Chris Coltran, Author, Entrepreneur, Success Coach

Is it Time to Tebow Your Business? – by Chris Coltran

2011-12-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

Tim Tebow has become an iconic name brand, and not just in the football world. I remember when my oldest son first said that he wanted a Tim Tebow jersey. This was strange, because he was never a Florida Gator fan. He is a New England Patriots fan and a Michigan fan because of another famous quarterback, Tom Brady. So when he said he wanted another player's jersey, I was a bit shocked. At the same time, it put a smile on my face. After all, Tim Tebow was an incredible leader with an incredible story. Who wouldn't want their son, a huge football fan, to look up to a person like Tim Tebow as their role model?

When the 2011 NFL football season started, and we were putting together our fantasy teams, my son really wanted to draft Tim Tebow. I told him I didn't know if that was such a great idea, because all the critics were saying, “Tim Tebow could never play in the NFL.” They said he didn't have the arm strength, and that he couldn't play in the fast-paced game at the next level.

Well regardless of what the critics thought, Tim Tebow as a starter is 5 and 1. He might not be standing in the pocket and throwing 40 passes a game or racking up a bunch of fantasy points, but who cares? At the end of the game more times than not his team had more points on the scoreboard. The Denver Broncos have had to change their entire offense, but at the end of the day, a W is a W. The Broncos have been able to utilize the skills of Tim Tebow to their benefit. Instead of sticking with their veteran quarterback, they chose to go with the guy that nobody believed in, except himself. :)

Just like Tim Tebow, your company has people with a certain set of skills, and if utilized correctly, can help your company succeed. Instead of going out and trying to find new talent, work with the talent that you already have on your payroll.

Your product or service might not be the best on the market, but if you tailor fit your marketing strategy just like the Denver Broncos have tailored their offense around their quarterback, success can be just around the corner.

Who says that your company needs a certain kind of quarterback? Look beyond the mold or the stereotype that you have created in your company. Stop thinking that your marketing department only needs seasoned veterans. The best marketing people in the business didn't get their skills from college. In fact the best marketing people might not have even graduated from college. Start looking around in your own organization for Tim Tebow’s. If the current economic climate has your company below 500, don't fear, your Tim Tebow might be in your break room, at the water cooler, or in the next cubicle.

There's still time to turn your season around and make the playoffs if you get him from the sidelines and into the huddle. Go for it! What do you have to lose? You can't win the Super Bowl if you don't make the playoffs!

Chris

Chris Coltran is based in Acworth, GA. He is the author of the book, “Selling To Your Grandmother,” and President of C2 Unlimited. He has worked in manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, and retail, as well as being a sales and marketing consultant to various companies. Chris is a motivational speaker, having spoken to various groups in the floor covering, furniture, automotive, and service industries. He is also an entrepreneur helping other entrepreneurs become successful. For more information or to contact Chris, he can be found on the web at: www.chriscoltran.com and via email at: chris@chriscoltran.com

Your GPS for Success by Chris Coltran

2011-11-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

Don’t you wish you could just enter the details of your success like you would an address into a GPS in your car or into your smart phone? The problem is that your success is not the “Destination” but the “Journey” or the route you choose to take or drive to reach your final destination. Too many times we get so caught up in the destination of success that we forget to enjoy the journey.

The past two summers we have had the most amazing road trips with my family. I suppose it helps that our two boys are 11 and 8 and good travelers. Except for those tense moments when you hear “Mom” from the back seat and know it is time to quickly pull over because of motion sickness. The reason they have been so great is because my wife and I made the journey from Atlanta up to the cabin in Pennsylvania part of the vacation. Our road trip “Success” was because we made the 900 miles in between fun and interesting. If our focus was only on the cabin or the 900 miles of driving, we wouldn’t have enjoyed all those hours in the Tahoe at all.

The other thing about taking directions from a GPS is that when you make a wrong turn or miss an exit, that wonderful GPS lady always says, “Recalculating,” or “Please make a legal U-turn.” Don’t worry. We have all been there! Your drive towards success is never going to be that easy. When you make a wrong turn, you usually just keep driving until you realize you’re headed in the wrong direction and it is time to recalculate!

I have always defined success as “running from failure to failure with a smile on your face.” When it comes to your own success GPS, you will probably miss a lot of turns and make a few U-turns while headed to your destination. Start enjoying the ride, as it too is a big part of your success. Don’t be so focused on the destination that you forget to take in the scenery along the way.

In my opinion, being an entrepreneur is the best vehicle available for your road trip toward success. I can help you get started down the road to success, and to make sure you never hear the GPS lady tell you to make a “legal U-turn.”

If you’re ready, give me a call or send me an email so we can talk about your Success GPS.

