Podcast guest appearances. Richard Blank Costa Rica's Call Center

Big conversations with bold thinkers—where curiosity meets connection. On the Big Performance Podcast, Alex hosts unscripted, thought-provoking conversations with fascinating guests, exploring ideas that challenge, inspire, and entertain. For Curious Wanderers, Critical Thinkers, and Seekers of Meaning drawn to spirituality, philosophy, and knowledge. Featuring Authentic Storytellers, Big Thinkers, and Bold Explorers unafraid to tackle life’s biggest questions. Subscribe and join a community that values exploration, growth, and meaningful dialogue.Today, we speak with Richard Blank, a remarkable entrepreneur who transformed his dream into a thriving reality. Richard's journey from renting desks to running a 300-seat call center in Costa Rica is nothing short of inspirational. Guest Introduction:Richard Blank is the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, a powerhouse in the telemarketing industry. His unique approach, combining old-school values with innovative strategies, has not only helped him grow his business but also fostered a strong, resilient company culture. Richard's story is a testament to the power of relationships and perseverance. Key Takeaways:1. Journey of an Entrepreneur: Richard's transition from a communications background to a call center mogul.2. Building a Company Culture: How Richard's focus on relationships and trust helped him navigate challenges, including the pandemic.3. Surviving crisis: Strategies Richard employed to maintain business continuity and employee morale during the pandemic.4. Gamification in the Workplace: The importance of creating a fun, engaging environment for employees.5. Communication Strategies: Tips and techniques for effective telemarketing and client interaction.6. The Role of Empathy in Business: Why human interaction will always have an edge over AI in customer service.7. Richard's Passion for Pinball: How vintage arcade games play a role in his business and personal life.Creative Marketing Like Music HitsI tell you what, that's why certain restaurants have large menus and 32 flavors of ice cream. It's my one taste of the color red might turn off somebody, but they prefer mint or yellow. And so fortunately for me, I've opened it enough where let's just say I do a podcast with somebody and I'm going to market that individual. My marketing team will take, I don't know, maybe 10 to 15 images. Combine the two. And just, you know, it's almost like an album from back in the day. I'll do four or five really guaranteed commercial hits that, as you say, are colorful. People are going to like, yeah, of course, throw a puppy in there or something. Then I go, guys, come on. Show me really something crazy. Let me just see if you can... produce something wicked or completely unexpected.https://youtu.be/NjYHz2TbKv4https://youtu.be/ZQq683zhx_U

Life experiences are definitely worth sharing with the world. You would ask, "WHY" should I share my story with the world. We are more similar, and our life experiences are basically the same in a different format. By you sharing your story, that helps to encourage others into navigations of rough waters. Now more than ever, people need someone else story to motivate them. People going through mental health issues, traumas and other problems need to know they are not the only ones going through it. Your story can save a life. Join Beauty of Colors Podcast and listen to these stories of people who have overcame trauma, anxiety, depression, mental health issues, suicide and more. Grow at changing your life and help others cope with difficult circumstances, especially during these times.Beauty Of Colors podcast hosted by Cleanne Johnson where the talk is about loving self, the power of I AM, getting out of the box, and helping others along their journey in life.Adapting to Costa Rican Culture and Finding StabilitySo how was that like when you moved to Costa Rica? How was the feeling and the culture and was it different? Well, that's a wonderful question. Costa Rica has an expression. They say Pura Vida, which means pure life. It's ecotourism. So you're talking about natural, beautiful rainforests with flowers and the plants and the natural beauty. of this paradise and so you're overwhelmed and after the honeymoon stage wears off and you realize you're living there you start to explore more places just not the touristy areas yeah and so when you're sitting underneath a palm tree by a waterfall with the love of your life having a wonderful day you you really become one with so many things and you shed some skin and you want more of it and so how is Costa Rica Well, I had to get past certain expectations and parents' guilt. Decided to make some roots there and learn the business from the inside out to give myself stability. And between me and you and even my mama sitting next to me, I needed a little bit more maturity in order to make certain decisions to live the rest of my life. These were things you had to make the full dedications. and to understand your limits. And I had to be exceptionally realistic. Life Shouldn't Be a Forced Marchwe know that it's a distance, but it just doesn't have to be a forced march. You can wear comfortable shoes, have the wind in your back and maybe some currents in the water to move you along there. Certain times you're given natural gifts where the stars are aligned. And so I believe you should take advantage of those moments and you should embrace them.The Power of Human Touch and Positive EscalationAnd a lot of people are depending now on AI, which is omni-channel non-voice support like chats and emails and bots. I see that my friend is more gathering, gathering the information and then they bring it to us in the kitchen to cut, slice and dice and to serve it out this. I need that human touch. I will always press zero to speak with somebody because I might be disclosing something personal. I might be emotional. And I don't want latency of putting in a trouble ticket or having to keep repeating the information because the computer can't get my accent. https://youtu.be/MG7MP9ossL4https://youtu.be/PGNLBzKCiJghttps://youtu.be/L7bvF_sR8pIhttps://youtu.be/kFpFTy2sXn0

