Episode 154. In this episode of Life's Checkmark, I chat with Richard Blank, the dynamic CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center. Richard’s story goes from growing up in Philadelphia with a love for Spanish, all the way to building a thriving business in Costa Rica. He talks about breaking the mold, dealing with expectations, and why communication is his secret weapon, plus how he uses everything from neon lights to pinball machines to create a workplace where people truly grow. If you’re ready to hear about betting on yourself and picking up real-world skills you can use anywhere in life, you don't want to miss this!
Key Takeaways: Bet on yourself and take bold chances Build real language and communication skills Stay humble but persistent in your journey Create a company culture that truly supports growth Old-school wisdom still works in business today
Chapters: 00:02 Introduction & Richard Blank’s Background 00:34 Early love of Spanish and cultural lessons 01:07 College years and first jobs 01:32 Moving to Costa Rica & starting out 03:05 Breaking free of expectations 04:11 Staying true to yourself and long-term goals 05:17 Daily wins and learning 05:53 Telemarketing industry insights 09:11 How Richard built his business step by step 11:53 Separating from the competition 13:01 The real art of communication 16:04 Handling voicemails & warm leads 18:31 Making speech an art and career builder 19:22 Coaching young talent for real-life growth 20:43 Training with TV & film inspirations 21:41 Celebrating people growth and culture 23:45 The power of fun at work: pinball & team play 27:29 New generations & social shifts 28:17 Building company culture that lasts 28:51 Episode wrap-up & ways to connect with Richard 29:08 Final advice: gratitude, humility, and living fully 32:33 Farewell
00:00You know, I tell you what, you could say it's a one in a million shot and the stars are aligned.
00:04And I agree with both of those. But the only way to get there is to put yourself in that position.
00:08You have to be at the dance to walk across that floor to ask your princess to dance with you.
00:13And then the rest of your life is a dream. Man, life is made to be lived.
00:18And I've always seen people put these chains on you, weight to hold you back or to distract you, to make you feel bad or to let you know it's too hard, Richard.
00:28I've heard that a thousand times. Hard for what? I grind that stuff out, man, like Chuck Wepner did against Rocky.
00:35I'll go distance. I may not win the fight, but man, I'm going to get the respect of the crowd because they're going to see the heart that I have.
00:41And the fact that, you know, you try these things.
