Turning a crisis into opportunity

Qin Tang
Woodbury Bulletin - 05/13/2009

In Chinese, the word crisis is made up of two characters: danger and opportunity.

For Katie Dailey of Woodbury, the crisis she experienced in 2008 literally means "danger" and "opportunity." She is a living example of turning a crisis into an opportunity.

Dailey grew up in Shanghai, China. She attended Fudan University, a prestigious university in China. In 1990 Dailey came to the United States for her master’s degree in electrical engineering.

After graduating from South Dakota State University, Dailey started a long and successful career with American Express, Imation, Kodak and 3M as a technical leader.

Unfortunately, Dailey was laid off from 3M after three years working there.

One December morning in 2008, after she walked into the office, she got the unexpected layoff notice.

“It was a total shock for me. I started crying and couldn’t go back to my office again.”

Dailey recalls the tough time that followed. She had to do some soul-searching.

“What do you like to do?”

“What are you passionate about?”

Dailey’s husband and friends asked her these questions and encouraged her to do something she loves.

The Daileys loves to travel. They have been to almost all 50 states in the U.S.

“Spring break and summer are my family’s favorite time of the year," Dailey said. "My family usually flies to a city in a state and then we rent a car. We drive through the state and visit every state park in the state.”

They have also been to Canada and other countries in Europe and Asia.

With her passion for travel, and with her family and friends’ support, Dailey was able to turn her crisis into this opportunity of starting her own travel agent business. She followed her heart’s desire to find a second career.

“It is my passion to travel. It is also my passion to share the wonderful Chinese culture and language with people around the world," she said. "I believe in my service to those people who want to travel to China to experience the fascinating Chinese culture firsthand.”

Dailey became the owner and founder of Dailey Travel LLC, a business that specializes in travel to China, but also covers Asia and the United States. It is a full-service travel agent.

“I have wanted to help young people see China for some time,” Dailey said. “Now I have the opportunity to do that. My first student summer trip to China is this July 21 to 30. It will be a great opportunity for junior high and senior high students to learn about China.”

In addition to junior high and senior high student tours, Dailey Travel also offers culture enrichment and exploration tour, language and education tour, special interest tour, customized college campus visit tour, and senior, retiree or church group tour.

Entrepreneurship requires vision, leadership, persistence, sincere desire to help people, a lot of networking, and hard work. Dailey has all that to make her business successful.

Dailey can feel the pain of people who have lost their jobs. She hopes others who are in a crisis now can also find their "opportunity" in a time of "danger," and turning danger into opportunity.

“I believe when God closes a door, He opens a window.”

Being a new-born Christian, Dailey knew where to draw her strength from.

With only $40 dollar in her pocket and the first time on an airplane, Dailey came to the United States in search of a better education and ultimately a better life, and she has found it.

“I have many crises in my life, but I made through them all. You just got to believe in yourself and never give up.”

Dailey met her husband in South Dakota. They have three sons and have lived in Woodbury for 11 years.

For special deals, events and seminars offered by Dailey Travel, visit www.daileytravelservice.com or contact Katie Dailey at (651) 323-0101 or e-mail Dailey@daileytravelservice.com.