The Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship. #business #telemarketin...

The Jamilia Grier Show. Richard Blank: Building a Business Abroad & Leading with Empathy In this powerful episode of The Jamilia Grier Show, I sit down with Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, to explore how he turned leading with empathy into building a business abroad. We unpack the real journey behind building a business overseas, overcoming self-doubt, leading with empathy, and mastering human connection in an AI-driven world. 00:00 – Intro: Meet Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center 01:30 – Why he left the U.S. to start over at 27 03:00 – Teaching English abroad: the unexpected door to entrepreneurship 05:10 – Overcoming pushback: Why the boldest choices are often misunderstood 07:00 – Breaking language barriers: From Philly to fluent Spanish 09:30 – Learning by immersion: How Richard mastered the call center world 11:45 – Building with empathy: Why dignity is your best employee retention strategy 13:10 – What we’ve lost in a post-COVID, remote-first world 15:00 – The power of vulnerability and showing up with heart 16:30 – How to lead 10,000+ people without losing the personal touch 19:15 – Sales redefined: Why it's really about relationship building 21:45 – Human connection vs automation: Will AI replace real empathy? 23:15 – Communicating with intention, even over text 25:10 – Entrepreneurs + sales = the mindset shift you need 28:10 – Building communication confidence (even if you're shy) 30:00 – Real leadership is hands-on (and sometimes includes pinball) 32:45 – The hiring secret: Why your coming-of-age story matters more than your résumé 34:10 – Culture building through authenticity and connection 36:00 – Why teens can be your best team members 37:45 – Surviving the hard days: Entrepreneurship isn’t glamorous, it’s earned 40:00 – The mindset to keep going when you want to quit 42:50 – Social media vs real life: Stop comparing, start building 44:50 – What real success looks like (hint: it’s not just Lamborghinis) 47:30 – A message to those stuck in unfulfilling jobs 49:12 – Final thoughts + Connect with Richard At 27 years old, Richard Blank left behind the familiar streets of Philadelphia to follow an unlikely calling — training call center workers in Costa Rica. What started as a teaching job turned into a lifelong entrepreneurial journey, building Costa Rica’s Call Center into a thriving business tht trained over 10,000 employees. In this episode, Richard shares the heartfelt risk that changed his life, why empathy is a superpower in leadership, and how learning a second language opened doors to global success. We talk about the real challenges of building a business abroad, lessons from leading with humanity, and how staying true to your values can spark an empire. The Heartfelt Risk Behind Richard Blank’s Global Success Facing Tough Cycles and Pivotal Mistakes in Entrepreneurship Now that we've talked about the journey, now here comes the tough stuff. So one thing you and I both know is that entrepreneurship is really tough, right? So I can tell you, you know, being just totally honest, just yesterday, two days ago, wasn't a good day. It wasn't a good day. And we go through these cycles of like mountains and lows and mountains and lows, and it changes you. I mean, I can't say that today I'm the same person that I was four years ago. I'm definitely not. What happened in your journey? Was there any sort of pivotal moment where it really shook you to your core and really changed you? Disappointment over anger. I had certain expectations individuals that did not follow through. And so they might not have been as committed as I was or things happen in life that are outside the office that I can't control. But the fact that I thought that my first employer would be with me for 20 years to get the watch and grow with the company, I'm foolish. I made some mistakes by bringing outside supervisors when I should have. back in the day promoted more from within because of the people that had the respect for them. And so I made certain mistakes in regards to individuals where it was the right bus, just the wrong seat. The Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship You know, Richard, I have a tough question for you now. Now that we've talked about the journey, now here comes the tough stuff. So one thing you and I both know is that entrepreneurship is really tough, right? So I can tell you, you know, being just totally honest, just yesterday, two days ago, wasn't a good day. It wasn't a good day. And we go through these cycles of like mountains and lows and mountains and lows, and it changes you. I mean, I can't say that today I'm the same person that I was four years ago. I'm definitely not. What happened in your journey? Was there any sort of pivotal moment where it really shook you to your core and really changed you? Disappointment over anger. I had certain expectations individuals that did not follow through. And so they might not have been as committed as I was or things happen in life that are outside the office that I can't control. But the fact that I thought that my first employer would be with me for 20 years to get the watch and grow with the company, I'm foolish. https://youtu.be/jyfEmDsHRlc?si=qb_K77XnGGUIn1xz https://youtu.be/GfP6-EFLoV0 https://youtube.com/shorts/dXWRNGRlMv0 https://youtube.com/shorts/MIYRJYs8j6A https://youtube.com/shorts/q3jQzk78cT0 https://youtube.com/shorts/trP8vocbD1I https://youtu.be/tHgH3bMF3Vs https://youtu.be/CnHUq1Wi9eA Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ Jamilia Grier Show, Richard Blank,Costa Rica's Call Center, Outsourcing, Telemarketing Call Centre, BPO, Nearshore Contact Center, Sales, Entrepreneur, B2B, Business, Podcast, Gamification,Leadership, Marketing, CX, Guest, Money, B2C education, BPO trainer,call centre, contact centre, contact center If you're dreaming of a bigger life beyond your comfort zone, this conversation is your