Empathy and Conflict Management.

Seeker Solution podcast "What It Takes". A Leadership and philosophy chat with guest Richard Blank. On the What It Takes podcast, your host, Jamie Seeker encourages business owners to tell all! They'll share not only their expertise, but their stories and their purpose.We cover a wide range of topics – the good and exciting, the challenges and sometimes the ugly. Experiences and lessons learned that our guests have faced along the way.We believe that every person has a unique message which can positively impact the world. We let our guests share on the subjects they’re well-known for. No matter the topic, you’ll be hearing real stories from real people. Episode 7. From Talk to Action: Leadership and Communication Strategies for Success. Join us as we sit down with Richard Blank, the CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center, who relocated from the U.S. to Costa Rica and has trained over 10,000 telemarketers in his 17-year business journey. Richard shares his expertise in building strong teams, conflict management, and advanced communication techniques like phonetic micro-expression reading. He also discusses his leadership philosophy, gamification techniques to engage employees, and the importance of empathy in management. Whether you're running a business or leading a team, this episode is full of actionable insights and strategies to elevate your leadership and communication skills. ⁠ Richard shares:⁠ The art of mastering soft skills in business⁠ Training 10,000+ bilingual telemarketers⁠ Using gamification to motivate teams⁠ Insights on conflict management & empathetic leadership⁠ Key Topics Discussed: Richard's unique journey from the U.S. to Costa Rica and how he built a call center from scratch The challenges and successes of training over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers Advanced communication strategies, including phonetic micro-expression reading Gamification techniques to boost employee motivation and engagement Conflict management strategies and the importance of empathy in leadership Practical advice for business owners on growing steadily, with a focus on soft skills and emotional intelligence Key Quotes: "It's about perseverance, dedication, and really loving what you do. When you're passionate, the results will follow." "The art of speech and mastering soft skills can turn a simple conversation into a business success story." "You can’t rush growth—it’s about slow, steady progress, making each step count." Empathy and Conflict Management Well, I try to listen as much as possible because I could get the first impression. You know, Jamie's cursing. I'm like, Jamie's cursing because she never curses. I go, something must be going on. So I like to give the benefit of the doubt. Come on, what's going on with Jamie today? And so I'll let you guess it out. I don't like scenes so we can do things privately. And it's not a principal office thing. You decide where you're most comfortable. Do you want to walk around the block or do you want to go to the third floor office? And so you have some coffee. People are there that you care about are sitting with you. If you need to describe it in Spanish first so it's easier for you, that's great. I'll buy a logo and it's your language. So make your point perfectly clear. And we see what we can do. I give a track record into consideration. I'm going to say it again. Life happens. I've seen men twice my size just break down and start crying. And I've seen women that are half my size as bold as a lion and I couldn't be more proud and everything in the middle. And so it's a sensitive moment for people. And a lot of the times, Jamie, when they've made themselves so vulnerable and they become embarrassed or you could use that as leverage against them and you don't, you realize that you really respected them and they showed you their core. And so if you want to talk about somebody that will be with you for the next five years, well, maybe you got them to get it out and they had nowhere else to get it out and they were losing their mind and all of a sudden it's you. And sometimes you can't help it. And it depends on how you react to it. And I've always been raised to really respect people's emotions because they'll forget what you say to them, but they'll never forget how you make them feel https://youtu.be/xVfw8Y3jaq8 https://youtu.be/JMe2m18tqw4?si=76CN8MxjMs9jCoM4

Jamie Seeker founded Seeker Solution to help entrepreneurs and business leaders learn, grow and thrive. As one of the only full-service, boutique business operations companies in the U.S. offering customizable, holistic business solutions, Seeker Solution provides strategic support and result-driven tools that enable business owners, managers and C-Levels to take their company to the next level. Seeker Solution’s hands-on approach cultivates a synergetic environment to expertly assess, identify, develop, and execute a strategic business solution for each client and its company’s operational needs. Jamie’s mission was to create a holistic business concept that was more than business coaching or leadership development. She launched Seeker Solution with the mission to sharpen a business owners’ personal skills and abilities, help accomplish their entrepreneurial vision, achieve their company’s specific objectives, and accelerate their company’s growth. Owner, Principal Consultant Hi I’m Jamie Seeker and I specialize in Business and Financial Management. I founded Seeker Solution with a heart for business owners and leaders and my goal is to help improve business operations in their companies. We are also here as a resource for our clients to ask for advice, lean on for support and be an understanding and listening ear when you just need to unleash and vent! You see, I started off my career in operations management, so I understand because I’ve been there. And now that I have a business of my own, I connect with other owners through a common understanding of experiences that only we face in this role. Prior to