If ever there was someone who seems to have it all figured out, it’s David Daggett (JD ’85). 

But that assuredness is by no means accidental, or pure luck. It has resulted from a clear, foundational life philosophy. From his incredibly successful law firm, to his deep and broad service to the community, to his devotion to his family and his health, Daggett is intentional about how he spends his time and energy. 

“My son, who is now at the age where he wants to have those deep philosophical talks with dad, asked me once ‘How do you do so much and still have time for our family?’” It’s a great question, and one that many ponder about Daggett. How does he do so much?

“It’s simple,” he says. “I’ve architected my life using this concept I call the ‘Four Anchors.’”

The Four Anchors is Daggett’s personal approach to building a meaningful, purpose-driven life. He believes a life consists of four distinct areas: professional, physical, family/social, and spiritual. By integrating these four anchors and maximizing your time, you can strengthen each anchor and create stability and balance.

“For example,” says Daggett, an avid athlete and competitor, “when the kids were young, I’d wake up early in the morning and bike to my in-laws’ house a few hours away. My wife and children would meet me there as I was arriving, and we’d have family time. It’s about doing things concurrently and making the most of your time.”

Time seems infinite when you talk to Daggett. He wakes up at 4:30 a.m. for his morning swim, during which he meditates and makes a mental list of what he wants to accomplish that day. Then it’s off to the law offices of Daggett Shuler, which he co-founded with fellow Wake Forest Law alumnus Griff Shuler (JD ’94). 

Since Daggett established the firm, which specializes in personal injury, disability, and workers’ compensation, it has become a cornerstone of the Winston-Salem community. The firm’s philosophy, “We help people through situations that many times are the worst events they’ve experienced in their lives,” underscores Daggett’s personal commitment to serving others for 40 years as a local attorney.

When Daggett turned 50, he decided to dedicate one-third of his productive, professional time toward community service. And when it comes to serving the community, rather than focusing his energy on one specific cause or issue, the throughline for Daggett has been his love of people—that is the one thing that his incredibly varied philanthropic activities have in common. 

Leveraging his legal expertise, he has served as president of the Forsyth County Bar Association, as a member of the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association, and on the 21st Judicial District Bar Association. A former wrestler himself, Daggett coaches high school wrestling. He speaks at local middle and high schools, volunteers in various capacities at New Philadelphia Moravian Church, and is a frequent emcee at charity events, including the annual holiday party for the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Department. He serves on the board of the American Heart Association – Triad and for Willie Mason & Friends, a community-based choir. Daggett Shuler also sponsors numerous events throughout the year. 

I wanted to start a law firm that has a distinct impact on both people and on the community. That’s part of our mission and ethos. I’m fortunate that everyone on our team is on the same page with regards to those ideals, because my hope is that our firm’s legacy will prevail long after I’m gone.

Perusing Daggett’s LinkedIn profile is a humbling experience that not only inspires you to do more, but to be better. It also makes you question whether Daggett sleeps at all. 

Among his countless contributions to the community, perhaps the one he is most proud of is the founding of the Safe Sober Program. 

In its 35th year, Safe Sober is the largest and longest running privately funded initiative of its kind in the United States (and likely, the world). It began as Safe Sober Prom Night, which was an initiative aimed at creating awareness among teens of the dangers of drug and alcohol consumption, especially during the time between prom and graduation. The program encouraged students to sign a pledge agreeing to remain sober and make good decisions on prom night and during that period. 

A few years ago, the program expanded beyond prom night to operate year-round and target middle school students as well. “Society has changed, and the issues we were seeing with high school students, we now see with middle school students,” says Daggett. “Our goal is to raise awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol use and to create an atmosphere of positive peer pressure amidst the negative peer pressure our youth are bombarded with. We want to encourage the community to collectively ‘wrap their arms’ around these young people, and help put them on the road to success.”

Over 50 local high schools participate in the program, and more than 600,000 students have gone through the program. Each student who signs the pledge and participates in the Safe Sober Program, which includes events, presentations, and other activities, receives a special t-shirt, which is designed by a different teen each year. “We now have generations of students in the Triad who have gone through the Safe Sober Program, and that truly is one of the crowning achievements of my career.”

The most recent addition to the Safe Sober Program is the Safe Sober Teen Center, a collaboration between Daggett Shuler and the William G. White, Jr. YMCA. The Safe Sober Teen Center provides a safe space, enriched learning and activities, and mentorship for teens. It integrates the values of the Safe Sober Program and of the YMCA, ensuring that teens have a place to go after school where they can be surrounded by positive influences. 

I’ve seen firsthand how bad choices can really throw a person’s life off track. There are often devastating consequences. Kids need trusted adults in their lives to show an interest in them and get involved—to believe in them—and help put them on a positive path. It’s easy to write a check. It’s much harder to put in the time and effort and show up for these kids. But it makes all the difference.

In addition to his devotion to his charitable work, his career, and his family (he has been happily married for nearly 30 years and has three adult children), Daggett is deeply committed to his physical and mental health. He is a 34-time IRONMAN finisher over 44 consecutive years and has competed in 220 triathlons. He and his daughter recently competed in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, combining two of the Four Anchors—physical and family/social.

Unsurprisingly, Daggett’s love of people has made him not only a prolific philanthropist, but a talented lawyer. He believes that interpersonal skills are key to succeeding in the legal profession. “The most critical thing you do as a lawyer is to advise and counsel your clients,” he says. “You need to be able to gain their trust, and that requires the ability to meaningfully engage with others.” 

While he was born with those innate people skills, he cultivated many other key lawyering skills during his time at Wake Forest Law. “It goes without saying that I received an excellent education at Wake,” Daggett explains. “But I also developed strong relationships with my professors, like Butch Covington and the late Ralph Peeples.” He has stayed in touch with many of them throughout the years. 

But one of the most impactful aspects of attending Wake Forest Law was that it brought him to this city that he cares so deeply about. After receiving his bachelor of arts from Indiana State University, he moved down to Winston-Salem—and he never left. He obtained his JD, opened his law firm, and set down roots, which have grown and spread and strengthened everything around him.

As good as Winston-Salem has been to Daggett, he has paid it forward to his community in spades. “It’s what I love to do,” says Daggett. “Helping people is in my DNA.” 

And it wouldn’t be surprising at all if that DNA was superhuman.