Family Upbringing and Its Impact.

Threads of Enlightenment podcast. Host Ken Primus interviews expat CEO Richard Blank Threads of Enlightenment: Unlocking Your Best Self, is your gateway to discovering life-changing principles of self-development and growth. We dive into inspiring stories of resilience, healing, and transformation. From overcoming devastating challenges like mental illness, substance abuse, and financial loss to learning how to embrace your inner power, this podcast celebrates the indomitable human spirit. Tune in to learn actionable steps for overcoming fear and achieving your desired outcome. Whether you're battling anxiety or looking for guidance on personal growth, Threads of Enlightenment is here to inspire your journey. From Philly to Costa Rica: Watch how one man's bold move at 51 transformed his life and opened doors to unexpected dreams. Richard shares his inspiring journey of leaving Philadelphia behind to embrace a new chapter in Costa Rica, proving it's never too late to reinvent yourself. After building a successful life, Richard now explores new passions including writing children's books, art, and music. His story shows how stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to extraordinary opportunities and personal growth. Discover how this former Philadelphia native found purpose through giving back, creating a scholarship for language students, and embracing a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle. Richard's journey reminds us that success isn't just about material wealth - it's about gratitude, continuous learning, and having the courage to follow your dreams, no matter your age. Join us for an authentic conversation about second chances, finding happiness in unexpected places, and the wisdom that comes from embracing both life's challenges and opportunities. Perfect for anyone considering a major life change or seeking inspiration to pursue their dreams. From leaving Philadelphia to building a thriving 150-person company in Costa Rica, this is the story of how taking a leap of faith led to creating something extraordinary. After working in call centers for 4 years, I saw an opportunity to build something different - a company focused on advanced communication, conflict management, and genuine human connection. Unlike massive corporate call centers, we've created an environment where employees aren't just numbers - they're part of a community where mentorship, growth, and second chances matter. With pinball machines, arcade games, and a culture that values personal development, we've proven that sometimes the best business decisions come from following an unconventional path. Join me as I share my 16-year journey of building a company that puts people first, the challenges of international business ownership, and why leaving my comfort zone in Philly was the best decision I ever made. Richard's leap of faith led to a life-changing adventure. Hear how this man from Philadelphia found love, purpose, and success after moving to Costa Rica on a whim. Richard shares his journey of learning Spanish, embracing a new culture, and building a thriving business. Discover the power of stepping out of your comfort zone and following your dreams. Richard discuss overcoming fears, seizing opportunities, and finding fulfillment in unexpected places. Get inspired to take your own leap of faith and create the life you've always wanted. Discover practical wisdom about cultural adaptation, language learning, and the courage it takes to chart your own path. Richard's story demonstrates how taking calculated risks and staying true to your passions can create a life more fulfilling than you ever imagined. Whether you're dreaming of living abroad, learning a new language, or simply seeking inspiration to make a bold life change, this episode offers valuable insights and motivation. Richard's journey shows that with dedication, cultural sensitivity, and an open heart, you can create success anywhere in the world. Takeaways Time is valuable and should be respected Compliments have the power to change someone's state Embracing new experiences and taking risks can lead to personal growth Learning a new language opens doors and allows for deeper connections Following your passion can lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life. Becoming a disciple and practicing discipline in daily life is powerful and trains the mind. Giving back to the community that has enriched your life is important. Simplicity and gratitude are key to finding happiness and fulfillment. Success is built on a million thank yous and the support of mentors and loved ones. Embrace challenges and setbacks as part of the journey and learn from them. