Pinball wizard walks into a call center..

On Another Track Podcast. Emigrate to Costa Rica to become a ‘Pinball Wizard’ like Richard Blank. David Wilson is "On Another Track". It's been the story of my life and many other people that I have met. That is the motivation behind this podcast series. I want to take you on a journey, exploring people and places from around the world. I'll take you to places you have never been and to places where you might not want to go! My Dream. Welcome to the 66th episode of my podcast series that shines a light on how people have changed their lives and what was involved in getting themselves On Another Track! When you first meet Richard you are blown away by his clarity and amazing energy. Having been involved in call centres since the age of 27, what Richard doesn’t know about empathy and having a downright good time in the workplace, is not worth knowing. Don’t get me wrong, he’s no pushover as he competes with the likes of Amazon but at the same time he manages to keep 150 local people employed in this Caribbean paradise. David Wilson shines a light on how people have changed up their lives and what was involved in getting themselves On Another Track! I want to leave a legacy not only for today but for people searching for a future to life, the universe and all that! Sounds big? It is but guess what? There are so many people out there have great stories and advice. Are they willing to share it with the world? Let's find out, lets get "On Another Track!" Being an army "Brat" for 25 years of my life has allowed me to be confident at meeting and talking to people around the world. Friends would often say "have you had your interview with David yet?" to the people I had just met.Coming from a Celtic, Glaswegian background, being a shrinking violet was not an option. You were in danger of being thought aloof if you didn't converse and pass the time of day. Especially if you were on a Glasgow bus! Fast forward to my start in broadcasting in the 1980's. Leaving Germany and arriving in a small market town called Devizes in Wiltshire (20 miles north of Stonehenge) in the UK, I was looking to do something with my spare time. I happen to open the local paper to see an advert for "new presenters required at Devizes Hospital Broadcasting Service". That was it. I was off to the races!It was more than spinning records and sounding good on the radio. It was the old school way of learning to talk to people. I spent 15 happy years in broadcasting. Who would have thought it would hold me in good stead in the 2020's? I now reside in Canada but still broadcast back to the UK via the wonders of the world wide web and also host my weekly talks podcast series On Another Track. Emigrate to Costa Rica to become a ‘Pinball Wizard’ like Richard Blank. On Another Track Podcast with David Wilson. https://youtu.be/WsS6kIf_Oh4 https://youtube.com/shorts/kx62S3YGY-Y https://youtube.com/shorts/twhyzq6UrRE https://youtube.com/shorts/-suD2OUnKGc https://youtube.com/shorts/HR2qIQPEE7Y https://youtube.com/shorts/4fv66yklOwQ https://youtube.com/shorts/yJT0DeIDCek https://youtube.com/shorts/TZKGyd13nx4 https://youtu.be/EMSseeS2j58 https://youtube.com/shorts/v0-uB4YMf9w https://youtube.com/shorts/0E4lCegA-sU https://youtube.com/shorts/YJpUWiirCIM https://youtube.com/shorts/IJJa6Mq-h9o https://youtube.com/shorts/_cYtlk-xD1o https://youtube.com/shorts/a9Esfg7Ncs8 https://youtube.com/shorts/Gafs85FMfLs https://youtube.com/shorts/0A1hmU5qZck https://youtube.com/shorts/dZHAE9JZw5k https://youtube.com/shorts/7VwGj1_JxCI https://youtube.com/shorts/K4QlRmBrmeg https://youtube.com/shorts/XewadQhnfBI https://youtube.com/shorts/aqaT_r9l4xQ https://youtube.com/shorts/f6RUJpEXNtM https://youtube.com/shorts/B6fy-H_ZsGE 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 #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Leadgeneration #Appointmentsetting #onanothertrack #DavidWilson 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/