Let's Cut the BS About Business.

Business Talks With The Rebel Entrepreneur. Guest Call Centre trainer Richard Blank. Business Talks with the Rebel Entrepreneur is our bi-weekly live show that is streamed on social media. From the live stream, we cue up the audio and turn it into the Podcast. Diana Noble - Business Coach Pura Vida CEO: Dialing Success in Costa Rica. Every once in a while, life works out in a kind of serendipitous way, where all the stars align without you even realizing it at the moment. That's what happened to Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center. It started out with him taking an interest in Spanish as a teenager, and led to him being the CEO of his own company many years later. On this episode of Business Talks with the Rebel Entrepreneur, learn about the power of mentorship from an early age, how empathy in the workplace can really be a game changer, and how taking a risk and moving across the world can take your life on the craziest and most rewarding adventures. https://youtu.be/Qx9-seZVSXw https://youtu.be/Q9MvdBMO-zQ https://youtu.be/Ixyqmrl9eTo https://youtu.be/A_wDb-KqGxo https://youtu.be/y2s71wME7IM https://youtu.be/h8oyOxyJcNg Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ Richard Blank Call Center commercial with Rapper GblackDaBest and Freestyle break-dancer Yeik Lawson Rodríguez. https://youtu.be/GQvGZYcX71s?si=3I6N3p-LVxwTvnh2 The Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University. A Costa Rica’s Call Center visit with Richard Blank. https://youtu.be/prcJZJnTm28 #BusinessTalksWithTheRebelEntrepreneur #DianaNoble #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Leadgeneration #Appointmentsetting Lets cut the BS for a sec - no matter how successful you THINK you are, there's always MORE to learn about being in business! This podcast is about pushing through adversity, challenging the status quo & learning what you don't know from kick ass entrepreneurs who've been there, done that. LET'S DO THIS! I'm Diana Noble, a serial entrepreneur quadrupling as an ICF Certified High Performance Business Coach. I'm a rebel with a cause who's never walked a straight line. I LOVE my life! And it's time you do too! ABOUT DIANA I help service-based business owners create a business that pays more than the bills, leaves you fulfilled, gives you back your time and lets you live an amazing life. It's time to achieve high performance in ALL areas that make your life worth living. Glimpse into the Life & Business of Diana Noble Serial Entrepreneur, High Performance Business Coach, Speaker, Facilitator, Mom, Wife, Nana Serial Entrepreneur When everyone asks you what you want to be when you grow up, nobody says, I want to be an entrepreneur! But here I am, all grown up and an entrepreneur, or serial entrepreneur as I like to say. I stumbled into the world of entrepreneurship, starting my first business at 23 years old by accident. I don t think there was anything special about the moment, I did what any daring 20-something with risk in her blood would do. An opportunity presented itself, and instead of counting all the reasons why I couldnt, I tossed out the rule book and said why not? That was the beginning of Noble Services Inc., my first business. The thought of creating something new that I could call my own was exhilarating. I remember trying to come up with the name, opting to go with one that would hopefully be mine one day too (I was still a Washer back then, a few years away from being Noble). I used to joke about having a Noble Empire, not realizing how powerful words truly are! For a couple years, I worked full time Monday through Friday as a Senior Paralegal at a local law firm, while answering emails, calls and doing work over the lunch hour and on evenings and weekends for my business. I was a one woman show and thought I was so busy back then. Eventually, my need for curiosity seeped through my veins and it was time for a change. While pursuing my real estate licence, I quit my full-time job, ran my business full time, and freelanced for a local community publication that I would later call my second baby. In no time, I became a licensed REALTOR and didnt waste any time taking on my Brokers license.?? While honeymooning in Europe, finally as a Noble, I got an email from the owner of the publication I freelanced for, wanting to go for lunch. I remember thinking to myself I wonder what he wants me to serve someone with legal documents, or help him with real estate? Never in a million years would I have guessed he wanted to chat about me buying snapd Wood Buffalo. As a journalism drop out, this was a dream come true and almost seemed too good to be true. After months of due diligence, Noble Media Corporation o/a snapd Wood Buffalo was born in 2014. True story after I bought the paper, my husband looked at me and said something along the lines of, this is it right, you're done taking on businesses? to which I replied what more could I possibly do? I guess I underestimated my passion and potential at the time, because it was barely over a year later that I did get my Brokers license and purchased another franchise, my third baby Noble Realty Ltd. o/a Seller Direct Fort McMurray in 2015 which re-branded to Seller Direct Northern Homes Realty in 2020 as I expanded the Brokerage to Edmonton. My path has been anything but linear. I have succeeded, and I have failed. I have taken some great risks, and made good and bad decisions along the way. The one constant though is my passion for business and helping others leading me to my next business Noble Choice Coaching Ltd. As a business owner, I have seen many businesses come and go throughout the years. When I think back