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - Serving Mankind: Purpose and Impact 04:06 - Family Background and Influence 09:28 - School Experience: Lessons and Growth 17:16 - Genesis of Spanish: Origins and Development 22:05 - Falling in Love: Personal Journey 27:18 - Adapting to Costa Rican Culture and Lifestyle 32:47 - Becoming a Disciple: Spiritual Growth 35:30 - Richard's Business Journey: Starting Out 41:10 - Employee Departure: Values and Expectations 43:15 - Unique Qualities: What Sets Us Apart 47:40 - Richard’s Heartbeat: Core Values 48:40 - Life After Retirement: Richard’s Plans 52:45 - Outro 54:07 - End Family Upbringing and Its Impact And when you walk in the space of being present, you notice things. So Richard, one of the things that we do here at Threads of Enlightenment, and I told you we go back in that time machine, You have done much, and I can't wait to get into all of that as we move through your life. One of the things that we do is revisit our starting point, if you will, that starting point and location, and we call it the family. We have mom and dad strangers, and you are a stranger, and you are put into this pod, as they say. And mom and dad is about to deposit some data into you based on their culture, their perception, all of these different things, their programming, their And they're going to begin to put some data information into you so that they want to help you out, as they say, so you can be that good man and that young man on this planet. What was your family like? https://youtu.be/3a237rFKdlw https://youtu.be/xxPBm_B-H-0 Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ Ken Primus, Threads of Enlightenment podcast, 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,trend, trending 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. 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/ #KenPrimus #ThreadsofEnlightenmentpodcast #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO #trend #trending #listennow #subscribe #podcastclip #podcastvideo #videopodcasting #podcastguest And I don't know about you, but sometimes you got to get the like wake up call. And I got the chills. I said, if I'm the only one. that could speak Spanish out of all my friends. A, I could speak to the girls over there, you know, because they speak Spanish. And B, I might be able to get a job or put se habla espanol on a business card, which gives me an angle. But it wasn't the cute pat on the head parlor trick. My parents thought it was fleeting or a passing moment. The difference was the dedicated practice. I was not the best student. All right, let's be real. But the one class that I did above and beyond was Spanish. It wasn't cramming. It wasn't copying notes. It wasn't study groups. No, man, I was doing the Mr. Miyagi Danielson kicking on the beach. Really, no joke. I was watching the movies, reading the books. And I said, this is good. And I can build on it. And it's flexible because it's everywhere. There's tons of Spanish speakers in Philly and in the world. And every time that I would do my 5%, 7%, one word, maybe a sentence. The positive reinforcement that I got from a bilingual Spanish speaker, it was like a Mario coin. It wasn't a thousand, but it added up. They said, Richard, go, go, go, go. Here's a couple more words. Richard, let me balance your bike on the grammar here. Let me help you here. All I kept doing was expanding the base, expanding that base and growing. And so by the time I graduated, I had an intermediate level. Richard's High School Spanish Adventure That's a wonderful question. And before I tell you about my Renaissance period, I have to compliment your smooth move. My man, I love that last story. Hey man, one of the best things I did. Looking great. Would you put on some of the car? I mean, that's my man. Making moves. That was one of my smooth movements. We all definitely did learn something. Kind of like Mike DeMone with Rat and Fast Times at Richmond. Hi, Ken just taught us. I love it. Anyway. So I'm back in Northeast Philly at my proud Abington High School. And all of my friends were going to be doctors and lawyers and engineers and architects. And they had a plan. I had no plan except sports and girls and goofing around. But my favorite class was Spanish. And I don't know about you, but sometimes you got to get the like wake up call. And I got the chills. I said, if I'm the only one. that could speak Spanish out of all my friends. A, I could speak to the girls over there, you know, because they speak Spanish. And B, I might be able to get a job or put se habla espanol on a business card, which gives me an angle. But it wasn't the cute pat on the head parlor trick. My parents thought it was fleeting or a passing moment. The difference was the dedicated practice. I was not the best student. All right, let's be real. But the one class that I did above and beyond was Spanish. It wasn't cramming. It wasn't copying notes. It wasn't study groups. No, man, I was doing the Mr. Miyagi Danielson kicking on the beach. Really, no joke. I was watching the movies, reading the books. And I said, this is good. And I can build on it. And it's flexible because it's everywhere. There's tons of Spanish speakers in Philly and in the world. And every time that I would do my 5%, 7%, one word, maybe a sentence. Richard's Philosophy: Pay It Forward with Compliments That's quite simple. On the top of my list is paying it forward with sincere compliments. I don't need to be at one place at one time, one time a year. I can do it all day long. Compliment someone's hair, how they make a sandwich for you with extra pickles. Or somebody takes their time to do something right. It's very easy to give them reinforcements It moves them forward. It moves me forward. It's free. And it sticks. Because that could be the one thing that person needed that day to start that engine. Or really just to get them over the end zone and have a touchdown. And so I look for the thing that's not common, that's unique. So I'm paying closer attention than most that just glance over others. And so it's most importantly for me to make someone feel better about themselves that day. At least one thing out of 10, I can find that's good about them.

