Museo Rosenbach Zarathustra - 1973
Zarathustra is the debut studio album by Italian band Museo Rosenbach released in 1973. It is generally regarded as one of the best Italian progressive rock works of all time.
Controversially, the lyrics compose a concept album of Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy, particularly his 1883–1885 novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The song titles translate into "The Last Man", "The King of Yesterday", "Beyond Good and Evil", "Übermensch", "The Temple of Hourglasses", "Of Man", "Of Nature", and "Of the Eternal Return".
The music has been edited by bassist Alberto Moreno, texts from external collaborator Mauro La Luce. Side A is completely occupied by the long suite Zarathustra, side B includes the remaining three songs, which relate thematically to the first part by the expression of the concept album, so dear to progressive rock groups.
The album was a commercial failure mainly because of the boycott of RAI, which was suspicious of the group because of the themes (the quote from Nietzsche could supposedly refer to ideologies of the far-right) and the bust of Mussolini pictured in the collage on the cover, work of the illustrator Caesar Monti.
Lyrics:
Volto di luce
Mi hanno parlato di te
La tua storia è nell'eco dei monti
Troppo in alto per scendere in noi
Nel tuo eterno cammino
Quello che insegui non c'è
Senza un fine può esister la vita
Si completa nell'arco di un giorno
Misera ombra, vuoto riflesso dell'io
Non ti serve capire la forza
Che mi spinge a cercare nel mondo
Chiara essenza divina
Già si nasconde in chi
Sta vivendo il gioco del tempo
Nell'attesa di un'alba diversa
No, non continuare il cammino
Per le strade che non hanno fine
Tu, già vedi in me
Quello che mio padre, Dio, ti insegnò
Forse nemmeno tu
Credi a quello che non ti creò mai
Ama la tua terra, nel suo ventre Dio si formerà
Tavole antiche, divini voleri
Han diviso nel tempo già il bene dal male
L'uomo da solo lontano da Dio
Non può costruirsi la propria morale
Fuggi la tua volontà
Sotto quei veli, falsa saggezza
Viene insultata la verità
Dalla morale che tu hai creato
Niente si innalzerà
Cieco nel dogma della tua fede
Perdi la scelta di libertà
Grigio tramonto di luci antiche
L'ultimo uomo avrà
Ma troppe risposte confondono una vita antica
Mille tradizioni han costruito un muro intorno a me
Solo e senza forze mi perdo nelle mie parole
E forse chi cerco ha camminato sempre accanto a me
Ecco nasce in me, vivo il superuomo
Mandalaband Om Mani Padme Hum - 1975
From the first notes/tones you can hear that this is NOT an ordinairy album. a wonderfull theme arises...and the superb vocals of David Durant (who he?) soars abowe the fantastic song that is the first theme into:"Om Mani Padme Hum" a suite in 4 movements (build over the Tibetan national anthem)....as a matter of fact you feel quite uplifted after hearing this. Second movement...begins with a piano intro, that could be out of an ELP record. It soon slides into time changes...a la..(yes ..right you are.. ELP)...jazzy but stilll prog ...this is an amazing achievement...blending soft melodys (song) and outbursts of brilliant music....this has to be the most fabulous thing since (before??) The Enid !!?? As the music.....instrumental that is, is rather close to that of (R.J.Godfreys)Enid!! Who came first?? As i remember Robert John Godfrey were conducting/arranging string music for Barclay James Harvest at that time!!?? Enuff already...this is by far the most interesting.....piece of music from that era.. sadly long forgotten...but now...its here....all you prog freaks out there. This is a G E M ...and it is not to be ignored!!! Do yourself a favour...find this......you wont regret it!!!! Five stars? OOhhh YES !!!
(Prod.By:Greyskies) The Official Lyric X Visual of Bathory Skin's Recent BREAK OUT ALTERNATIVE RADIO HIT "Right Here , Is Nowhere" which is track 4 on the absolutely MUST HAVE, FREE DEBUT ALBUM "The Ex-GF Fan Club" released late 2024 , Follow the link for a FREE DOWNLOAD of this & 9 more (High Quality (.WAV) )Tracks that have put Bathory Skin into so many speakers across the Midwest of America and trickling further worldwide , Take Notice before the trend.