Mind-Blowing Conversations with Influential Business TitansAwakened Titans Podcast - with Lily Patrascu shares mindblowing conversations with influential business titans so you can manifest abundance, love, joy, success, through exponential business growth, innovative products and services, time/money management, property investment, funding, startups, quantum awakening, quantum manifestation, quantum healing, quantum miracles, motivation, high achiever habits and more!Follow us for more interviews with world's most influential business titans providing you with the insights to awaken to your full potential, so you can get paid to be yourself, find true happiness, and manifest anything you desire.Timestamp0:00 Introduction0:22 Multi-Million Dollar Business with Telemarketing0:26 Interview with Richard Blank0:34 Secrets to Success2:05 Leveraging Telemarketing5:09 Training & Skills Development7:56 Typical Closing Rates and Metrics10:48 High-Ticket Products14:47 Transmitting Knowledge to Telemarketers21:05 Handling Objections26:32 Introduction and Air Conditioning Discussion27:07 Building a Unique Company Culture27:22 Importance of Gamification29:55 The Power of Delegation30:41 Leadership and Employee Relationship33:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughtshttps://youtu.be/wgISvvW3NL0

The Author Your Brand show takes a deep dive into becoming a best selling author, sometimes without writing a word. The host, Doug Crowe, interviews CEO’s of multi-million dollar firms, successful entrepreneurs, and “slightly” famous people. Guests include the former CMO of Starbucks Asia, the Inventor of GPS (who sold the company he founded for $6.6 Billion) & NYT bestselling authors. This daily LIVE show uncovers the mindset of these visionaries & their success tipsIn a lively podcast interview hosted by Doug Crowe, Richard Blank, founder and operator of Costa Rica's Call Center (CCC), a thriving call center in Costa Rica, shares his passion for surfing, bilingualism, and the challenges of operating a call center in a global market. Richard explains the high-quality services his call center provides to clients across North America, Central America, and Europe, emphasizing the importance of bilingual, college-educated agents dedicated to specific campaigns.The conversation then turns to the benefits and drawbacks of non-voice omnichannel support, as Doug and Richard discuss the value of personal engagement when it comes to creating a rapport with customers that extends beyond the immediate transaction. This interview will be relevant to anyone interested in call center operations, customer support, and building lasting customer relationships.Understanding Call Center Contracts and ComplianceOne seat for one month is my minimum contract. But if it were my own personal opinion, I like odd man outs. I'd prefer three seats for three months just to at least see. Yeah, right. And do you do any list bill stuff or the client's got to provide the list to call on? Not only does the client provide me the list, but it has to be scrubbed through the DNC because my company is inscribed in the United States that follows all U.S. business and banking laws. Okay. And for clarification, those who don't want to mention, DNC stands for do not call list, which I'm not sure if that actually works or not. They should know because I know a lot of people that have been hit for that. And so you have to be very careful.AI vs. Human Touch in Customer ServiceThe pros and the cons. I think when people have these non-voice omni-channel supports, which are chats and emails, which could be generated and used, fine, that saves time and can move things forward. But how about this? You've been a client a long time somewhere and you'd like to speak with somebody. And if no one speaks with you or their office hours are better, you're in a queue a long time. When you finally get someone, you're going to pop. And there's a very good chance you're gonna curse, you're gonna scream, and you're just gonna let it out. And so these relationships cost a lot of money to build. And as much as AI can assist you, it really won't put the ball in the end zone because me and you talking about your dog or your trip to Egypt, or your being a magician, or these fun things that both you and I do in lives with pinballs in Costa Ricas, your AI will not catch that. And that's where the situation is going to be.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8awjWIfJAchttps://youtu.be/CCbCZ-gi8e0https://youtu.be/eFZHKjI4aA8