starting Seeker Solution, no matter what company I was with or what level of management I was in, it was ALWAYS so much more than what one person should handle alone. I had many times throughout my journey where I felt overwhelmed and alone. It didn’t matter how many hours I added to my work day, I could never seem to keep up and the load only got heavier and heavier. This is why I started Seeker Solution. It took me stepping out and away from the hustle to realize that I didn’t have to do it alone. And that what I went through and learned from could be repurposed to help others overcome those same obstacles. Podcast Vision: Jamie Seeker created What It Takes to combat the sense of isolation many business owners experience. The podcast will feature entrepreneurs and decision-makers who openly share their stories, challenges, and wins to inspire others. Target Audience: Business owners and entrepreneurs with growing teams, particularly those generating around seven figures in annual revenue, and those in transition from solopreneurs to managing larger teams. What Listeners Can Expect: Authentic conversations with business owners about startup journeys, overcoming feelings of overwhelm, navigating company growth, and actionable steps for personal and professional development. Guest Profiles: Entrepreneurs at various stages of business growth—from those beginning to recognize the need for operational changes, to those actively managing transitions, and leaders who have successfully navigated these phases. Notable Quotes: "You’re really not alone. There’s a whole community of business owners that are doing these things every day that are feeling the same things you’re feeling." "Our show is about business owners telling all—the good, the bad, and everything in between. By hearing others’ stories, you might not feel as alone and can learn how to avoid obstacles they’ve already overcome." Richard’s 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. 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. 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. Hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ 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/ #WhatItTakes #SeekerSolutionpodcast #JamieSeeker #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO #trend #trending Magic Moments in Networking And I'm like, That's who I am. They're like, man, I totally was going to give you the business. You had no idea even who I was. It was before I even came into your office that day. I was in the parking lot. That's the money. That's the juice. That's when they see you as who you are. And then the next thing you know, you're sitting in an office across from one another, laughing about the tire, teasing, back slapping. You walk out and people are like, best friends? Of course I'm hiring this guy. Um, that's all just find those magic moments and capture them. Yeah, Jamie. Motivating and Managing Your Team And you also kind of allude to that a bit in how you manage your team. You emphasize employee motivation and You know, they keep coming back because they like you. So talk a little bit about your techniques like gamification. I mean, you threw some boxing in there and some other things. How does this play a role in keeping your team engaged and motivated? You got to realize they have a life outside the office. They're taking care of kids and their parents and they have stress or they're in love and they have puppy love that day. I don't know. Come on, Billy. Keep making phone calls. Not only kidding, but. How do I know? Because I've been there. The greatest cops were the kids that broke windows in their teens. They can see the kids and they know how to readjust and not saying I was a straight A student. Absolutely not. But I tell you what, I love giving second chances when they're deserved. And I have to follow labor laws. That's important. From US to Costa Rica: Richard Blank's Unique Journey Hi, Jamie. I'm so happy to be with you and your audience today. I'm definitely going to share some secrets on what it takes to be a studio and go the distance. Yes, yes. Well, let's just go ahead and start with your journey. And I mean, you and I were just talking about weather. I'm still in my tank top weather here in sunny Arizona, but you are in Costa Rica. Your journey to get there is quite unique. What motivated you to move abroad and start a call center there? That's an excellent question. I was building on momentum. My favorite class in high school was Spanish and I doubled down and decided to be a Spanish major at the University of Arizona, by the way, in Tucson. Go cats and bear down. And then I had a couple of jobs post-grad where I could put seabla espanol on my business card. But at 27 years old, I was given a one in a million opportunity to work at a friend's center in Costa Rica for just a couple of months. I took it, put my stuff in storage in Tempe, and kind of just was here. Just never left. I've been here for 24 years. Training Telemarketers: The Art of Speech and Soft Skills Well, if people like you, they'll come back and listen to you. So it makes it easier. But think of this. When I was at my friend's call center, I learned the business from the inside out. So I was learning retention, customer support, onboarding, training. So it was almost like pre-season. I was given four years worth of training classes. And that's where the half of the 10,000 came. And then when I started my business, it was the other half. But you get better at it. Everyone should learn things. the meat. What I like is the finesse. They really should learn soft skills, transitional sentences, and replace easy, lazy vocabulary with things that are striking. So at least you can captivate and move conversations forward. So it's the art of speech. I expect more from people. I constantly want them to work on their trade. And so for me, my classes were very entertaining. I referred to a lot of the early 80s movies like Fast Times and Ferris Bueller. They were looking at me like, who? Oh, I know those well.

