November is a time to pay our gratitude to veterans and their families. The sacrifices that they have made to protect our country are insurmountable and we will never be able to fully thank them enough for risking their lives.
Within the Chamber, we have a business council that directly connects military veteran business owners so they can build relationships with people who have been through war, and the discipline necessary to succeed in the military. It is our honor to highlight just a few of these business owners.
Who is Michael Dailey? Some of you may know him as a leader, or as a good friend. Others may just know him from a quick greeting at a Chamber event, or maybe he has impacted your life for the better. Whether you know him or not, Michael Dailey is a multifaceted caring person, who’s end goal is to truly leave the world better than he found it.
From a young age, Michael Dailey dreamed of being a Green Beret. He strived for that goal his entire adolescence and when he finally was able to enroll in the Army he was one step closer to fulfilling that dream. His natural leadership skills and success in the Army allowed him to be chosen to attend Special Forces training in hopes of completing each task given to him so he could reach his childhood dreams.
As the number of trainees whittled down and few remained, Dailey stood at ease to await the final verdict. Through many physical hardships, he was able to mentally carry himself through each task and thus was named a Green Beret. Dailey spent a total of 23 years in the Army and as a Green Beret. His success in the military was due to his leadership skills, mental strength, loyalty and accountability. To this day, you can see that Dailey has seamlessly transferred these skills to his personal and professional life.
After 23 years, Dailey retired from the military but spent another 10 and a half years working for Homeland Security. During his time in DC, he created training programs for certain strategies within the military. After a while, his time in DC ran its course and he decided that being close to family was more important. Luckily, he was able to transfer to a regional office in Texas in 2016 but then tragedy struck.
In December 2016, as the Dailey family were celebrating their move and creating new memories with their families, the unexpected passing of Dailey’s brother immediately changed the tone of the holidays. As the overwhelming grief began to settle and they were finding a new normal, Dailey’s father passed away just six months later.
These two consecutive tragedies could have made someone question the world around them and wonder why they had to be the ones to deal with all the pain, Dailey refused. “I wasn’t prepared to fill the void of being the patriarch of the family, nonetheless, I had to do something bold, I had to build a legacy,” said Dailey.
After leaving Homeland Security, he tried his hand at commercial real estate but ultimately decided that he wanted to make an impact in others’ lives. With that goal at the forefront of Dailey’s mind, Invictus Legacy Builders was born.
“Invictus Legacy Builders was created to help business owners’ dreams become a reality as well as build character into the development of young leaders. I want to help build the next generation of leaders and not teach them how to lead but the character of leading.” Dailey was not only beginning to make a legacy for himself but creating an avenue for others to build legacies for themselves.
When asked why he chose the word Invictus, Dailey replied, “It means unconquerable. I felt very connected to the poem, Invictus, by William Ernest Henly.” He then proceeded to read this beautiful poem to us:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
Michael Dailey refuses to be conquered by his circumstance and that is truly a testament to just how much mental strength he has. With this unconquerable mindset, Dailey is giving back to his community and building up the place that he now calls home. Arlington is the first place he has been able to set roots down since 1986, and we are truly lucky to have him as a small business owner and a Chamber member.
If you are looking for some guidance in building your character and finding HEART (Hungry, Empathetic, Accountable, Ripple maker, Team player), Dailey offers a free 60-minute true north self discovery session as well as a 10% discount for military and first responders.
We want to formerly thank Michael for his many years of service, his daughter’s current service in the Army and the sacrifices that his family had to make as well.
“What is the legacy you want to leave behind? What is your ripple?” – Michael Dailey
Written by: Makayla Reed