Big Performance Podcast guest Richard Blank Costa Ricas Call Center.

Big Performance Podcast hosted by Alex Elish. Gamifying the Workplace with CEO Richard Blank. Big conversations with bold thinkers—where curiosity meets connection. On the Big Performance Podcast, Alex hosts unscripted, thought-provoking conversations with fascinating guests, exploring ideas that challenge, inspire, and entertain. For Curious Wanderers, Critical Thinkers, and Seekers of Meaning drawn to spirituality, philosophy, and knowledge. Featuring Authentic Storytellers, Big Thinkers, and Bold Explorers unafraid to tackle life’s biggest questions. Subscribe and join a community that values exploration, growth, and meaningful dialogue. Today, we speak with Richard Blank, a remarkable entrepreneur who transformed his dream into a thriving reality. Richard's journey from renting desks to running a 300-seat call center in Costa Rica is nothing short of inspirational. Guest Introduction: Richard Blank is the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, a powerhouse in the telemarketing industry. His unique approach, combining old-school values with innovative strategies, has not only helped him grow his business but also fostered a strong, resilient company culture. Richard's story is a testament to the power of relationships and perseverance. Key Takeaways: 1. Journey of an Entrepreneur: Richard's transition from a communications background to a call center mogul. 2. Building a Company Culture: How Richard's focus on relationships and trust helped him navigate challenges, including the pandemic. 3. Surviving crisis: Strategies Richard employed to maintain business continuity and employee morale during the pandemic. 4. Gamification in the Workplace: The importance of creating a fun, engaging environment for employees. 5. Communication Strategies: Tips and techniques for effective telemarketing and client interaction. 6. The Role of Empathy in Business: Why human interaction will always have an edge over AI in customer service. 7. Richard's Passion for Pinball: How vintage arcade games play a role in his business and personal life. Creative Marketing Like Music Hits I tell you what, that's why certain restaurants have large menus and 32 flavors of ice cream. It's my one taste of the color red might turn off somebody, but they prefer mint or yellow. And so fortunately for me, I've opened it enough where let's just say I do a podcast with somebody and I'm going to market that individual. My marketing team will take, I don't know, maybe 10 to 15 images. Combine the two. And just, you know, it's almost like an album from back in the day. I'll do four or five really guaranteed commercial hits that, as you say, are colorful. People are going to like, yeah, of course, throw a puppy in there or something. Then I go, guys, come on. Show me really something crazy. Let me just see if you can... produce something wicked or completely unexpected. https://youtu.be/NjYHz2TbKv4 https://youtu.be/ZQq683zhx_U Chapters: 0:00 - Guest Introduction: Richard Blank 1:47 - Richard's Entrepreneurial Journey 3:10 - From Renting Desks to a 300-Seat Call Center 9:00 - Surviving and Thriving During COVID-19 12:36 - Working in Telemarketing 16:25 - Gamification and Employee Engagement 25:27 - Communication Techniques and Empathy 36:17 - Addressing Customer Complaints 45:42 - The Influence of Vintage Arcade Games 50:55 - Richard's Unique Marketing Style 58:19 - Richard's Collaboration with INXS Bassist 1:00:00 - Closing Remarks Podcast Alex Elish With a decade of experience in startups, I’ve mastered digital chaos. I live for the challenge in your mess of a digital strategy! My expertise - people called me SEO, PPC, CRMs, PMS, and automation guy. Marketing funnel or building a website, I’m your go-to guy for creating impactful solutions. If we vibe the right way - I'm your trusty friend and partner. We don't vibe - no money will get you my team efforts, blood and tears. 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. 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.Richard Blank is the Chief Executive Officer for Costa Rica’s Call Center since 2008.