Paraiso infernal Podcast N° 15 - Temporada 17 - Conductor: Arkham, Edicion: Abel Montecinos, Producciones La esquina, Track de Ripio Cuando descubran lo que he pensado (Video clip) Del album Vengador de perdedores (2009) - Osorno - Chile - 14-6-2024
Hippie-ville - Creation Series.
The creation series is based on a mad rash idea that struck approximately in 2023. The Hippie-ville Creation Series describes how Hippie-ville was created. The eight short films tell a story.
From the rough (amateur) stop motion animation and inferior camera equipment to the goal of excellence and inspiring LEGO animation short films.
Bring the Peace 3/8, is inspired by Molly. My dog. Who in her own little way, helped me through a challenging time. One could lay about and fester in the doldrums of existential depression and careless about the workings of life. Or, one must get up everyday and take a dog for a walk. Molly came from South Korea. Her hometown, per se, is Daegu. Thanks to some excellent people who helped Molly fly to Australia and enjoy a better quality of life for a dog.
Animals share this planet with us. And we share this planet with them. Animals are so grounding. They show us what really matters in life. We ought to do better to take care of animals as they take care of us.
Photos:
Carl Sagan's suggestion for NASA's Voyager 1, "Pale Blue Dot" shot of Earth from Uranus (6 billion kilometers) on 14/02/1990.
Daegu, Busan, and Gijang - Molly's South Korean homes.
Creativity is freedom!
Music:
Mary McLaughlin. 'Bring the Peace'.
Written by: Mary McLaughlin.
Album: Daughter of Lir, 1994.
Rowan Records (US Distribution: Gourd Music).
Sound effects: www.zapsplat.com
www.hippie-ville.com.au
Radio: Wild dogs
Show: The rawk dawg
Presenter: Doug
Wednesday 7 pm eastern
Ripio track: Esquivando la trampa, from the album, La furia que hay en mi (2019)
9 April, 2025
Medaryville - Indiana - United States
Hippie-ville - Creation Series.
The creation series is based on a mad rash idea that struck approximately a year ago. The Hippie-ville Creation Series describes how Hippie-ville was created. The (will be) eight short films to tell a story.
From the rough (amateur) stop motion animation and inferior camera equipment to the goal of excellent and inspiring Lego short films.
Society 2/8, is inspired by two people who died at a young age (40s & 50s) with whom I had known when I was younger. Jason and Jamie. Jason had taken his own life and his suicide had shocked me - the young kid was gone! Jamie, who died of cancer, he was a nice guy, but he couldn't keep his dick in his pants; he had fathered 13 children to a variety of different women. Irrespective of what they had done in their lives, I thought that they had died too young. So, at the tender age of 50, I vowed to make a fuller experience of life based on what is available. This isn't to say that we need to go mountain climbing or bungy jumping and the like, but just to stop and look around us. Because we will never have this time again.
Where is this society going?
What are we doing with our time?
Couldn't we find a better way other than abusing ourselves, abusing the environment, abusing animals, and harming each other!?
Why do we find violence entertaining?
Creativity is freedom!
Music: Eddie Vedder, ‘Society’.
Written by: Jerry Hannan.
Album: Into The Wild, 2007.
Studio X, Seattle, Washington.
Sound Effects: www.zapsplat.com
Thanks to Graphika.
https://www.fiverr.com/av_industries?...
Excellent You Tube banner work during the filming of Society.
www.fiverr.com
'Little Buddha' design by Phinux (2019), Rebrickable.
https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-32249/Phinux/little-buddha/#details
www.hippie-ville.com.au
Renaissance Rajah Khan. From album Prologue 1972.
The first album with Annie Haslam, and thus of the "classic" lineup, this album is a mixed bag. Interestingly, they sequenced the tunes basically in order of their quality, from best to least.
