Why Humans Will Still Matter in an AI-Driven World.

Jason Schmitt's Firewatch Business. The Secret to Closing More Deals with special B2B guest Richard Blank. Firewatch Business - Entrepreneurial Insights I’ll help you break free from the 9-5 and build a life of independence and freedom on your own terms.—so you have the money to seize opportunities, support your family, and create the safety and stability you need. You’ll also gain the tools to take control of your time, so you never miss family events and can decide when and how you work, instead of letting a boss dictate your life. My channel is here to I am a CPA and serial entrepreneur. I am made money and lost money and want to share my insights in how I did both. Want to close more deals and master the art of persuasion? In this exclusive interview, Richard Blank, owner of Costa Rica contact Center, reveals a powerful yet overlooked sales secret-active listening. It's not just about getting the script; it's about tuning into every detail, from a prospect's tone to background noises (yes, even a barking dog matters!). Richard also shares insights on building real human connections, why AI can't replace empathy, and how his love for vintage pinball machines ties into his sales philosophy. Don't miss out-this could be the game-changer for your sales strategy! Selling With Integrity: Open Cage Birds Always Return He liked you so much that when we were playing golf, he mentioned you. You made that impression. You spoke to him for how long we've been on? 59 minutes and 36 seconds. And you still didn't force him to sign the contract like they do in Glengarry Glen Ross. He spent an hour with you? Yeah, tons of advice and this and that and stories. Really? Didn't hard sell you? No. No, it's the open cage bird that will always come back. Using Language and Tone to Improve Customer Interactions I'll give a good example for you. This will assist. People need to really use the thesaurus. because not saying their vocabulary is not expansive, but I mean, there are certain times you just clash and it's just not the right thing to wear. So people use the word help all the time and that's all right, but it evokes an ego, an ego defense. It's not that closing your eyes, you think of yourself in quicksand saying, Jason, help me. And so we just don't want that. Depending on the stage of the relationship, you start off with assisting somebody. In the middle, you're guiding them. And then at the end, you lend a hand. I'm just, I'm readjusting tones is all I'm doing. And so secondly, instead of saying, excuse me, which a lot of people do, or I'm sorry, there's certain things you do in chess. You can sacrifice pawns. And so I'd say, Jason, for my clarification, was it ABC or one, two, three? It's your dog that's barking. It's your bad self-connection. We know that, but instead of putting you on the spot, it's me on the spot on something like that. Why Humans Will Still Matter in an AI-Driven World When you go to the town square and you see the person playing the violin or the one drawing in charcoal people's profiles, they're going to be rock stars because AI is just going to do 99% of our heavy lifting. But that 1% is that hug, is that handshake, is that look that humans do with each other that make us best friends. and want us to continue. And so am I concerned? No, because I'm going to take advantage of it. Like everybody, there's luxuries to it. Will it affect my industry? Absolutely. Buggy whip all the way. It's going to replace the majority of the people at this contact center, but there will be individuals. I'll be willing to pay money to actually speak to somebody to suppress that zero. They'll spend the extra dollar and they'll know it's not AI. because of the way that we respond, https://youtu.be/ixQ0n6W2Xiw https://youtu.be/ONV2EftwTj4 https://youtu.be/S85b0iVInZ4 https://youtu.be/LXGxd30OxBo Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ Firewatch Business, Jason Schmitt, Richard Blank,Costa Rica's contact Center, Outsourcing, Telemarketing contact Centre, BPO, Nearshore Contact Center, Sales, Entrepreneur, B2B, Business, Podcast, Gamification,Leadership, Marketing, CX, Guest, Money, B2C education, BPO trainer,contact centre, contact centre, contact center Hi, I’m Jason — CPA and your accountability partner. With 20+ years as a CPA, wedding DJ, and full-time coach, I help entrepreneurs turn goals into reality. Whether you want more freedom, income, or family time, I provide the clarity and strategy to make it happen. Let’s turn your “someday” into “this year” and build the life you want. But I’m also a wedding DJ, a business coach, and a guy who’s built a side hustle that paid for two trips to Italy last year… and my wife’s facelift. You’re not lazy. You’re just stuck. Starting a side hustle sounds exciting—until you’re tired after a long day, juggling kids, and doubting every step. I’ve been there. That’s why I created Firewatch Business: to give you a clear path, a boost, and a partner who won’t let you quit. The Firewatch Framework Clarity We uncover your best-fit hustle and set a specific financial goal. Action We break that goal into weekly milestones you can actually do Accountability I follow up with you. We track progress. We adjust the plan. Results Your hustle earns income. You gain freedom. And you don’t burn out doing it. Sound crazy? It’s not. It’s just what happens when you stop waiting and start working your plan. HOW THE DJ BUSINESS STARTED For years, I tailgated at Alabama football games — good food, cold drinks, and music blasting. One night during a Bama vs. LSU game, we had 400 people doing the Cupid Shuffle in the parking lot. That same year, I went to six weddings. Five DJs were awful. One was decent. I kept thinking, I could do way better than this. So I did. I invested $800 in equipment and launched my DJ side hustle. That business is still growing in 2025 — and it helped fund some pretty amazing memories. WHY I STARTED FIREWATCH BUSINESS I know what it’s like to be stuck. I wanted more income, more freedom, and more options for my family. But I didn’t want more fluff. When I looked for help starting a side hustle, all I found were vague YouTube gurus and books full of buzzwords, not steps. So I wrote the book I needed: -How to Find Your Side Hustle — a practical guide that’s now got over 80 five-star reviews. -Firewatch Business grew from that same place — a mission to help people like you find a real, doable side hustle and create a way out of your 9 to 5. WHO I HELP (AND HOW) I work with guys who are mid-career and mid-burnout — guys who are tired of trading time for money with nothing left at the end of the month. You want something that works. Something that pays. Something that gets you closer to freedom. I won’t just cheer you on. I’ll hold you accountable. I’ll help you build a step-by-step plan and push you to follow through — because action is what cre