Threads of Enlightenment podcast. Host Ken Primus interviews expat CEO R...

Threads of Enlightenment podcast. Host Ken Primus interviews expat CEO Richard Blank Threads of Enlightenment: Unlocking Your Best Self, is your gateway to discovering life-changing principles of self-development and growth. We dive into inspiring stories of resilience, healing, and transformation. From overcoming devastating challenges like mental illness, substance abuse, and financial loss to learning how to embrace your inner power, this podcast celebrates the indomitable human spirit. Tune in to learn actionable steps for overcoming fear and achieving your desired outcome. Whether you're battling anxiety or looking for guidance on personal growth, Threads of Enlightenment is here to inspire your journey. From Philly to Costa Rica: Watch how one man's bold move at 51 transformed his life and opened doors to unexpected dreams. Richard shares his inspiring journey of leaving Philadelphia behind to embrace a new chapter in Costa Rica, proving it's never too late to reinvent yourself. After building a successful life, Richard now explores new passions including writing children's books, art, and music. His story shows how stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to extraordinary opportunities and personal growth. Discover how this former Philadelphia native found purpose through giving back, creating a scholarship for language students, and embracing a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle. Richard's journey reminds us that success isn't just about material wealth - it's about gratitude, continuous learning, and having the courage to follow your dreams, no matter your age. Join us for an authentic conversation about second chances, finding happiness in unexpected places, and the wisdom that comes from embracing both life's challenges and opportunities. Perfect for anyone considering a major life change or seeking inspiration to pursue their dreams. From leaving Philadelphia to building a thriving 150-person company in Costa Rica, this is the story of how taking a leap of faith led to creating something extraordinary. After working in call centers for 4 years, I saw an opportunity to build something different - a company focused on advanced communication, conflict management, and genuine human connection. Unlike massive corporate call centers, we've created an environment where employees aren't just numbers - they're part of a community where mentorship, growth, and second chances matter. With pinball machines, arcade games, and a culture that values personal development, we've proven that sometimes the best business decisions come from following an unconventional path. Join me as I share my 16-year journey of building a company that puts people first, the challenges of international business ownership, and why leaving my comfort zone in Philly was the best decision I ever made. Richard's leap of faith led to a life-changing adventure. Hear how this man from Philadelphia found love, purpose, and success after moving to Costa Rica on a whim. Richard shares his journey of learning Spanish, embracing a new culture, and building a thriving business. Discover the power of stepping out of your comfort zone and following your dreams. Richard discuss overcoming fears, seizing opportunities, and finding fulfillment in unexpected places. Get inspired to take your own leap of faith and create the life you've always wanted. Discover practical wisdom about cultural adaptation, language learning, and the courage it takes to chart your own path. Richard's story demonstrates how taking calculated risks and staying true to your passions can create a life more fulfilling than you ever imagined. Whether you're dreaming of living abroad, learning a new language, or simply seeking inspiration to make a bold life change, this episode offers valuable insights and motivation. Richard's journey shows that with dedication, cultural sensitivity, and an open heart, you can create success anywhere in the world. Takeaways Time is valuable and should be respected Compliments have the power to change someone's state Embracing new experiences and taking risks can lead to personal growth Learning a new language opens doors and allows for deeper connections Following your passion can lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life. Becoming a disciple and practicing discipline in daily life is powerful and trains the mind. Giving back to the community that has enriched your life is important. Simplicity and gratitude are key to finding happiness and fulfillment. Success is built on a million thank yous and the support of mentors and loved ones. Embrace challenges and setbacks as part of the journey and learn from them. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - Serving Mankind: Purpose and Impact 04:06 - Family Background and Influence 09:28 - School Experience: Lessons and Growth 17:16 - Genesis of Spanish: Origins and Development 22:05 - Falling in Love: Personal Journey 27:18 - Adapting to Costa Rican Culture and Lifestyle 32:47 - Becoming a Disciple: Spiritual Growth 35:30 - Richard's Business Journey: Starting Out 41:10 - Employee Departure: Values and Expectations 43:15 - Unique Qualities: What Sets Us Apart 47:40 - Richard’s Heartbeat: Core Values 48:40 - Life After Retirement: Richard’s Plans 52:45 - Outro 54:07 - End https://youtu.be/3a237rFKdlw Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ Ken Primus, Threads of Enlightenment podcast, 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,trend, trending 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. 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/ #KenPrimus #ThreadsofEnlightenmentpodcast #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO #trend #trending #listennow #subscribe #podcastclip #podcastvideo #videopodcasting #podcastguest

From Philly to Costa Rica: Unexpected Dreams at 51

Takeaways Time is valuable and should be respected Compliments have the power to change someone's state Embracing new experiences and taking risks can lead to personal growth Learning a new language opens doors and allows for deeper connections Following your passion can lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life. Becoming a disciple and practicing discipline in daily life is powerful and trains the mind. Giving back to the community that has enriched your life is important. Simplicity and gratitude are key to finding happiness and fulfillment. Success is built on a million thank yous and the support of mentors and loved ones. Embrace challenges and setbacks as part of the journey and learn from them. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - Serving Mankind: Purpose and Impact 04:06 - Family Background and Influence 09:28 - School Experience: Lessons and Growth 17:16 - Genesis of Spanish: Origins and Development 22:05 - Falling in Love: Personal Journey 27:18 - Adapting to Costa Rican Culture and Lifestyle 32:47 - Becoming a Disciple: Spiritual Growth 35:30 - Richard's Business Journey: Starting Out 41:10 - Employee Departure: Values and Expectations 43:15 - Unique Qualities: What Sets Us Apart 47:40 - Richard’s Heartbeat: Core Values 48:40 - Life After Retirement: Richard’s Plans 52:45 - Outro 54:07 - End

Why I Left Philly to Build a 150-Person Company in Costa Rica 🌴

Threads of Enlightenment: Unlocking Your Best Self, is your gateway to discovering life-changing principles of self-development and growth. We dive into inspiring stories of resilience, healing, and transformation. From overcoming devastating challenges like mental illness, substance abuse, and financial loss to learning how to embrace your inner power, this podcast celebrates the indomitable human spirit. Tune in to learn actionable steps for overcoming fear and achieving your desired outcome. Whether you're battling anxiety or looking for guidance on personal growth, Threads of Enlightenment is here to inspire your journey. From Philly to Costa Rica: Watch how one man's bold move at 51 transformed his life and opened doors to unexpected dreams. Richard shares his inspiring journey of leaving Philadelphia behind to embrace a new chapter in Costa Rica, proving it's never too late to reinvent yourself. After raising four sons and building a successful life, Richard now explores new passions including writing children's books, art, and music. His story shows how stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to extraordinary opportunities and personal growth. Discover how this former Philadelphia native found purpose through giving back, creating a scholarship for language students, and embracing a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle. Richard's journey reminds us that success isn't just about material wealth - it's about gratitude, continuous learning, and having the courage to follow your dreams, no matter your age. Join us for an authentic conversation about second chances, finding happiness in unexpected places, and the wisdom that comes from embracing both life's challenges and opportunities. Perfect for anyone considering a major life change or seeking inspiration to pursue their dreams. From leaving Philadelphia to building a thriving 150-person company in Costa Rica, this is the story of how taking a leap of faith led to creating something extraordinary. After working in call centers for 4 years, I saw an opportunity to build something different - a company focused on advanced communication, conflict management, and genuine human connection. Unlike massive corporate call centers, we've