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Stand Out Get Noticed podcast. The C Method guest Richard Blank Costa Rica's Call Center. Episode #283 The C Method provides public speaking and communication skills training for high performing professionals.As a manager and leader, your ability to speak up, present with confidence and communicate well is key to career success.You may be highly skilled, intelligent and work harder than anyone, but if you can’t articulate your ideas clearly, engage your team or influence others to take action, it will hold you back from getting the promotions, opportunities, and recognition you deserve. Listen to the 'Stand Out Get Noticed' podcast. Now at 2 million+ downloads! Discover how to develop a success mindset, speak with confidence, articulate yourself clearly and build strong relationships for more influence and impact in the workplace. Topics include: public speaking, mindset, social skills, overcoming fear, workplace communication, relationships and leadership. Have you ever wanted to have more influence over the phone? My guest this week is Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Centre. He is a master of the cold call, and has trained over 10,000 telemarketers to improve their communication techniques over the phone.Richard is here to share his powerful techniques for improving your ability to lead and influence in conversation – and some of them are much simpler than you think!This will benefit you if you want to build better relationships and be more persuasive with your team, senior managers and clients. “I love to allow people to feel more comfortable with me, to become more engaged in a conversation. This is not a lecture, and I’m not just checking off boxes and interrogating you. It’s a conversation. And it’s I mean, I don’t learn anything new when I speak. I love hearing what other people have to say to see what I have in common.” This is Richard Blank’s story… In this episode, you will discover: Phonetics is the purest form of communication, the sound of speech, not the semantics or even the tone. The tone of voice should always be positive and empathetic. 0 seconds to 2 minutes is the best time to gauge a person. How to gauge someone. They discuss some of the techniques they use to do it. Richard believes in open-ended questions and specific name drops. He also believes in the art of speech and meeting minutes to avoid conflict. Richard’s advice to people is to be authentic. When he was in his 20s, he tried to change his personality for a job interview, but he realised it was not going to work for him. Now he allows people to grow naturally. He believes that people that feel seen, they feel heard, and they feel like they matter through the way that they communicate with others. https://youtu.be/Wl_tS1ielGg https://youtu.be/fE6Ufvn-1Nc https://youtu.be/NWxjuBEkzMI https://youtu.be/R2GTKLTPkiA https://youtu.be/M-x7nAeWBxw https://youtu.be/dQWPUr_rsII https://youtu.be/XnFQgNqQ3iA https://youtu.be/iPP49p8dagI https://youtu.be/rOWVfIfV-U8 https://youtu.be/z1jowztV8EA https://youtu.be/GXeM9dLxS6U https://youtu.be/2ubPpIbOZdQ https://youtu.be/TCnwu_30QUo https://youtu.be/aavMoBx-ndQ https://youtu.be/aX85iiUrR88 https://youtu.be/san8OXqrERo https://youtu.be/mZWtVsKo0Xg 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 #ChristinaCanters #StandOutGetNoticedpodcast #TheCMethod #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO #learnpodcasting #podcastepisode #podcastguest #podcasting #podcastinterview #podcastplaylist #podcasts #podcastskills #podcastshow I’m Christina Canters, and I help smart people discover that speaking up isn’t scary—it’s a superpower, and a learnable skill. I’m a former architect and anxious speaker turned ukulele-playing courage cultivator – and your go-to expert for confident communication. Over the last decade, I’ve worked with hundreds of professionals, teams and leaders who are technically brilliant—but struggle to speak up, be assertive, and lead with confidence. I am obsessed with helping organisations close this communication gap. I have experienced first hand the results of leaning into fear and getting out of my comfort zone, and I love helping others do the same. Whether it’s building public speaking skills, levelling up leadership presence, or helping teams collaborate like pros, I bring the tools, training and real-world know-how to make it happen! Your people are capable! Equip them with the skills they need to succeed. Communication is expected in every professional role, yet it’s rarely taught in schools or universities – how bizarre! No wonder even the brightest team members get anxious about presenting, or avoid difficult conversations, or struggle with articulating themselves well. If you’re ready to equip your team for success, let’s talk. 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/ Christina Canters, Stand Out Get Noticed podcast, The C Method, 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, entrepreneurship, cold calling tips, sales psychology, communication skills, bilingual telemarketing, Costa Rica call center, Richard Blank interview, starting a call center business, call center CEO interview, young entrepreneur tips, sales coaching, business growth strategies, cold calling masterclass, leadership in sales, customer communication techniques, telemarketing training,