great officer but after your term and after your years in school you are dumped into the real world. A real world where the cowards stay home and courageous stand out. So if you are a officer or a member trying to become an officer, or just a member trying to make an impact in your chapter, have the courage to put your foot in the door, that foot could have just led you into the greatest experience of your life. Take it from a guy who has experienced it this term. Stay Safe

Cameron McCutcheon   

Florida DECA Team 54 Vice President

This year theme for DECA is “Make It Count” and I personally it is the best one yet. Three words that really go a long way. Since we found out the theme for this year, I have been saying to myself” When in doubt, MAKE IT COUNT”. It’s a simple but great quote in my eyes. It serves as a great life quote but also a great motivation one. On the life aspect, it shows when you are going through a rough time and you feel like you want to quit, remember when in doubt, MAKE IT COUNT! For the motivation side, when you need to go to the gym or you need to get on that 10 page report, MAKE IT COUNT! Especially when you put on that DECA blazer and you know you are prepared, you have done all the work, stayed up late working, lost sleep over the stress… MAKE IT COUNT. Here’s a funny story, this past weekend we had our first cross country meet. Right before the race we got in our traditional huddle and said our prayer. After the prayer I gave us a little pep talk and the main thing I said to the them was to make it count! You have 3.1 miles to run, make ever step count! What I am trying to say in the whole blog is, that life isn’t always going to be easy but when you have the great mentality that every Florida DECA member has and YOU MAKE IT COUNT there is no reason to say, that the sky is the limit. I believe in you all that you will MAKE IT COUNT all this year, hopefully you guys are planning a great year ahead of you! Can’t wait to see you all at Emerging Leaders, stay safe!

P.S. WHEN IN DOUBT, MAKE IT COUNT!

Flexible, Reliable, Relatable those characteristics right there are the characteristics to be a great Officer, or “Be that officer”. In today’s world, many leaders do not have the characteristics installed into them, which leads to a failure in their field. In DECA, to be the best officer you can be it’s almost necessary to do all 3.

Flexible, and no I’m not talking about the strectching flexible, I’m talking about the flexible in which you can stand many things that are thrown at you. If you don’t have the flexibility to switch times of meetings, do a new project or even welcome new chapter officers, the members won’t want to listen to you. They want someone who can go with the flow, but have a plan behind the whole “Go with the flow”.

Next is reliable, I think this one sticks out the most to me. When you are dealing with someone who is always late, turns in their stuff late, and misses important events they aren’t going to be the officer you wish to see them as. So committing the events you said you would go to, be on time, and always turn in stuff that has a due date, if you do all of those things I do not see any hindrance in you being a great officer!

And last relatable, members these days want to know you are not some high power person, but they are actually just like you. If you put yourself ahead of everyone and don’t look at the situation in the member footstep they will not want to have anything to do with you. A good tip is to meet the needs of every member, if they are funny be funny around them, if they are serious and don’t like humor that much be a little less funny so you connect with the member. Each member will vary.

So when you earn that title of being an officer make sure you make it count all year. Even if you don’t become an officer if you do the 3 characteristics I listed you will have no problem achieving what you put your mind to! Have a safe rest of summer! Stay safe.

Cameron McCutcheon

Florida DECA Team 54 Vice President

Some people go through their whole life trying to gain the title “Leader” but many people don’t know what it takes to earn that title. The past Western Region Vice President Victoria Cana does a great job of listing off the things you need to earn that title. Here are some of them

1)      Be Consistent- People usually lack credibility because they will say they are going to do something but doesn’t something besides that. No one will be able to trust you, if you make a promise follow up to it. This will make your relationship with the person better but will also gain credibility.

2)      Be Punctual- People can’t trust you or can’t count on you if you miss or are known to be late to things.

3)      Own Up to Your Mistakes- This one is a major characteristic because a leader will always own up to his or her mistakes. No excuses.

4)      Treat Others With Respect- Without this one you will get nowhere in today’s world. Escspeally   if you are trying to gain the tile leader. People don’t want to look up to someone who is just rude to everyone or show them no respect.

       

So as you go in to this next school year try out these tips to become the leader of your choice! And it doesn’t just have to be DECA, it can be on your local club or your sport. I know I follow these guidelines for DECA and my cross country team. I hope you all are having a safe a fun summer!

P.S. here is the link to the blog! http://www.deca.org/blog/203/

Florida DECA Vice President

Cameron McCutcheon

Hey Florida DECA! Summer is just around the corner and it couldn’t come quicker! Even though it’s the summer, that doesn’t mean you can stay involved. The summer is the best time of the year to do community service! I know last year I think I clocked about 125 hours of community service. And the best part, it was fun and it was for a great cause (I worked at the Special Olympics). Grab a couple of your friends and go down to the soup kitchen or the local park and do a cleanup. The opportunities are endless and the best part is that you can make them as fun as you want! If you don’t feel like going out in the Florida sun you can stay inside… collecting cans, clothes, cash and school supplies for your local charity. The plus side to all these community service project is the knock some of the standards of the Annual Business Plan out the door before the fall school year even starts! That will for sure start your DECA Chapter on the right foot to make it count all year! And it is a really good feeling helping out a family or a school that needs help. That is what makes this organization such an amazing organization to be a part of, a bunch of intelligent teens who can dedicate their time to their community, school and DECA! I hope you all have a great and safe summer and remember, with anything you do this year make sure to MAKE IT COUNT!!

On March 2nd in Orlando, Florida I was named one of the Vice Presidents of Florida DECA. Every day I wake up and I am completely honored to represent all you Florida DECA members and cannot thank you enough with all the support you have given me. In this short two months as a Chartered Associations Officer I can truly say my life has been changed. I have learned that being yourself and letting people see the real you is how you are going to make it in today’s world.

Even though we just met, Team 54 is becoming my second family, and so are you, Florida DECA. But I cannot lie to you, it has been stressful and I can admit to nights that I could barely shut my eyes but it’s all worth it and would not change this for the world.

I am deeply sorry I was unable to make it to ICDC but prior commitments got in the way, but I have worked everything out. You guys sure did thrive at ICDC and really put Florida DECA on the map! I am looking forward to seeing you all at the upcoming conferences! Feel free to contact me with any questions by emailing me at: cameron@fldeca.org. Stay safe Florida DECA and remember MAKE IT COUNT!