Radio Cruda
Programa: Escenas sonoras
Viernes 4 pm
Conductor: Cesar Maskota Lopez
Track de Ripio: Esquivando la trampa (Video ia) Del album, La furia que hay en mi (2019)
Pereira - Colombia
28/2/2025
Overview of Jackie Edwards and His Music
Jackie Edwards was a Jamaican singer-songwriter known for his contributions to the ska and reggae genres. He gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, with notable hits such as “Keep on Running,” which became a significant success in 1965. This song was later covered by various artists, including The Spencer Davis Group, further cementing its place in music history.
Analysis of “Love & Affection” Medley Album
In 1979, Jackie Edwards released a medley album featuring “Love & Affection,” which included background vocals from Kate Swadling. This album showcased Edwards’ ability to blend different musical styles and highlighted his vocal talents alongside Swadling’s contributions. However, despite its artistic merits, this album did not achieve the same level of commercial success as “Keep on Running.”
Factors Influencing Commercial Success
Market Trends: By 1979, the music landscape had shifted significantly since the mid-1960s. The rise of disco and punk rock altered listener preferences, leading to a decline in the popularity of traditional ska and reggae sounds that characterized much of Edwards’ earlier work.
Competition: The late 1970s saw an influx of new artists and genres competing for radio play and chart positions. This increased competition made it more challenging for established artists like Edwards to maintain their previous levels of success.
Promotion and Distribution: The marketing strategies employed for the medley album may not have been as robust or effective as those used for “Keep on Running.” A lack of promotional support can significantly impact an album’s visibility and sales.
Cultural Shifts: The cultural context in which music is consumed also plays a crucial role in its success. By the time of the medley album’s release, listeners were gravitating towards more contemporary sounds that resonated with their experiences during that era.
Audience Demographics: The audience that enjoyed “Keep on Running” may have aged or shifted their musical tastes by 1979, leading to a smaller core fan base for Edwards’ newer work compared to his earlier hits.
Conclusion
In summary, while Jackie Edwards’ medley album featuring Kate Swadling showcased his musical talent and creativity, it faced several challenges that contributed to its lesser commercial success compared to his iconic single “Keep on Running.” These challenges included changing market trends, increased competition from emerging genres, promotional shortcomings, cultural shifts in music consumption, and demographic changes among listeners.
Overview of Dennis Brown’s Albums
Dennis Brown, often referred to as the “Crown Prince of Reggae,” was a prolific Jamaican reggae artist whose career spanned several decades. His music is characterized by its soulful melodies and profound lyrics. Two significant albums in his discography are “No Man Is an Island,” released in 1970, and “Spellbound,” released in 1980.
Success of “No Man Is an Island”
“No Man Is an Island” marked Dennis Brown’s debut album and was pivotal in establishing his career. The album featured several hit singles that resonated with audiences, including the title track “No Man Is an Island.” The success of this album can be attributed to several factors:
Timing: Released during a period when reggae was gaining international popularity, the album tapped into a growing audience.
Production Quality: The production quality was high for its time, featuring skilled musicians and producers who helped craft a polished sound.
Lyrical Content: The themes explored in the album were relatable and poignant, addressing love, social issues, and personal struggles.
Promotion: Effective marketing strategies helped to promote the album widely.
These factors contributed to the commercial success of “No Man Is an Island,” making it a landmark release in reggae music.
Challenges Faced by “Spellbound”
In contrast, “Spellbound,” released ten years later in 1980, did not achieve the same level of success. Several reasons can be identified for this disparity:
Changing Musical Landscape: By 1980, the reggae genre had evolved significantly. New styles such as dancehall were emerging, which shifted listener preferences away from traditional roots reggae that characterized Brown’s earlier work.
Market Saturation: The late 1970s saw a surge in reggae artists and albums flooding the market. This saturation made it more challenging for individual albums to stand out.
Production Choices: While “Spellbound” featured some strong tracks, critics noted that it lacked the cohesive production quality that defined his earlier works. Some songs did not resonate as well with audiences compared to those on his debut album.
Promotion and Distribution Issues: There may have been less effective promotion or distribution strategies for “Spellbound.” Without strong marketing support, even good albums can struggle to reach their potential audience.
Audience Expectations: Fans who loved Brown’s earlier work may have had different expectations for his new releases after a decade-long gap between major hits.
Conclusion
In summary, while Dennis Brown’s debut album “No Man Is an Island” benefited from favorable timing, high production quality, relatable themes, and effective promotion leading to its success, “Spellbound” faced challenges due to changes in musical trends, market saturation, production choices, promotional issues, and shifting audience expectations.
The reasons why Dennis Brown’s album “Spellbound” was less successful than his debut album “No Man Is an Island” include changing musical landscapes by 1980 that favored new styles like dancehall over traditional reggae; market saturation with many artists releasing music; potentially lower production quality; ineffective promotion; and differing audience expectations over the decade since his debut release.
Official Music Video From American Goth/Dark Trap Rapper R.I.P. Deadboi of DarkBlock Agency , Be on the lookout for His new Album "Tired of Being The Phantom" in mid. 2025 which , Like his already released Debut Album "Hearses & Verses" It is for 100% FREE
10cc - I'm Not In Love
Major 70s UK (founded in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England) pop/artrock band. The original line-up of Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme and Graham Gouldman had composed together and been in the band Hotlegs (Gouldman only briefly) before forming 10cc in 1972 and signing with Jonathan King's UK Records after being turned down by Apple Records. The band's music is a blend of pop, artrock often drawing on other genres, on the debut album especially the 50s.
The original line-up lasted four years, reaching worldwide success in 1975 with the ballad "I'm Not In Love." In 1976 Godley and Creme left to form the more arty Godley & Creme while Stewart and Gouldman continued as 10cc. The first album by the new 10cc, the 1977 "Deceptive Bends" maintained the pop appeal of the group, but after 1978 hit "Dreadlock Holiday" from "Bloody Tourists" and Stewart's crisis following a car crash the band never returned to the major pop league.
From album Mad, Bad, And Dangerous To Know.
Crosscut Saw were a top draw blues-rock band in Tallahassee, Florida in the mid- to late '70s. The band was led by two charismatic frontmen Pat Ramsey, a gifted harmonica wiz and singer, and lead guitarist Julien Kasper.
Ramsey was from Shreveport, LA, and began playing harmonica at 17. After hitchhiking around the U.S. for a couple of years, Ramsey ended up in Denver, in 1973, where he joined the Bunny Brooks Blues Band. After contributing blues harp to Johnny Winter's White Hot & Blue album, Ramsey joined Butch Trucks' Florida-based Trucks band. Eventually moving to Tallahassee, Ramsey met a teen-aged Julien Kasper and formed Crosscut Saw.
Kasper had fallen in love with the blues early, but had only owned an electric guitar for a year when Crosscut Saw was formed, but his Jimi Hendrix-styled showmanship on-stage (not to mention his considerable chops), coupled with Ramsey's singing and harmonica, made the band a top draw in clubs and bars all up and down the Eastern Seaboard.
Crosscut Saw played the circuit for five years or so, and released a single album, Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know, on the independent Surprise label in 1975.
Ramsey and Kasper stayed in touch after the group disbanded, and their annual Crosscut Saw reunions are still a big draw in Tallahassee.
In 2005 Akarma Records re-released Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know on CD.
Stevie Ray Vaughan Scuttle Buttin' & Say what!
Stevie Ray Vaughan was a blues rock singer, songwriter and guitarist, born October 3, 1954, in Oak Cliff, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. He married Lenora "Lenny" Bailey (aka Lenora Darlene Vaughan, born in Bakersfield, Kern, California, 4 December, 1953, dead on Isla Mujeres, Mexico, 27 July, 2018) in Austin, Texas, 23 December 1979. The struggling marriage (mostly due to Stevie Ray's alcoholism and drug addiction) ended in 1988, and he never had any children with her or anyone else. He named his guitar "Lennie" after her, though.
When Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, befriended by Mick Jagger among others, played at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1982, they were the first band in the history of the festival to play without having a major record contract. The show was seen by David Bowie and Jackson Browne, who invited them to his recording studio in Los Angeles where they recorded some tracks that appeared on their debut album Texas Flood the following year. He also played on Bowie's Let's Dance.