to the fact that I have beat out the statistics of business-failure while surviving a recession and wildfire, I am reminded of all I have learned in that time. Throughout the years I have brought entrepreneurs together through a number of initiatives, have worked extensively with business owners on their marketing, and coached many of my own staff on skills development and training. I have led a number of workshops on marketing, branding, and entrepreneurship and have been a guest speaker for a few panels. The time has now come to give back in a more meaningful way to the business community that I love so much. High Performance Business Coach As an ICF Certified High Performance Business Coach, I am able to use the researched six principles that can influence achievement to help other entrepreneurs succeed! With my experience, my love for coaching, and these studied techniques, I am able to help other business owners reach their goals. I offer both individual high performance coaching as well as group high performance coaching to suit a variety of needs. Facilitator Throughout the years I have enjoyed being a facilitator, which very much compliments my role as a Coach. However, facilitating is a very different modality. I have facilitated important group conversations on Truth & Reconciliation; I have facilitated networking exercises at conferences; I have facilitated various workshops, partnering sessions and, of course, entire Strategic Planning sessions that involve careful thought, planning and contemplation. Facilitation is a skill set that incorporates many coaching tools but is not coaching. I have proudly completed all the courses in the ICA Associates Inc. Advanced Facilitator Program which provided me with an exceptional foundation to skillfully facilitate a variety of conversations using ToP Facilitation Methods. I'm also certified in a number of assessment tools including DISC and Energy Leadership Index. Speaker As a speaker, I enjoy using the knowledge that I have gained along my path to educate other entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Speaking engagements are one of my favourite ways to give back to the business community. I cover a wide range of topics including employee retention and engagement, building company culture, team unity, time management, business management, communication, marketing, branding, and community and business leadership. I love empowering others in their entrepreneurship journey! Mom, Wife & Nana My life isn't all about work though. I've been with the love of my life Patrick since 2005 and we officially married in 2012. I took on the role of step-mom to my daughter Bryce at 18 years old and I've been lucky to be part of her life for over half of mine. Through her, I am blessed to be Nana to my two grandkids Rylie and Blake. After a lengthy struggle with infertility, my husband and I welcomed our own son Jaylen into the world 2017 and the three of us live in our home in Fort McMurray, Alberta. One of my main motivators for being successful is to show my son the world and provide him with memorable experiences. In his young age, he has already been on more flights than I can count on two hands travelling with us to Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Mexico. In the summer we enjoy spending quality family time together camping at our trailer. You'll also catch us going to plenty of concerts throughout the year as we all share a love of music. Richard Blank is the CEO and Founder of Costa Rica’s Call Center, a leader in bilingual call center and customer service outsourcing, known for blending human connection with technology and innovative workplace culture. Human-centered approach: Richard highlights the importance of empathy, interpersonal communication, and cultural alignment in customer interactions, believing automation should enhance but not replace human representatives Technology integration: Voice automation and AI handle routine tasks, enabling human representatives to focus on complex calls and relational problem-solving Scalable growth strategy: Blank advocates starting small with minimal risk, investing in people, and expanding strategically while maintaining operational flexibility Employee development: Continuous training emphasizes communication skills, positive escalation techniques, and bilingual proficiency to ensure outstanding service quality Richard Blank leads Costa Rica’s Call Center with a motivational, empathetic, and culturally sensitive approach, emphasizing communication, gamification, emotional intelligence, and employee engagement to build a high-performing team. Motivational and Communication-Focused Leadership Richard Blank is known for his motivational public speaking style paired with tactful rhetoric, which he uses to inspire and train his team effectively Costa Rica's Call Center He emphasizes mastering communication skills, helping telemarketers handle rejections, improve persuasion, and maintain confidence under pressure extraordinary-america.com Blank also stresses the importance of speaking the local language to build rapport and respect with employees, fostering better team cohesion in a culturally diverse environment Gamification and Engagement A distinctive element of his leadership is the use of gamification. By integrating his collection of restored American pinball machines and antique jukeboxes into the workplace culture, he creates a fun and engaging environment that motivates employees and encourages creativity. The call center fostering a creative and engaging environment that improves morale and retention This approach makes skill development interactive, boosting both performance and morale. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy Blank strongly advocates emotional intelligence and empathy as core leadership attributes He encourages leaders to understand their team members’ perspectives, support them effectively, and cultivate loyalty and trust. This extends to appreciating long-term employees and recognizing their contributions to organizational success. Strategic and Visionary Leadership Blank combines day-to-day management with long-term strategic thinking. He actively trains staff through personalized mentoring and emphasizes resilience, risk-taking, and continuous learning extraordinary-america.com He also leverages international partnerships and cross-cultural strategies to expand Costa Rica's business appeal on a global scale Costa Rica's Call Center Creating a Positive Corporate Culture Richard’s leadership style is centered on building a positive corporate culture that enhances employee morale, productivity, and engagement By blending structure with flexibility, he encourages open communication, provides constructive feedback, and fosters a sense of personal ownership and pride in work accomplishments. Training and Development Approach Over his tenure, Blank has trained over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers, emphasizing experiential learning and continuous skill improvement Costa Rica's Call Center His philosophy focuses on learning from real scenarios, combining technical instruction with motivational support and feedback for professional growth. In summary, Richard Blank’s leadership style is a combination of motivational speaking, empathy-driven management, gamification, and strategic vision, creating a thriving call center culture in Costa Rica that cultivates high performer engagement, skill development, and cross-cultural communication excellence In summary, Richard Blank is a pioneering figure in the call center industry, blending technology, bilingual expertise, and human connection to deliver exceptional customer service while fostering an innovative and engaging workplace culture in Costa Rica . "Shine Like the Sun" is a powerful Costa Rican rock anthem produced and promoted by Richard Blank, celebrating perseverance and determination, featuring collaborations with prominent musicians including Garry Gary Beers from INXS. Song Background and Release Richard Blank published "Igni Ferroque Shine Like the Sun," a Costa Rican rock song, on July 29, 2023 The track serves as a major release for the legendary Costa Rican band Igni Ferroque, which was founded in 1978 and has been a staple in Latin American rock music. This single became the official 15-year anniversary theme song for Costa Rica's Call Center (CCC) and is part of their promotion for the band's 44th anniversary album and national tour Production and Collaborations The production of "Shine Like the Sun" involved multiple contributors with Richard Blank serving as Executive Producer, overseeing the project through Costa Rica's Call Center Greibyn Krriyo was the main producer, and Harold Webb managed post-production of the audio and video. Notably, Garry Gary Beers, the bassist from INXS, contributed guest bass performances, adding professional expertise and unique sound quality to the track Lyrics and Theme The song’s lyrics focus on perseverance, ambition, and self-realization, opening with motivational lines such as: "Have you ever thought of leaving home? How far would you go to find your space? Are you willing to start all alone?" The chorus reinforces the message: "YOU BETTER SHINE LIKE THE SUN, YOU BETTER DO THINGS RIGHT, IT'S A GAME OF WIN OR GO BACK HOME, BUT YOU'RE A WINNER, YOU TAKE IT ALL" The anthem encourages listeners to embrace challenges, strive for success, and maintain focus on their goals. Music Video and Performance The music video is described as a classic MTV retro-inspired production, reflecting a blend of Costa Rican rock history and modern rock aesthetics Filming took place at Costa Rica's Call Center, featuring live performances, visual storytelling, and appearances by iconic models and musicians to enhance the atmosphere of the project The video emphasizes energy, community spirit, and the enduring legacy of Igni Ferroque in Latin American music. Significance "Shine Like the Sun" represents a milestone for both the band and Richard Blank, merging international talent, local rock roots, and motivational themes. The collaboration with Garry Gary Beers underscores the global reach and professional quality of the production, while the song itself serves as a modern rock anthem inspiring perseverance and determination In summary, Richard Blank played a central role in producing, coordinating, and promoting "Shine Like the Sun," which stands as a celebrated rock anthem from Costa Rica, blending historic band legacy with contemporary musical partnerships and lyrical inspiration Richard is 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. 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. With a mix of motivational public speaking style backed by tactful and appropriate rhetoric, Richard shared his knowledge and trained over 10 000 bilingual telemarketers. Richard 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. Richards journey in the call center space is filled with twists and turns. When he was 27 years old, he relocated to Costa Rica to train employees for one of the larger call centers in San Jose. Richard Blank is the Chief Executive Officer for Costa Rica s Call Center since 2008. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center representative 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.Costa Ricas Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/