Seeker Solution podcast "What It Takes". A Leadership and philosophy ch...

On the What It Takes podcast, your host, Jamie Seeker encourages business owners to tell all! They'll share not only their expertise, but their stories and their purpose.We cover a wide range of topics – the good and exciting, the challenges and sometimes the ugly. Experiences and lessons learned that our guests have faced along the way.We believe that every person has a unique message which can positively impact the world. We let our guests share on the subjects they’re well-known for. No matter the topic, you’ll be hearing real stories from real people. Episode 7. From Talk to Action: Leadership and Communication Strategies for Success. Join us as we sit down with Richard Blank, the CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center, who relocated from the U.S. to Costa Rica and has trained over 10,000 telemarketers in his 17-year business journey. Richard shares his expertise in building strong teams, conflict management, and advanced communication techniques like phonetic micro-expression reading. He also discusses his leadership philosophy, gamification techniques to engage employees, and the importance of empathy in management. Whether you're running a business or leading a team, this episode is full of actionable insights and strategies to elevate your leadership and communication skills. ⁠ Richard shares:⁠ The art of mastering soft skills in business⁠ Training 10,000+ bilingual telemarketers⁠ Using gamification to motivate teams⁠ Insights on conflict management & empathetic leadership⁠ Key Topics Discussed: Richard's unique journey from the U.S. to Costa Rica and how he built a call center from scratch The challenges and successes of training over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers Advanced communication strategies, including phonetic micro-expression reading Gamification techniques to boost employee motivation and engagement Conflict management strategies and the importance of empathy in leadership Practical advice for business owners on growing steadily, with a focus on soft skills and emotional intelligence Key Quotes: "It's about perseverance, dedication, and really loving what you do. When you're passionate, the results will follow." "The art of speech and mastering soft skills can turn a simple conversation into a business success story." "You can’t rush growth—it’s about slow, steady progress, making each step count." https://youtu.be/xVfw8Y3jaq8

Jamie Seeker founded Seeker Solution to help entrepreneurs and business leaders learn, grow and thrive. As one of the only full-service, boutique business operations companies in the U.S. offering customizable, holistic business solutions, Seeker Solution provides strategic support and result-driven tools that enable business owners, managers and C-Levels to take their company to the next level. Seeker Solution’s hands-on approach cultivates a synergetic environment to expertly assess, identify, develop, and execute a strategic business solution for each client and its company’s operational needs. Jamie’s mission was to create a holistic business concept that was more than business coaching or leadership development. She launched Seeker Solution with the mission to sharpen a business owners’ personal skills and abilities, help accomplish their entrepreneurial vision, achieve their company’s specific objectives, and accelerate their company’s growth. Owner, Principal Consultant Hi I’m Jamie Seeker and I specialize in Business and Financial Management. I founded Seeker Solution with a heart for business owners and leaders and my goal is to help improve business operations in their companies. We are also here as a resource for our clients to ask for advice, lean on for support and be an understanding and listening ear when you just need to unleash and vent! You see, I started off my career in operations management, so I understand because I’ve been there. And now that I have a business of my own, I connect with other owners through a common understanding of experiences that only we face in this role. Prior to starting Seeker Solution, no matter what company I was with or what level of management I was in, it was ALWAYS so much more than what one person should handle alone. I had many times throughout my journey where I felt overwhelmed and alone. It didn’t matter how many hours I added to my work day, I could never seem to keep up and the load only got heavier and heavier. This is why I started Seeker Solution. It took me stepping out and away from the hustle to realize that I didn’t have to do it alone. And that what I went through and learned from could be repurposed to help others overcome those same obstacles. Podcast Vision: Jamie Seeker created What It Takes to combat the sense of isolation many business owners experience. The podcast will feature entrepreneurs and decision-makers who openly share their stories, challenges, and wins to inspire others. Target Audience: Business owners and entrepreneurs with growing teams, particularly those generating around seven figures in annual revenue, and those in transition from solopreneurs to managing larger teams. What Listeners Can Expect: Authentic conversations with business owners about startup journeys, overcoming feelings of overwhelm, navigating company growth, and actionable steps for personal and professional development. Guest Profiles: Entrepreneurs at various stages of business growth—from those beginning to recognize the need for operational changes, to those actively managing transitions, and leaders who have successfully navigated these phases. Notable Quotes: "You’re really not alone. There’s a whole community of business owners that are doing these things every day that are feeling the same things you’re feeling." "Our show is about business owners telling all—the good, the bad, and everything in between. By hearing others’ stories, you might not feel as alone and can learn how to avoid obstacles they’ve already overcome." Richard’s 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. 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. 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. Hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ 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/ #WhatItTakes #SeekerSolutionpodcast #JamieSeeker #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO

