Who is Chris Coltran? (And No, There’s No “e” in My Name)

If you’ve made it here, chances are you were searching for Chris Coltran—and if Google or Amazon politely asked, “Did you mean Chris Coltrane?” let me stop you right there.

No, I’m not related to John Coltrane, the legendary jazz saxophonist. (Side note: I didn’t even know until recently that he was a saxophonist. All these years, I thought it was bass. Shows you what kind of music critic I’d make.) And no, I don’t play an instrument—unless you count the occasional air guitar in my car when no one’s watching.

Here’s the truth: Coltran is not a typo. It’s not a misspelling. It’s my name. And if you’re trying to find me, my books, or my training programs, you’ll want to make sure that “e” stays far, far away. Because Google—and especially Amazon—has this little habit of assuming that anyone typing “Coltran” must have meant “Coltrane.”

Amazon, I love you. But please stop autocorrecting me.

So, now that we’ve cleared that up, let me introduce myself.

Meet Chris Coltran

I’m a nationally recognized speaker, corporate trainer, and author who has spent over 30 years helping individuals and organizations crush their sales goals, lead with confidence, and communicate with influence.

My work has taken me from conference stages to Fortune 500 boardrooms to big-box retailers like The Home Depot and Lowe’s, helping thousands of people discover that success isn’t just about techniques—it’s about mindset, intention, and connection.

Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to create and lead training programs for some of the biggest names in the home improvement and service industries, and I’ve coached sales teams that now generate millions in revenue.

But beyond speaking and training, I’m also passionate about writing. I’ve written multiple books that reflect not just what I teach, but how I live. And, spoiler alert: every book title has a story.

The Stories Behind the Books

Selling to Your Grandmother

The idea for my first book came during a sales call when I was still a sales rep. I was sitting across the table from one of my largest accounts—a powerhouse company that ranked #3 in the country at the time. I asked them what made them so successful, and their answer was simple:

That hit me like a ton of bricks. Because think about it: if you treated every customer the way you’d treat your grandmother—with respect, patience, honesty, and care—you’d never have to worry about closing a deal. The sale would happen naturally because the trust is there.

I left that meeting, and the phrase stuck with me. I thought, What a great concept for a book. So, I wrote it.

“Selling to Your Grandmother” isn’t just a book about sales techniques—it’s a philosophy about relationships, trust, and integrity in business.

The Grandmother Philosophy

This one came from working closely with The Home Depot. They wanted a program that associates could understand and apply across all their stores—a philosophy that went beyond sales tactics and focused on customer experience.

So, I developed The Grandmother Philosophy as a training framework. The idea is simple but powerful: if you take the time to truly understand your customers’ needs and help them solve problems like you would for your own family, you build loyalty that lasts a lifetime.

Exspeaktations

This one was years in the making. Over the course of my career, I collected stories of people who spoke things into existence—both positive and negative. They said it, they believed it, and then they lived it.

That’s when the phrase hit me: Expect what you speak. What you say is what you get.

Exspeaktations is a play on the word “expectations,” but it’s about more than that—it’s about understanding the power of your words and thoughts. This book is filled with real stories, insights, and exercises designed to help you reprogram your self-talk, shift your mindset, and attract the life you want.

I Am Intention Tracker

This book is the companion to Exspeaktations. It’s not just something you read—it’s something you do.

The I Am Intention Tracker is a 10-week program designed to help you live and speak with intention. I use this tool in my corporate coaching sessions, and I’ve seen firsthand how it transforms not just performance at work, but people’s lives as a whole.

It’s about taking control of your thoughts, words, and actions to create results that align with your goals and values.

Why This Blog Post Exists

Aside from giving you a peek into who I am and what I do, this post serves another purpose: to tell Google, Amazon, and the entire internet that Chris Coltran is NOT a typo.

If you’re searching for my books on Amazon, don’t let the autocorrect fool you. There’s no “e” at the end of my name. Type Chris Coltran exactly like that—and you’ll find:

• Selling to Your Grandmother

• The Grandmother Philosophy

• Exspeaktations

• I Am Intention Tracker

  
  

And if you’re a business leader, sales professional, or organization looking for someone to help take your team to the next level—I’d love to connect.

A Little Fun Before You Go

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, “Are you related to John Coltrane?”—I’d probably have… well, a jazz club by now.

But here’s the truth: I don’t play saxophone, and I don’t belong on a jazz album cover. What I do is help people succeed—through speaking, coaching, and creating tools that work.

So, whether you’re here because you Googled me, stumbled upon one of my books, or just wondered who this “Coltran” guy is, thank you for stopping by.

And remember: expect what you speak. Live with intention. Sell with integrity. And never forget—treat your customers like your grandmother.

Let’s Connect

• Follow me on LinkedIn

• Check out my books on Amazon (Just type Chris Coltran—no “e.”)

• Hire me to speak at your event or train your team