Hey everyone! I started training with Dane in 2008, and I was one of his first few clients. Last night, I had the incredible honor of being inducted into the Garage Strength Hall of Fame. To mark this moment, I wrote a speech that I’d love to share:
“It’s an honor to be here tonight. I’ll be the first to say I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for Dane.
Before I met Dane, I had no real work ethic. I was driven by short-term goals, my anger, and lacked an understanding of what effort, discipline, and perseverance truly meant. I was a kid without a clear vision, a dreamer who didn’t have the mindset to reach the heights I hoped for. But from the moment I walked into Garage Strength, everything changed.
Dane doesn’t just coach athletes—he shapes individuals. He takes our raw, unrefined qualities—our impatience, anger, and doubt—and turns them into the foundation for something greater.
With his guidance, I learned how to channel my emotions into purpose, patience, and resilience. He taught me that life’s challenges aren’t something to fear but to embrace—one rep, one day, one lesson at a time. Through it all, Dane’s unwavering belief in me kept me moving forward, even when I was too immature to see what was possible.
I can still remember pestering Dane with questions like, “When am I going to throw farther? When am I going to hit those numbers? When am I going to bench 225?” “When am I gonna get bigger biceps?”Every time, his response was the same: “Trust the process.
Stick with me, and you’ll be a state champion.”
At the time, I couldn’t imagine what he was seeing in me. But, as the days passed, I began to realize success wasn’t about the immediate result—it was about the growth that came from every effort, every failure, and every small victory. Just as he promised, not only did I become a state champion, but I went on to become an All-American and I earned a full ride to college.
But Dane’s influence goes far beyond lifting numbers. Through the grind and setbacks, he instills in us the mindset that success isn’t just about what you can lift—it’s about the strength you build within yourself. It’s about knowing that nothing is impossible if you’re willing to do the work, even when the journey feels uncertain.
What Dane does for his athletes isn’t just training—it’s transformation. He doesn’t just make athletes; he makes people capable of facing the toughest challenges in life with confidence, grit, and purpose. The lessons he teaches us extend far beyond the gym. He showed me that greatness isn’t a destination—it’s a mindset you carry with you every day.
And for all of that, I owe him everything. He took a kid who didn’t know how to work and transformed him into someone who understands the power of persistence and the strength that comes from never giving up.
Dane, you’ve shaped me into the person I am today. You’ve taught me how to chase greatness, push beyond mediocrity, and—most importantly—to never settle. You’ve given me more than the ability to throw further or lift heavier—you’ve given me the mindset and confidence to take on whatever life throws at me.
So, thank you. Thank you for believing in me, for pushing me, for showing me what’s possible. It’s an honor to stand here today and share just a small piece of what you’ve given me.”
Garage Strength turned me into the man I am....
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