The Perfect Phone Call: Elevating Conversations

Your First Thousand Clients Podcast by author Mitch Russo. Harnessing Effective Communication interview With Richard Blank About “Your First Thousand Clients” – the business podcast for aspiring business owners & entrepreneurs Imagine having hundreds of highly successful business owners, business coaches, and business strategy consultants sharing their wisdom with you to help your company make it to the next level. That should be the goal when considering the best business podcasts to subscribe to, and that’s what we have achieved with “Your First Thousand Clients”. From Employee To Employer And Leader. Communication is key in every business, especially when done over the phone. If you are looking for ways to improve your communication skills and lock in those pitches, this is the podcast for you. In this episode, Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, runs through the process of prospecting and how you can build your vocabulary, actively listen, use the right tone of voice, and match the pitch and mood of your client. And their importance in making sure that you don't just have a productive and meaningful interaction but that your client walks away satisfied with your service and the company as a whole. He also shares insights on creating a culture that allows your team to build relationships, empowerment and drive ownership. Tune and learn how to identify telesigns that tell you the right time to ask your confirmation question and lock in that sale for the first 1000 clients and beyond. Imagine having hundreds of highly successful business owners sharing their wisdom with you to help your company make it to the next level. Avoid the traps and pitfalls, grab little-know strategies and find some much-needed inspiration. Recently syndicated with the C-Suite Network, the show is now an iTunes Top 200 podcast. We’re always on the lookout for brilliant, successful business owners, business coaches, leadership coaches, and business/marketing consultants who can help our audience grow or start their company. On Your First Thousand Clients, we are looking ONLY for experienced CEOs, business leaders, successful entrepreneurs who are highly appreciated by the audience. You are making a contribution to the world with your interview, you are helping others. Business Owners of every kind will want to hear from some of the leading marketing, sales, growth and management experts in the world right here on Your First Thousand Clients! The show that gets you to YOUR first thousand clients and beyond! Avoiding Overused Communication Techniques in Sales Now, I will say that there's elements of it that I wouldn't use. Like if someone constantly repeats my name or constantly tells me what a great question I'm asking, I get a little annoyed by that. It makes me feel as if they're gaming me. Does that make sense? Absolutely. Absolutely. Now, I wouldn't say that's an excellent question. I'm giving you a template of what to use. You can't say it every time. And I couldn't agree with you more in regards to a name drop. I think that the pronoun of saying you is just as powerful. So I would suggest a five to one name drop. Do the name drop when you're doing a tie down question. But the rest of the time, I would be saying you or are just for the emphasis and bringing you back in, telling you that something's a great question. As I say before, it would sound repetitive. I'm glad you brought that up. Breaking Stereotypes as a Leader Well, you mentioned earlier about feeding families. And since I'm not as large as your 300, see some half of that, 150. But you know that each time you give someone stability, they are able to sustain their family. Now, in Costa Rica, there's multi-generational families. So there might be individuals taking care of their grandparents. And so what I am trying to do is to improve on self-reliance and self-confidence so I can be the last boss these individuals have. I can break the stereotype of being a boss that's looking to fire you. Now, mind you this, when you're an owner of a company and you do know this, Mitch, that you have leverage, you could hire or fire, make or break somebody. You and I always chose the former. And so to me, it's very important, once again, in this delicate stage of people's lives to put wind in their sails, to let them know that hard work does breed success. Building a Call Center from Scratch So when I worked at my friend's call center, I was there for four years. I learned retention, customer support, sales, affiliate management, human resources, and accounting. I learned everything minus the C-level, okay? So I learned the business from the inside and out...by sitting amongst thousands of mid-20 Costa Ricans...and it hit me. I realized there are ways to enhance the experience for the agent and for the client. Since we're friends, Mitch, I will be forthright with you. It took me into my mid-30s to have impulse control, maturity, and