created an environment where employees aren't just numbers - they're part of a community where mentorship, growth, and second chances matter. With pinball machines, arcade games, and a culture that values personal development, we've proven that sometimes the best business decisions come from following an unconventional path. Join me as I share my 16-year journey of building a company that puts people first, the challenges of international business ownership, and why leaving my comfort zone in Philly was the best decision I ever made. Richard's leap of faith led to a life-changing adventure. Hear how this man from Philadelphia found love, purpose, and success after moving to Costa Rica on a whim. Richard shares his journey of learning Spanish, embracing a new culture, and building a thriving business. Discover the power of stepping out of your comfort zone and following your dreams. Richard discuss overcoming fears, seizing opportunities, and finding fulfillment in unexpected places. Get inspired to take your own leap of faith and create the life you've always wanted. Discover practical wisdom about cultural adaptation, language learning, and the courage it takes to chart your own path. Richard's story demonstrates how taking calculated risks and staying true to your passions can create a life more fulfilling than you ever imagined. Whether you're dreaming of living abroad, learning a new language, or simply seeking inspiration to make a bold life change, this episode offers valuable insights and motivation. Richard's journey shows that with dedication, cultural sensitivity, and an open heart, you can create success anywhere in the world. Takeaways Time is valuable and should be respected Compliments have the power to change someone's state Embracing new experiences and taking risks can lead to personal growth Learning a new language opens doors and allows for deeper connections Following your passion can lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life. Becoming a disciple and practicing discipline in daily life is powerful and trains the mind. Giving back to the community that has enriched your life is important. Simplicity and gratitude are key to finding happiness and fulfillment. Success is built on a million thank yous and the support of mentors and loved ones. Embrace challenges and setbacks as part of the journey and learn from them. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - Serving Mankind: Purpose and Impact 04:06 - Family Background and Influence 09:28 - School Experience: Lessons and Growth 17:16 - Genesis of Spanish: Origins and Development 22:05 - Falling in Love: Personal Journey 27:18 - Adapting to Costa Rican Culture and Lifestyle 32:47 - Becoming a Disciple: Spiritual Growth 35:30 - Richard's Business Journey: Starting Out 41:10 - Employee Departure: Values and Expectations 43:15 - Unique Qualities: What Sets Us Apart 47:40 - Richard’s Heartbeat: Core Values 48:40 - Life After Retirement: Richard’s Plans 52:45 - Outro 54:07 - End

The Value of Personal Touch in Customer Service

The B2B Influence Podcast. The Importance of Relationship-Building in Telesales with Richard Blank Are you a leader making waves in the B2B marketing space? The B2B Influence podcast is an exclusive platform designed to spotlight exceptional individuals driving innovation, growth, and transformation in industries that market to small and mid-sized businesses. This is your opportunity to share your story, showcase your achievements, and connect with a highly engaged audience of industry peers and decision-makers. At The B2B Influence Podcast, we showcase the brilliance, values, and strategies of B2B industry leaders who are shaping the future. Our podcast spotlights trailblazers who are redefining how businesses market to small and mid-sized companies, setting new standards in innovation, transparency, and growth. Whether you’re a marketing executive, a data analytics expert, or a business leader with a vision, this is the podcast for you. Join us as we celebrate the achievements of industry pioneers and uncover actionable insights to fuel your success. In this episode of The Marketing Vanguard: Leading Voices in B2B Innovation, Paula Chiocchi interviews the President, CEO, and Bilingual Telemarketing Trainer of Costa Rica's Call Center, Richard Blank. Richard explores the crucial role of call centers in the marketing-to-sales pipeline, emphasizing the importance of human connection and empathy in telemarketing. Richard discusses balancing inbound and outbound calls, the significance of soft skills, and the operational challenges of converting leads. He advocates for quality interactions over quantity, effective follow-up, and maintaining realistic expectations. Richard underscores the enduring value of personal