Chris

Chris Coltran is based in Acworth, GA. He is the author of the book, “Selling To Your Grandmother,” and President of C2 Unlimited. He has worked in manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, and retail, as well as being a sales and marketing consultant to various companies. Chris is a motivational speaker, having spoken to various groups in the floor covering, furniture, automotive, and service industries. He is also an entrepreneur helping other entrepreneurs become successful. For more information or to contact Chris, he can be found on the web at: www.chriscoltran.com and via email at: chris@chriscoltran.com

America is Anything but Healthy by Chris Coltran

2011-11-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

According to the United Nations, the U.S. ranks 38th in the World for longevity. There are 37 other countries where the men and women live longer lives than here in the U.S. What is wrong with us? We spend more money per capita than any other country on Healthcare, so why aren’t we higher on the list? You would think Top 5, or maybe at least Top 10 knowing we spend more money than anyone other country in the World.

Our Healthcare system performance also ranks a dismal 37th in the world according the World Health Organization. This is another fact that baffles most Americans when they read it. How is it possible that the wealthiest, most abundant nation in the world ranks so low on the list?

Our physical health isn’t the only problem we face here in America. We also have a big problem with our financial health. It was just recently reported that the average student loan debt now exceeds the average credit card debt. Home foreclosures are at an all-time high. Unemployment rates are double digits in most states. Real Estate values are dropping and the experts predict it will take years to recover.

How do you solve all of these problems? I certainly don’t have the answers people are looking for as a whole, but I do have an answer for you and your family. Don’t sit around and wait for things to get better on their own. You are going to have to be the driving force to distance yourself from these statistics. This new economy is going to be driven by individuals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

An entrepreneur doesn’t have to be the type of person your mother warned you about. Many entrepreneurs only earn enough to provide for their own family. They have basically substituted a job for working for themselves. Without having a boss to tell them what to do! Living the American Dream… working for themselves.

Become an Entrepreneur. If you don’t know where to start, give me a call or write me an email. I can help. I have the knowledge to show you how. I can help get you headed in the right direction. I can also help you not only get your financial health in order, but your physical health as well.

Chris

Chris Coltran is based in Acworth, GA. He is the author of the book, “Selling To Your Grandmother,” and President of C2 Unlimited. He has worked in manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, and retail, as well as being a sales and marketing consultant to various companies. Chris is a motivational speaker, having spoken to various groups in the floor covering, furniture, automotive, and service industries. He is also an entrepreneur helping other entrepreneurs become successful. For more information or to contact Chris, he can be found on the web at: www.chriscoltran.com and via email at: chris@chriscoltran.com

Bushido Event in Phoenix - October 21-23, 2011

2011-11-08T09:53:00.001-08:00

I shared my Grandmother Philosophy with a large crowd of Entrepreneurs at the Bushido event in Phoenix, Arizona on October 21-23, 2011.

Check out my book and the Grandmother Philosophy, Selling To Your Grandmother

Working from 5 to 9 for Yourself by Chris Coltran

2011-11-08T09:17:00.000-08:00

Every time I tell someone to make sure they are working for themselves from “5 to 9” I get a funny look,.. People are so used to hearing “9 to 5” that it catches them off guard. In case you didn’t already know it, 9 to 5 jobs are quickly becoming a thing of the past.

When you work from 9 to 5 you are working for someone else to make their dreams come true. By the time you get home you are tired, ready to slip off your shoes, and relax for the evening. This is exactly what your boss wants you to do. Work from 9 to 5 and sit on your butt from 5 to 9. Don’t do it!

Once you get done with your job, it time to go out and work for yourself. If you don’t, you will likely find yourself exactly where you sit in 5, 10, even 30 years from now, and that’s if you’re lucky enough to have a job. :)

This new economy is creating entrepreneurs every day. Men and women who are sick and tired of working from paycheck to paycheck for someone else, are working from 5 to 9 for themselves. Are you? Have you joined the ranks of the new entrepreneur? If you don’t, you might find yourself part of another group… the UNEMPLOYED. If you decide to become an entrepreneur, you can join the best group of all, the UNEMPLOYABLE!

There are numerous opportunities to come and go each day, and many that are too good to be true. Remember there is no such thing as a free lunch. Get rich quick schemes don’t work. I suggest you first decide to be an entrepreneur. Second, find a company and a product. Third, start working from 5 to 9 for yourself so you can become free quicker than you think.

I’ve done it! You can too! Send me an email or give me a call to help you get started down a path towards freedom.