The Amsterdam Talk podcast is about keeping individuals aware of what is happening in the community, the world, the culture, etc. Amsterdam Talk is not your average podcast; we like to have those tough conversations. Our guests provide excellent insight and give authentic stories from a personal point of view to give the listener details about what they have learned from their experiences. Our motto is that we never know what someone is going through, and the podcast allows listeners to hear that they are not alone in this world.Season 4 | Episode 21In this episode of Amsterdam Talk, we talk with Richard Blank CEO of Telemarketing Company in Costa Rica. Betting on yourself is a powerful concept. It means having confidence in your own abilities and potential. It’s about setting goals, taking risks, and investing in your own growth and development, even when the path isn’t guaranteed. Here are a few key aspects to consider:Self-Belief: Trust that you have the skills and drive to achieve your goals. This belief can be a strong motivator and help you push through challenges.Setting Goals: Define what you want to achieve and create a plan to reach those objectives. Having clear goals gives you direction and helps measure progress.Continuous Learning: Invest in acquiring new skills and knowledge. The more you learn and adapt, the better equipped you’ll be to face new opportunities and challenges.Resilience: Be prepared for setbacks and failures. Betting on yourself means you’ll face obstacles, but resilience helps you recover and keep moving forward.Taking Risks: Sometimes, you need to step out of your comfort zone. Calculated risks can lead to significant rewards, and they’re often necessary for personal growth.Self-Care: Take care of your mental and physical well-being. Betting on yourself also means ensuring you’re in a good place to pursue your goals effectively.https://youtu.be/sI4l28jrn48?si=KVc7fF284XF94Hzphttps://youtu.be/YHLdcFHb5aohttps://youtu.be/RoXpY8rsFOYhttps://youtu.be/GyPqEGYugs0

Our Amplifying Leadership podcast is where we talk about all the ways to make leadership great through our guest stories, tips, information, wins and challenges too! We will discuss all aspects of leadership and how to build great leaders or leaders-to-be. From communication, authenticity, growth, learning from mistakes, to understanding our different points of view, this podcast will broaden your horizons and allow you to hear from other leaders who you just may resonate with too. Enjoy!In this episode, Richard Blank a speaker, trainer, CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Centre, and I talk about many communication topics from conflict management, to the art of speech, empathy, and much more! Enjoy!Richard Blank appeared in an episode of the Amplifying Leadership podcast titled "From Cubical to Leadership". The podcast covers topics such as: Communication, Change management, Building teams and employees, and Professional development. https://youtu.be/5O61NBkqUbAhttps://youtu.be/vTPLnd48FCQhttps://youtu.be/_xbWJ3n8s5Ahttps://youtu.be/rKqxIZnMnqMhttps://youtu.be/LxD-d_8YLHohttps://youtu.be/_LavDP4y-5khttps://youtu.be/1j-GLTQ70XQExpectations and DisappointmentsI get disappointed more than I do angry. And I expect the most of people. So I give them the benefit of the doubt. And the majority of the people stepped up to the plate and shined and shed some skin and really showed me the best.Leadership Authenticity and Strategic CommunicationBecause if I kicked and cried like a baby in front of a hundred people, they'd laugh at me. They wouldn't respect. On the flip side, my friend, I'm also a human being. So I want them to see the passionate, true side of a man that's fighting for this. And so I'm not like what you see in the movies or out of Hollywood. I will sit down and break bread with you. I will play pinball together. And I'll not correct your grammar, but I'll make suggestions to make your rhetoric more diplomatic and strategic. I will power up your vocabulary, replace words like help and use assistant guide and LinkedIn and say for my clarification compared to, excuse me, we can, Tara, we can readjust tones. And so by doing so, these individuals will be able to have that much more balance in their work. Perspective on Learning ChallengesI put fear into perspective. You, my friend, studied French as I Spanish, as they did English, amongst other languages. So why don't we say that learning a second language is 10 times harder than any account that I'm going to put you on. Right. Okay. Okay. To me, you're like, yeah, you're right. I know I'm right. So everyone calms down. Strategic Connection-Building

A podcast show about entrepreneurship, motivation, leadership, experiences, life lessons and more. For audiences who love self improvement, authentic conversations and more!ACMG DigitalA Digital Media Company for Entrepreneurs. Connecting with Entrepreneurs Globally. “ A Digital Global Platform”July 1, 2024 • 75 minsSuccessful CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center chats about his story and how he was able to learn the many ways to delight and connect with your customers. He shares more about what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the skills you have to acquire!Monday Mindset: Entrepreneurs this one is for you How are your sales calls with your clients? Do you connect with a potential client on a human level? Or do you have a process? Well I had the honor to interview Richard Blank CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center A state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource companyMany times we forget to really listen to what our clients are needing from us, or we disregard our values as a business once the company grows, but in the end, our clients and customers should always receive the best version of the team in any situation. https://youtu.be/qf3cUzsCBZsRichard Blank has the largest collection of restored American Pinball machines and antique Rockola Jukeboxes in Central America making gamification a strong part of CCC culture.Richard Blank is the Chief Executive Officer for Costa Rica’s Call Center since 2008.Mr. Richard Blank holds a bachelors degree in Communication and Spanish from the University of Arizona and a certificate of language proficiency from the University of Sevilla, Spain. A Keynote speaker for Philadelphia's Abington High School 68th National Honors Society induction ceremony. In addition, entered into the 2023 Hall of Fame for Business along side other famous alumni. Paying it forward to Abington Senior High School is very important to Mr. Blank. As such, he endows a scholarship each year for students that plan on majoring in a world language at the university level.