connections in customer service and telemarketing. Paula Chiocchi, president and CEO of Outward Media, Inc. (OMI), is a marketing industry veteran whose mission is to help businesses realize their full potential by effectively reaching their target audiences and converting more prospects into customers. Advice for Selecting a Call Center What kind of advice would you give for people in searching for a call center, whether outbound or inbound? Good cop and bad cop. Let's go bad cop first. You got to make sure that they are a company that follows all legal laws. I follow all business and banking laws in the United States with my company that's out of Florida. They in turn hire my company in Costa Rica, which follows all the labor laws here. I'm not going to be a fall guy for anybody. I'm a guest here. I have to pay the Caja. I got to do the Aguinaldo. I got to pay everything. And it costs money to run a business overseas. There's benefits to it. But then again, I'm not here to hide away. Google me Handling Difficult Calls with Empathy And I've also learned that if you allow somebody to vent, remember the cartoons when steam would go out of someone's ears? I do. I have a profanity rule. If they curse at you, Paula, they get a warning. They do it a second time, you can hang up. But if they're venting and they're getting it out, I'll let you do it. And then I'm going to give you some Philly guilt. I'm going to go, hey, Paolo, you done yet? You want to curse some more? And you go, Richard, I'm so sorry. I go, may we begin again? And you say, yes, we may. And then look at that sort of foundation. Now you have a client for life. And that's how you're training your people. It's maturity. Yeah. You can't take it personal. And you think about it. You're speaking to someone's worst day. Something broke. For an example, we work with a law firm. So we do level one intake coordinators for wrongful termination and disability. So imagine that extended empathy when people are calling us after they've been fired. And so we can cradle these calls. And I think those specific soft skills are the things some people might be lacking today. Introduction and Impact of Call Centers Hi, this is Paula Kiyoki. I'm the CEO and founder of Outward Media. We go by OMI. And this is the Marketing Vanguard Leading Voices in B2B Innovation podcast. Today, we are fortunate to have Richard Blank. Richard is the president and bilingual, I want to get this right, bilingual telemarketing trainer at the Costa Rica Call Center. Welcome, Richard. So happy to be with you and your audience today. And I was just telling Richard that I'm jealous that I haven't been to Costa Rica. So Richard's an expert in all things telemarketing, telemarketing and call centers. And so we're going to ask him a few questions today and get his expertise. Richard, at what point in the marketing to sales pipeline do you see call centers having the greatest impact? And how do you define that sweet spot between MQL and SQL? Well, I believe that A.I., a computer can never replace empathy. They can't give you a hug. And so you will use it for gathering and to make things easier, bring it to the 10 yard line, so to speak. But you and I need to bring that ball into the end zone. The Value of Personal Touch in Customer Service And so when we used to leave very detailed voice messages, And do really good tailor made emails. We almost not only matched a conversion ratio but sometimes exceeded it because more people prefer that non voice so we almost had to make that sort of adjustment and then went into other sort of phone call so That's the way that I see it. But it is a means to an end. And people like myself, I would rather call you than text. And if I'm calling a company, I'm going to press zero so I can speak with somebody. And so I do believe that there will be a market for my type of services. I think there is, right? Yeah. Look what Hollywood did. They all hate telemarketers. Do you hate us more than used car salesmen? Look what they've done to us. But think about customer service. I had an experience recently where I bought something and it didn't get delivered and then they wouldn't answer the emails. There was no chat. There was no phone number. And it was a less expensive price than another website, but I didn't get any service. So I canceled and I paid more at a different website because there was some service involved in it. Sometimes people want to talk to somebody, at least I do. https://youtu.be/bzJze5vXiuM https://youtu.be/yIF8TGySqIA https://youtu.be/w8aGC09Yy-4 https://youtu.be/MZT8pkqrdDo https://youtu.be/bfJrFeS06FM Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ The B2B Influence PodcastPaula Chiocchi, The Marketing Vanguard, 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,trend, trending