blueprint. Why Richard chose to move abroad — and how it changed everything How learning Spanish built more than just language skills Empathy as a leadership strategy, not a buzzword Overcoming doubts, setbacks, and self-doubt abroad Practical advice for building a people-centered business from scratch How staying true to your heart can lead to global success I'm Jamilia Grier — a Dubai-based mom of four, tech lawyer, and founder helping ambitious families design freedom-filled lives across borders. -Expat family life in Dubai ?? -Cost of living breakdowns & housing tours -Moving abroad with kids — what to know -Luxury travel & digital nomad parenting tips -Business & lifestyle strategies for global entrepreneurs -Real stories of reinvention, motherhood & modern wealth If you're exploring how to move to Dubai, start a business abroad, or raise a family with more freedom and culture — you’re in the right place. As a tech-savvy legal executive with over 15 years of global experience, I specialize in navigating complex regulatory, policy, and ethical landscapes at the intersection of law, innovation, and cross-border growth. From leading data privacy and compliance for multinationals in Asia to founding my own advisory firm focused on Web3 and AI, I bring a unique mix of legal precision, cultural fluency, and entrepreneurial vision. My work spans AI governance, blockchain regulation, digital assets, and fintech compliance—always with a strong foundation in ethics, trust, and responsible innovation. I’ve advised startups, global institutions, and government-linked entities across the U.S., China, Singapore, and the UAE. Whether I’m shaping emerging tech policy, designing ethical frameworks for AI, or guiding companies through complex international compliance, I focus on enabling innovation that is principled, scalable, and future-ready. Areas of focus: -AI Ethics, Policy & Governance -Blockchain & Digital Asset Compliance -Global Data Privacy & Cross-Border Regulation -Fintech Licensing & Risk Strategy -Tech Law in Emerging Markets -Mandarin-English Legal Negotiation & Stakeholder Alignment Let’s connect if you’re building ambitious technology with a global footprint—and want to do it with strategy, trust, and long-term impact. Author of Building a Business Abroad Host of The Jamilia Grier Show — where real journeys meet real success Entrepreneur empowering global business leaders and storytellers If you're building something bigger than yourself — a business, a brand, or a life abroad — let's connect. 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, inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame for Business. Giving back 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. Costa Rica’s Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center agent so that we may offer the highest quality of outbound and inbound telemarketing solutions and bilingual customer service to small and medium sized international companies, entrepreneurs as well as fortune 500 companies. We encourage you to visit one of our call centers on your next personal vacation or business trip to Central America’s paradise, Costa Rica. While you are here, we would recommend taking an extra day of your trip to visit breathtaking virgin beaches, play golf next to the ocean, try your luck at deep sea fishing, explore tropical jungles, climb volcanos or just relax in natural hot springs. Come and see for yourself why call center outsourcing in Costa Rica is a perfect solution for your growing company and a powerhouse in the BPO industry. https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/ #JamiliaGrierShow #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO #trend #trending #listennow #subscribe #podcastclip #podcastvideo #videopodcasting #podcastguest Why Empathy and Dignity Matter in Call Centers it was very easy coming here because I just didn't start a bar or do something at the beach where I just took over something. When I was at my friend's center, I was there for four years. So Jamili, I learned the business from the inside out, not at sea level. And the call center industry is, you know, it's unique, but there's many different departments. And every time I learned retention and onboarding, human resources, SEO, you name it. It was like a graduate school. So instead of getting a job that might pay me a little bit more that had me stuck, I earned simple money in Costa Rica just working my friend's center. But the experience I had, as you say, you took it with you. I learned something very unique. I never knew what a call center was. But I learned the number one lesson. People felt expendable. And I heard the gripes. And I realized that when you're in a cubicle making phone calls, it's like a soldier. You really have to extend empathy. And then I made a promise to myself, if I ever get the chance of one in a million shot to start a company, the number one rule I would have is to give people their dignity. The Hard Truth: It's Not Easy But It's Worth It I think it's so important for people to hear us talking about the difficult times, right? Like a lot of people get on like, oh yeah, you know, done this, you know, moved to Dubai and, you know, did this and, you know, 10,000 weeks. Okay, okay, okay. But what did it take? Like, what did it cost? How did that feel? How many times did you have to get back up? Because I never want anyone to listen to me or read a book or anything and say, oh, it's easy. If anything, I'm telling you, it's not easy. I'm telling you it's not easy. I'm telling you it's worth it, but I'm telling you it's not easy. And you're saying it's not easy, but it's worth it. And I think what you're saying, I mean, what really resonates with me is this idea of the journey and how it makes you and how that's what life is. Like we're not, I mean, yeah, we like yachts, right? Okay. We like champagne, but we're not doing it just for that. We're doing it because it is the exercise. It's the routine. And that's where you build yourself.