enough money saved. I felt that I was ready to throw my hat in the ring and to start this call center business. And I did. I started with one seat in 50 hours...And once you grew to a couple dozen agents, it made sense to rent space. Building a Culture of Shared Empathy That's unbelievable. And that's fantastic. We share a lot of common philosophies. When I build my power tribes for clients, the very first thing we do is we focus on building the culture before we even bring in a single person. So I have a culture system that I've developed over the years. And a lot of it is, like you said, it's based on empathy. But in my world, it's based on shared empathy. In other words, it's not just empathy flowing down from the top. It's creating a bubble of empathy in the entire community. And when everybody is in agreement as to what the values of that community are, very few people violate those values. So we provide guides and guide posts, if you will, to make sure that people stay within the scope of the community. And when they somehow don't, the community will self-correct. The community doesn't. will take care of whatever disobedience or issues that come up with an individual, not because they're trying to act like the company, it's because they are preserving the value of what collectively they have built and are now a part of. Sounds like you've done many of the same things. And so that's incredibly valuable. From Arcade Nostalgia to Collector Passion Mitch, didn't you used to go to the arcades in the 70s and 80s? Wasn't that the place to be? Absolutely. Your $5 had to last a whole Saturday. And so I loved it growing up. It was a wonderful culture during the 70s and 80s. The machines, the cabinets, everything was beautiful. And so when I came down here, hobby turned into an obsession. I have a huge call center, so I have the space. In Costa Rica, it's almost treasure hunting. People just, one man's trash is another man's treasure. So if they want to call it trash, call me Oscar the Grouch. Solving Problems as an Entrepreneur So I started looking for a way to eliminate that work with software. And I tried many, many systems and none of them worked for me. The reason they didn't work for me is because they were very complex. I didn't have time to watch hours of videos. They were very expensive. I didn't want to spend $60, $80, or $100 a month or more on something just to help me manage my business. And then finally, I did things that no other software did that had made me very successful. And I wanted my software to mirror that too. Nothing ever showed up that would help me. So I did what I think all good entrepreneurs should do. When you find a problem, solve it. Exchanging Ideas Over Money I wish I did, but actually I'm not selling a thing today. I don't have a book or a seminar. I just want to extend my friendship. Okay. And as Confucius says, instead of exchanging money, I'd rather just exchange ideas. Great. And if my ideas today can assist somebody to find their balance and center, if they want to make more money or just have better relationships, then Mitch, you and I won. And we did exactly what we both set out to do today. The Perfect Phone Call: Elevating Conversations And I was very intrigued by this concept of when you started talking to me, I think before we switched on the recorder, you talked about the perfect phone call. You talked about what would it take to get on the phone with somebody where you do not break rapport, but instead elevate the conversation to the next level. Could you talk a little bit about that? Because that's very, very interesting to me. Well, absolutely. And it's very important to put into perspective that the agents need to feel comfortable making that call, regardless of what the vertical is. And so we're very selective, Mitch, of the campaigns that come in here. Besides fulfilling your needs, I have to fill the agent's needs. And we're in a very strict Catholic country. So I must ensure that their ethics and values and morals are not compromised and they can go home and tell their family what they do for a living. https://youtu.be/6Dw932wbj1M?si=2J3KFyFvbzHvNqil https://youtu.be/mJaQEVWrVNE https://youtu.be/t8tQnYy_0w4 https://youtu.be/08eimGjDB8E https://youtu.be/7fjRYs6BLw4 https://youtu.be/-HVazRqnF7c https://youtu.be/sbljI1zIVOU https://youtu.be/316NJtBq2ks https://youtu.be/HL8E8CL2KYI Your First Thousand Clients Podcast, Mitch Russo, 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 MItch Russo: In 1985, I entered the software business as the founder of Timeslips Corp (sold to Sage Plc) after creating the largest network of Certified Consultants in the software industry. After selling my company, I then ran Sage Plc in the US as the COO, with over 300 staff. Independently wealthy at the age of 42, I wanted to give back to other entrepreneurs. I got involved in the VC community, first as an advisor to startups and then as the CEO of the largest furniture shopping site early in 2000, FurnitureFan.com. As a CEO Advisor to several companies at the same time, I participated in many different business types, solving many diverse types of problems in sales organizations, marketing, technology, systems and HR. I later became interested in options trading and mentored with a floor trader at The Chicago Board of Options Exchange. I made it through the 2008 stock market crash unscathed while helping Chet Holmes build his now-legendary coach and training business. That lead to a 3-way partnership between myself, Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes. From NFL stars to world-class keynote speakers, I help smart, successful people create their next level business