Finding an antique jukebox
The Teatime with Miss Liz Podcast. Enjoying a hot cup with our Costa Rican expat guest Richard Blank
Miss Liz Serves a different T-E-A with a humanitarian mission approach.
Miss Liz page is to share and promote all fundraising events and to bring awareness to services who support her vision on making a difference with one cup of a tea at a time.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE ENLIGHTENING WORLD OF REAL-LIFE T.E.A (TEACHING EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS) AS WE SAVOR THE DELIGHTS OF TEA AND KNOWLEDGE IN UNISON.
Enjoying a hot cup while listening. The Teatime with Miss Liz Podcast with special guest Richard Blank.
https://youtu.be/u114-x0TJ0o
https://youtu.be/GP6jeFzwqmY
https://youtu.be/6Df7NcS2kc0
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
#TeatimewithMissLiz #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO #learnpodcasting #podcastepisode #podcastguest #podcasting #podcastinterview #podcastplaylist #podcasts #podcastskills #podcastshow
In the episode of Teatime with Miss Liz, Richard Blank discusses his 20+ year journey as an American expat in Costa Rica.
Key highlights from his conversation and background include:
Professional Success: Blank is the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center (CCC), where he has trained over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers using a philosophy focused on empathy and dignity.
Expat Journey: Originally from Philadelphia, he moved to San José at age 27 to train employees for a large call center before founding his own 300-seat operation.
Soft Skills & Language: He emphasizes the importance of phonetic ear training, micro-expressions, and rhetoric in business communication—skills he honed while studying Spanish at the University of Arizona and in Spain.
Company Culture: His office is famous for its unique atmosphere, featuring Central America's largest collection of restored vintage pinball machines and jukeboxes, which he uses to gamify and motivate his staff.
The podcast highlights his dedication to educational awareness and his mission to make a difference "one cup of tea at a time" alongside host Miss Liz.
Would you like to know more about Richard Blank's specific telemarketing training techniques or his vintage pinball collection in Costa Rica?
Engage, rejuvenate, and evolve as we partake in the enriching ritual of tea, a companion through life's diverse passages.
UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL OF T.E.A
Ponder this: What does T.E.A represent for you?
T - Treasure the moments. E- Embrace growth. A- Aspire toward a brighter future
Miss Liz Teatime
Embark on a journey with Miss Liz, a trailblazer committed to transforming T.E.A (Teaching Educational Awareness) by reimagining the power of storytelling.
With appearances in various media outlets and global speaking engagements, Miss Liz is revered for her innovative approach to driving change, empowerment, and action. She embodies the resilience and authenticity within each individual, much like the symbolism of a robust infusion of tea.
Miss Liz's Tea Parties was first started in 2015. She also created the TeaBag Story Award/ Junior Award along with JC's Wood Creations.
Themes Tea and Food all match together. Miss Liz has done Bacon Tea Party, Chocolate Tea Party, Lemon Tea Party and Strawberry Tea Party to date. This includes dressing up in your best tea dress-up and colour-matching the theme. Fun for all ages, men, women and children, is always welcome. There is a little something for everyone.
Starting in 2019 behind the scenes, then in 2020, virtual teatimes globally came to life with over 350 teatimes under her teapot belt. Miss Liz is spilling teas to bring awareness that we all can make a difference for humanity. In over 65 plus countries, her guests come in virtually from around the globe. Touching over 105 topics ranging from Abuse, Grief, Mental Health, Empowerment, Organizations, Authors, Actors and Leaders.
Miss Liz is heard, seen and broadcast to multiple platforms through live streaming and recorded pass teatimes., radio stations, apps and podcast locations around the virtual land of the internet and airwaves. Miss Liz is also a content writer for feature business magazine sharing tea in a new perspective way.
Spilling our authentic teas creates a ripple of difference in others' lives and brings back humanity in a new way. Miss Liz
Her Mission
Welcome to Miss Liz T-E-A Media, the groundbreaking platform that thrives on sharing real stories, experiences and opinions. Our mission is to promote empathy and understanding by sharing unique perspectives. We strive to create a community that encourages fruitful discussions and mutual growth. We have collected an array of diverse voices and ideas, so no matter who you are, you are sure to find someone who speaks to you. Join us for a cup of tea and passionate conversation.
Miss Liz's magic mugs
Her Vision
I aim to use storytelling at Miss Liz's T-E-A media source to connect with people and foster community. Through our unique approach, we create content that resonates with each individual, making a meaningful impact in their lives. We believe in the power of stories to bring people together and to inspire change.
Miss Lizs Ideal customers are people who are looking for different out of the box experiences through her Tea Parties. Miss Liz s also hosts Teatime with Miss Liz where she has guest on her Teatime that have created a change in the world ??. Miss Liz has open her platform to any organization, foundations, projects, services and individuals who may not be known to the world. Her ideal customer are ones who would like to be seen through a different layout and make a difference through a cup of tea. Break the stigma silence cycles and patterns that we so often are unaware of. Customer that are open to creative unique layouts that create a difference in the lives of everyone attended a Tea Party or Teatime.
Miss Lizs Tea Parties, in business since 2015, is a one-woman powerhouse podcast that serves a diverse audience aged 45-99. We specialize in collaborations, referrals, workshops, speaking engagements, and more. Our mission? To inspire through hard work, dedication, and consistency. We believe in making a difference, one story at a time.
Miss Liz s Tea Parties and Teatime are unique one of a kind events. Miss Liz bring a tea experience to a whole new level by bringing in unique themes and menus adding in topics of open discussion with guests from around the globe bringing the flavour to the table making each Tea Party a once in a lifetime journey. Through a new way of leading and serving T-E-A teaching educational awareness of diversity and inclusion across the globe. Miss Liz take you on a journey of connection TeaBag Stories that she has at each of her events. She creates changes and give the ripple effect through a cup of a tea. By bringing in a touch of Miss Liz s flavour and creatively that thinking out of the box can make a difference. With Miss Liz s Tea Parties and Teatimes she bring awareness to organizations, foundations, projects, services and individuals who made not always be known or aware of. Miss Liz raises money for different services etc. She break the cycles patterns stigma that is often put in the shadows and brings it to light.
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
Blank's approach to the call center industry moves away from the aggressive "Wolf of Wall Street" stereotype. He focuses on building rapport, listening, and fostering a culture of empathy and integrity. He views AI as both a challenge and an opportunity but stresses that human empathy will always be critical in customer service.
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/
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