As a B2B business leader and data innovator my work has led to dramatic increases in both revenue and digital marketing campaign ROI for hundreds of Fortune 2000 and midmarket firms. I’ve driven nearly $300 million in revenue for a single Fortune 500 client in one year. My priority is to deliver more desirable business outcomes -- using accurate high-quality data to fuel success for Omni-channel digital marketing campaigns. OMI’s mission is to turn data into revenue and results. We use our database of more than 20+ million businesses and 145+ million B2BC contacts—which include email addresses and digital IDs backed by the industry’s first 95% email validity guarantee. Since 1998, I’ve made a name for myself as an award-winning B2B marketing innovator – and the driving force behind the world’s largest SMB database. The fast pace of business has been a constant in my career. That’s why it’s been important for me to create balance. My love of Asian art has influenced a Zen attitude that drives my approach to problem solving in both my business and my personal life. The philosophy I share with my team and business partners and clients is to speak up when something isn’t right so that, together, we can fix it. As a military brat, I was exposed to many places, peoples and cultures. That stopped at 21 with the death of my father. Still in college, I helped my mother reengineer her life and learned self-reliance and responsibility that cannot be taught in a classroom. Running a business is exhilarating but also filled with challenges. So, sharing my expertise and the lessons I’ve learned is important to me. I take every opportunity to mentor new entrepreneurs and those just getting started in their careers--to give them advice and encouragement and guide them on a path to success. It’s also why I write: for our company blog, Forbes Advisory Circle, and other outlets. If you could ask me one thing, what would that be? Take a moment and message me. Paula Chiocchi, CEO and founder of OMI, is an award-winning marketing industry veteran whose mission is to help businesses realize their full potential by effectively reaching their target audiences and converting more prospects into customers. Under her direction, OMI provides Fortune 1000 firms and other clients fresh, accurate contact data to fuel outbound marketing initiatives and drive sales and profits. An expert and innovator in multi-channel marketing data, Paula has established OMI as a leader in comprehensive email campaign management services. Along with her growing team, her goal is to assist clients in successfully navigating the complex email channel by offering hands-on guidance combined with the highest levels of email deliverability and marketing ROI. Paula began her career with Dun & Bradstreet and developed her skills by creating direct mail, online advertising and email campaigns for leading mortgage companies, financial institutions, telecom, software, online gaming sites, sweepstakes enterprises and e-commerce companies. Our Story If a business wants to grow, it needs to find new customers. Since our founding in 1998, OMI has been dedicated to empowering companies to do just that. Connect with your ideal prospects using our high-quality B2B2C data. Add accuracy, precision targeting, and scale to your modern digital marketing initiatives. Our Data Our master B2B database contains omni-channel marketing data including verified business email addresses with 95% validity, on average. Leveraging multiple data sources and proprietary matching and quality algorithms, we provide the freshest contact data in the industry to ensure you achieve optimal marketing results. Under her direction, OMI provides Fortune 1000 firms and other clients fresh, accurate contact data to fuel outbound marketing initiatives and drive sales and profits. An expert and innovator in multi-channel marketing data, Paula has established OMI as a leader in comprehensive email campaign management services. Along with her growing team, her goal is to assist clients in successfully navigating the complex email channel by offering hands-on guidance combined with the highest levels of email deliverability and marketing ROI. Paula began her career with Dun & Bradstreet and developed her skills by creating direct mail, online advertising and email campaigns for leading mortgage companies, financial institutions, telecom, software, online gaming sites, sweepstakes enterprises and e-commerce companies. 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. 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/ #TheB2BInfluencePodcast #PaulaChiocchi #TheMarketingVanguard #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO #trend #trending #listennow #subscribe #podcastclip #podcastvideo #videopodcasting #podcastguest