vision and scale their revenue through proven strategies and systems. I served as the President of Business Breakthroughs Int’l for 5 years (a Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes company) and consulted with dozens of thought leaders: Partnering with Tony Robbins & Chet Holmes as CEO of Business Breakthroughs, Int’l I wasn’t always the CEO/President of Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes Business Breakthroughs joint venture, I started at the bottom, part-time helping recruit salespeople for Chet. As part of that assignment, I built the recruitment division for Chet and tripled his sales force. I used his basic tools and systematized them, using policies & procedures along with my innovative software processes to improve results. I built that into a $1M division for the company in the first year. Later, as I discovered how to leverage our client relationships by getting deeper into their businesses, I created a new Client Services division that increased repeat sales by 700%. We also mastered the art of radio marketing and selling, driving over 3000 leads a week from radio alone with a conversion rate of up to 19%. Through our partnership, we took company revenue from $3M to $25M+ in just 4 years with a 300-person all-virtual team. Yes, I ran a $25M+ business from a spare bedroom I converted into a home office. I learned so much from Chet before he died in August of 2012, that prepared me for my work today. When Chet passed, I decided to move on. Later, as 2013 came to a close, I went on to write my Amazon #1 Best Seller: The Invisible Organization, which is a detailed blueprint explaining step-by-step how to transform a traditional physical infrastructure into a virtual powerhouse of a company. And then turn that organization into a marketing superpower. Since then, I have been involved in several exciting projects, including a partnership with Kevin Harrington. Now, my greatest passion is helping CEOs get extreme leverage by building independent “tribes” of Certified Consultants. Certification builds loyalty with your best clients and deeply engages them through a powerful, integrated community while driving massive profits year after year. I also help companies leverage their radio presence to drive qualified leads. You can read more about that here. I’ve helped hundreds of coaches build a profitable practice through my Master Class and through private client engagements. Craft Your Next Level Business Vision This is the Business Reset that will change everything. In just 7 weeks, we’ll design your future together. You’ll see every possibility (some you’ve never seen before), then we’ll systematically create your optimum strategy. Imagine having the clarity and direction you need to express your true purpose while earning more. Build a World-Class Sales Team Most companies don’t realize the power of a well-run, perfectly designed sales hiring process, effective sales team management, powerful scripts and incentive-based pay plans. Let’s prevent the mistakes most companies make and move forward rapidly with a world-class team ready to close unprecedented sales! Design and Build Your Association How do you monetize larger groups that seemingly won’t buy anything? Create an Association that serves thousands! We’ll discover the key pain point in your group, design a solution and create a compelling offer to build a powerful, profitable association, which makes you money and engages your audience! Create Your Certification Program Using the system I outline in my #1 bestselling book, Power Tribes, I work with you to mobilize your best clients and fans. Together we’ll design a heart-centered selling system and new recurring revenue streams by building a certification program with members who pay you for the privilege of selling your products and services. Support You Through One on One Coaching Work one on one with a seasoned executive coach with over 30 years of experience helping entrepreneurs and companies scale their business. Just take a look at my testimonials below for a glimpse of what’s possible for you. For larger organizations, I spot weak areas in your systems and organization and work with you to fix them rapidly. Power Tribes Book “How Certification Can Explode Your Business” Do you have a product or service that causes transformation in others? Can you teach someone to do that same transformation and get the same result as you? If so, you can build a Power Tribe. Imagine a heart-centered group of raving fans paying you every year to close your sales, support your customers/clients and create new recurring revenue streams for you. Power Tribes provides you with a practical blueprint to start profiting from certification today. The Invisible Organization How Ingenious CEO’s are Creating Thriving Virtual Companies Published in 2015, The Invisible Organization is the ultimate blueprint on preparing a company to operate virtually. From sales, marketing, and customer service to engineering, tech and more, learn how to do it, the tools you need and the software to get you there. This book documents my own experience building the Business Breakthroughs International experience and shows you how to achieve domination of your market in a step-by-step fashion. 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 Richard’s 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. 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. 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. Hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ 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/ #YourFirstThousandClientsPodcast #MitchRusso #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO