We recently had the chance to connect with Dane Robinson and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Dane, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day kick off around 5 AM. It starts with a quick check-in with the world, scanning top headlines on Yahoo and catching up on what’s happening in sports on ESPN.com. From there, it’s go time. Ideally, I’ve already laid out my clothes for the morning’s workout. Depending on the day, I’m either moving heavy weight in a strength session or diving into a hybrid of low-impact, high-intensity cardio and lighter strength endurance work.
As that session wraps up, the real soundtrack of my morning begins with either the cry of my youngest, Roux, ready for breakfast, or the soft shuffle of my oldest, Reece, waking up and easing into her world of books, toys, and morning chatter. That’s when I shift into full Dad Mode: handing Roux off to Mom, negotiating with Reece about outfits, hairstyles, and the ever-important sock selection, all while trying to get breakfast sorted for everyone.
If I’m lucky, I manage to fuel up myself somewhere in the middle of it all. Swapping sweaty gym clothes for clean ones just in time to load Reece into the car for daycare drop-off. From there, it’s straight into my day — whether that’s training my first client or stepping onto a stage to speak.
Ninety minutes never goes by faster… but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Who me? Sure! I’m Dane Robinson a former pro football player turned fitness coach, keynote speaker, and event emcee based out of Atlanta, GA.
You could say my career has been a mash-up of grit, growth, and a whole lot of microphone moments. I’ve gone from cleaning gym floors to coaching on national platforms like NBC’s TODAY Show, Daily Burn, and QVC. Proving that hard work, betting big time on yourself, (and a little swagger) can take you just about anywhere.
Today, I bring that same locker-room energy and life-tested perspective to audiences and organizations from the fitness floor to the boardroom. Helping them perform, lead, and live like the pro athletes they are with purpose, resilience, and a winning mindset.
Whether I’m on stage, behind the mic, or coaching my favorite version of deadlift, my mission is simple: help people “win the day” and play the sport called life a little better.
I think the Dane Robinson brand thrives at the intersection of performance and personality high energy meets high impact. Because at the end of the day, I don’t just want people to feel motivated… I want them to feel moved.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Oh do I have plot twist for you to this question…
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself wasn’t one built on mentorship. It was built on a moment that lit a fire.
Back when I was a fitness manager, I told my boss I had bigger aspirations. That I wanted to speak, present, and impact people beyond the four walls of the gym.
His response? “Why? It’s not like you’re crushing it.”
That line hit hard. It wasn’t meant to motivate me, but it did. It forced me to decide whether I was going to accept someone else’s version of my potential… or write my own. Not long after that conversation, I walked away from the salary, the 401(k), the health benefits…all of it. I bet on myself instead.
And let me tell you, that bet didn’t pay off overnight. I struggled. I failed. I struggled some more. But each challenge sharpened my purpose, my voice, and my drive.
Now, I get to live the life I once talked about in that office. Speaking, coaching, and creating impact on my terms. And the best part? I’m just getting started!
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
When I was sad or scared as a kid, the thing that always helped was music.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but music became my escape, my therapy, and my coach all rolled into one. It had this way of shifting my energy putting me in a different space where I could feel soothed, encouraged, and at peace, even if the world around me didn’t make sense.
I’d throw on a song and let it speak the words I couldn’t find for myself. Whether it was the lyrics, the rhythm, or just the feeling it gave me, music helped me reset.
And honestly, that hasn’t changed. Even now, when life gets loud or uncertain, I’ll turn to music the same way I did back then to quiet the noise, refocus, and remind myself that every emotion, good or bad, has its own soundtrack.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. The public version of me is me… just turned up and bowed up to an 11. I’m not trying to be anybody I’m not; I’m just doubling down on the parts that make me, me. Think of it like hitting the “boost” button on my personality.
The same energy, just with surround sound and better lighting.
When I’m out front, whether it’s on stage, on camera, or leading a team, my goal is simple: to be the energy source that gets people excited, inspired, and in motion.
But I’m also a little bit of that drill sergeant aka the one who reminds everyone that motivation without direction is just noise. So yeah, the public version of me brings the hype, but he also brings the focus and the follow-through.
At the end of the day, it’s not an act. It’s me, just fully caffeinated, purpose-driven, and ready to make sure everyone around me levels up right along with me.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Outside of this article? Hahaha
The seeds I’m planting today are all about building generational wealth for my daughters and expanding the business I’ve been grinding on for years. T
he one rooted in impact through speaking and fitness. I know the real payoff isn’t coming tomorrow, or even next year, but that’s the beauty of it. Great things take time to grow. But I have to remind myself of that everyday.
I’ve started incorporating strategies like real estate investments and diversified savings. Moves that my younger self didn’t have modeled for him.
This isn’t just about money; it’s about momentum. It’s about creating something lasting, something my girls can stand on long after I’ve stopped sprinting.
Even though I’ve been at it for a while I really do think I’m just getting started!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coachdanerobinson.com/speak
- Instagram: @coachdanerobinson
- Linkedin: Dane Robinson
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/MBoBIzeQ66w
Image Credits
Jordan Davis
Dakota Hughes