Our Mission. Business Essential Skills Education. Dedicated to empowering our clients with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to succeed in the global business worldADRIENNE BARKER SPEAKS, No Prep Needed is recorded in Daytona Beach, Florida, with superstar guests from all over the world.Adrienne offers a candid conversation with zero prep.  We go live, and each conversation features an honest talk with real professionals.  The entire show is REAL!  We shine together, cry together, and offer the viewer conversations to help fuel your professional and personal life's success.  Effective Communication Strategies for Business Success w/ Richard Blankhttps://youtu.be/HFjBxDm5PKQhttps://youtu.be/t5g0XeWzitghttps://youtu.be/Kb_XiNxQNDEhttps://youtu.be/b18p4Cx0OUEhttps://youtu.be/lwl7e7-Vu7Yhttps://youtu.be/1zGpADZMLSEhttps://youtu.be/Dyf9B3UaEHwhttps://youtu.be/Kb9v6dIWJs8https://youtu.be/0pSneFpZJCEHave you ever wondered what it takes to master the art of communication in the call center industry? Summary:In a captivating podcast episode, host Adrienne Barker sits down with Richard Blank, the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, to delve into the secrets of effective communication within the bustling world of call centers. Richard imparts his wisdom on creating personalized experiences, navigating cultural differences, and leaving a lasting impression on clients. Mr. Blank provides strategic advice on tailoring communication to resonate with diverse North American audiences and underscores the importance of thorough research before reaching out to potential clients. Furthermore, Richard tackles the issue of monotonous language in call centers, offering innovative solutions to foster dynamic and engaging interactions among team members. Key Takeaways:Personalized interactions are crucial for success in the call center industry. Understanding cultural nuances can lead to more effective communication. Making a memorable first impression is key to building lasting relationships. Adapting communication styles for different regions can improve client engagement. Conducting due diligence is essential before contacting prospects. Overcoming the challenge of repetitive language can invigorate workplace communication. Richard's insights have a significant impact on improving business interactions. 

Zennurgy is the inspirational tool box providing resources for building a better life. Motivational, practical fuel for the spirit, mind and body to help listeners deal with real life issues. This podcast is based on the idea that small changes over time equal big results. We all have the URGE for more peace (ZEN) and fulfillment in life. Tune in for motivating, uplifting, sometimes hard hitting, comedic, melodic but always real and relatable conversations and interviews with guests from all walks of life.Navigating CONFLICTS in Communication- Episode 94One of my favorite quotes is, "We have two ears and one mouth for a reason, to listen twice as much as we speak." This quote hints at a powerful truth. Communication is a give and take, a reciprocation, an openness to learn and think and process another's ideas. But sadly, that respectful spirit is missing from many people's lives, and not enough people make effective communication a priority. Join Richard Blank and I as we discuss this important success principle.https://youtu.be/q_c6E2RAFzAhttps://youtu.be/AgiaJHPvdOMhttps://youtu.be/jcfI5k4GOfEhttps://youtu.be/eZ3Xnqh4P1ghttps://youtu.be/gnBXjGC_GNchttps://youtu.be/Upjg0__X0aI1. What does communication mean to you? What makes it effective?2. Conversely what causes conflicts or hinders communication? What made you focus on communication in your career?3. How do you deal with conflicts in communication? How do you keep your cool in the midst of conflict?5. Are role models, accountability partners or mentors a part of your pursuit of improving communication?6. Why a call center?7. services8. BackgroundPeace and blessings.Marlena "Zen Ase" Johns is an artistic entrepreneur, best-selling author, podcaster, and performer who helps people find their voice and purpose: Zen Ase taught high school for 26 years, winning Teacher of the Year twice. She began writing poetry and prose in elementary school, but her family didn't support her career. After a divorce in 2014, she reclaimed her writing passion and began performing, podcasting, and publishing. She focuses on self-development, self-love, and self-empowerment. Her poetry and prose have been published in over a dozen anthologies and magazines, and she has written four books, three of which have been Amazon best sellers. She also hosts workshops, and has organized over 60 live music, comedy, and poetry shows. Her creative journey is to use art to make sense of the world and alchemize it. She believes that undesirable things, or lead, contain the building blocks for gold, or desirable things.Authenticity and Individuality