A conversation kind of about persuasion w/ Richard Blank (#006)

Richard Blank is the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, based in San Juan, Costa Rica. When Richard was 27, he moved from Philadelphia to Costa Rica and has since trained over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers. Richard specializes in advanced telemarketing strategy, conflict management, interpersonal skills, and customer support. He also owns the largest collection of restored American pinball machines in Central America. Our conversation was dynamic and zigzagging, and it's made me revisit the subtle ways we use behavior to influence or gain favor with others. Chapters: (0:00) - Introduction and background (5:00) - Costa Rica and making your own path (12:00) - Telemarketing as artful communication (17:00) - Soft skills and connection (23:00) - Gamification and pinball machines (30:00) - Recruiting and training in Costa Rica (37:00) - Ethics and stereotypes about call centers (43:00) - The purpose of language and empathy (50:00) - Overcoming obstacles (1:01:00) - Extra questions and wrap up Chapters: 0:00:00 - Introduction and background 0:05:00 - Costa Rica and making your own path 0:12:00 - Telemarketing as artful communication 0:17:00 - Soft skills and connection 0:23:00 - Gamification and pinball machines 0:30:00 - Recruiting and training in Costa Rica 0:37:00 - Ethics and stereotypes about call centers 0:43:00 - The purpose of language and empathy 0:50:00 - Overcoming obstacles 1:01:00 - Extra questions and wrap up