Chris

Chris Coltran is based in Acworth, GA. He is the author of the book, “Selling To Your Grandmother,” and President of C2 Unlimited. He has worked in manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, and retail, as well as being a sales and marketing consultant to various companies. Chris is a motivational speaker, having spoken to various groups in the floor covering, furniture, automotive, and service industries. He is also an entrepreneur helping other entrepreneurs become successful. For more information or to contact Chris, he can be found on the web at: www.chriscoltran.com and via email at: chris@chriscoltran.com

Life of an Entrepreneur by Chris Coltran

2010-11-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

A very good friend of mine shared this article with me about being an entrepreneur. I agree with the author that this is not a negative article by any means. It just outlines some of the things one needs to understand about being an entrepreneur and working for yourself. I love not having a boss. I love not having anyone telling me what to do. This is not true for everyone. Some people need a manager to guide them through their day and to tell them what to do.

Being an entrepreneur usually means that your friends and family won't understand what you do. It is true that titles mean nothing when you work for yourself. You have to be your own janitor if necessary. You also find that you can't do it all yourself. It would be nice, and save you some money too, but you have to be willing to admit that sometimes it's better to hire someone else who already has the expertise and can do it better and more efficiently than yourself. There is no such thing as an overnight success in the real world and you can't control the universe, although it would be nice.

Please click this link to read the full article.

ChrisColtran.com

The Importance of Water and your Performance

2010-10-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you sat down and had a tall glass of water? Water is critical for every function in your body (including your brain) and in order to be in tip-top shape when it comes to performing your job duties, you need to be hydrated. You might find it interesting that not all waters are created equal.
Use this link to read about the importance of drinking alkaline water

The Grandmother Philosophy by Chris Coltran

2010-04-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

I was working as a sales rep for a flooring distributor and awoke to the usual sound of a 6:30 am wake up call. By 8:00 am I was headed to my first appointment of the day.

Of all the sales calls, sales meetings, and sales trainings I had ever attended, today would prove to be the most important sales lesson of them all, and a turning point in my career. Little did I know, everything in my life would change before returning to my hotel room later that evening.

After spending a few minutes saying hello to a half dozen salespeople, I sat down with the general manager and owner for my appointment. The first item on my agenda was ask John to answer a question that I had been curious about since our last meeting. John’s store, in a market with a population of 90,000 people, had consistently been in the top 5 in the country, and I wanted to know why? What were they doing differently? What was their secret? How could they be so highly ranked when they were competing against stores in much larger markets? John’s response was one that I will never forget.

He thought that if he told me I would laugh, but after promising not to, he told me he felt the reason his store had been so successful was because he had always told his salespeople to treat their customers like they would treat their own Grandma.

I immediately looked at John and said, “What a great idea for a book!” His response was, “Yeah! But who would write it?”

As soon as I walked out of his store, I thought to myself, why not me?

When I arrived back to my hotel that evening, I made the first outline of what I had decided to call the Grandmother Philosophy.

If you were selling new furniture to your Grandmother, imagine how much better you might treat her compared to a regular customer. You would make sure and only show her products that you would feel comfortable with her buying, and you would never sell her a product that you would not put into your own home. You would give her a fair price, and you wouldn’t try to cheat her or take advantage of her. Because she is your Grandmother, she expects you to make a profit. What kind of Grandmother wouldn’t want her grandson or granddaughter to make a good living? You would try to sell her your best products, and not let her buy something that might not withstand the test of time. You would put your best delivery crew on the job, and you would make sure they were on time and professional. The day of her delivery, you would stop by her house on your lunch break to make sure everything had going smoothly. If she had a problem, you would take care of it immediately, and not give her the runaround. You would call her the day after delivery and verify that everything was to her satisfaction. You would give her the best service you possibly could.

The more I thought about the Grandmother Philosophy, the more I realized I had to write the book. The first three months were challenging, so much so that I had almost given up. The struggle was internal, because I only told my wife what I was attempting to do. I had heard many people say they intended to write a book someday, but they had never done it. I didn’t want to be another statistic. Determined to take a simple concept and transform it into a philosophy, and the thought of walking into a bookstore and seeing that someone else had written my book is what kept me going. I didn’t want to be one of those people to see a great idea and say, “Hey, I thought of that. If only I had acted on it?”

The Grandmother Philosophy is an acronym for the word Grandmother:

Greet every customer immediately
Read body language
Attitude is Everything.
Never Prejudge
Do unto others as you would want done unto you.
Make an impression that will last a lifetime.
Own your Products.
Think like a Salesperson.
Honesty, Honesty, Honesty.
Everyone is a potential customer.
Remember to “Treat Every Customer Like You Would Treat Your Own Grandmother.”

Chris Coltran is based in Acworth, GA. He is the author of the book, “Selling To Your Grandmother,” and President of C2 Unlimited. He has worked in manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, and retail, as well as being a sales and marketing consultant to various companies. Chris is a motivational speaker, having spoken to various groups in the floor covering, furniture, automotive, and service industries.

For more info on Chris, Please visit:
www.chriscoltran.com
www.chriscoltran.com/chris
www.atlantanutritionfacts.com