SRV, as he became known as, died on August 27, 1990 in a helicopter crash on the way to Chicago from a concert in Alpine Valley, East Troy, Wisconsin. He is buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in South Dallas. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan.
FM Aldebaran
Progressive rock band from Toronto, Canada founded in 1976 by Cameron Hawkins and Nash The Slash. Disbanded in 1989 and reformed in 1994-1996, 2006 and again since 2011.
The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Cameron Hawkins being the only constant member. Their material tends to be centered around space and science-fiction themes, although they also pursued a mainstream pop sound during the mid 1980s before disbanding.
After a long hiatus aside from a few reunion performances, Cameron Hawkins re-launched the group with a new line-up and album in 2015.
Triumvirat Sea Across The Water
The debut album from this band is largely instrumental ( there are sparse vocals, but I found them tough to make sense of ) but the keyboard playing around which it largely revolves is largely unimaginative for the most part. Not that it's technically bad, but there are hardly any hooks to attract the listener and anything else to separate them from the vast sea of such bands that existed in that era. Some have described them as an ELP clone; I wouldn't go so far as to say that; but if somewhere were to compare both the bands' output, ELP would still win in most cases. That being said, I really liked their third song 'E Minor 5/9' from this record.
War of the Worlds musical by Jeff Wayne.
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a studio double album by American-born British musician, composer, and record producer Jeff Wayne, released on 9 June 1978 by CBS Records. It is an album musical adapted from the science-fiction novel The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells in a rock opera style with a rock band, orchestra, narrator, and leitmotifs to carry the story and lyrics that express the feelings of the various characters. The album features guest artists David Essex, Justin Hayward, Phil Lynott, Chris Thompson, and Julie Covington, with actor Richard Burton as the narrator.
The album became a commercial success in the UK, debuting at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart. It won two Ivor Novello Awards, including one for Wayne and main lyricist Gary Osborne for Best Instrumental or Popular Orchestral Work. The album has enjoyed enduring popularity since its release and attracted critical acclaim. It has sold over 2.7 million copies in the UK, and an estimated 15 million copies worldwide. In 2018, it was the UK's 32nd best-selling studio album of all time.
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.
Following a Passionate Journey
You started from a communications background. You are bilingual and you decided to move to Costa Rica and start from the ground up. How did you decide to go for this journey? How did you start looking for that gold with the pen? How do you not when the road is there and open in front of you? When I was a young lad, I decided that Spanish was my favorite thing in the world. Fortunately, my parents would take me on vacations, sometimes to Mexico. I would come back with some vocabulary, and I had an interest, a base of it. Whenever I'd meet someone from the Latin community, they would give such reinforcement. It just wasn't a parlor trick or something cute. They realized that I really was into it. Then I understood something, my friend. When someone does above and beyond, there's dedicated practice. So besides what I had to do in school to get my grades, I loved watching movies and reading books. And my favorite was just having coffee and hanging out and speaking Spanish. And so anybody that has that sort of commitment and passion, you can't put that spark, you know?
Improving communication through strategic vocabulary
Any professional would know how much money is invested in somebody. To get them to that stage in business, unless they're throwing F-bombs and just giving the company away. I don't know if I, I don't think I would buy that blush. You're not firing somebody because a random customer's calling up because they got 13 extra dollars charged on the bill for a month. But that's not here nor there. I have some techniques for you, my friend, when you're thinking of this stuff. I like to adjust my vocabulary to make it more strategic and diplomatic. So I wouldn't say, excuse me on the phone. I would replace that for my clarification. Is it A, B, C, or 1, 2, 3? For my clarification. And then there's also tie-downs you could say. Sounds good, right? Makes sense, right? Because if you just keep talking, I don't know if it does sound good or makes sense. You need underwater scuba diving checkpoints. And then finally, my biggest question, My biggest gripe, it's like a gnat or a fly that bothers you. Whenever somebody uses the word help, I understand the intention behind it, but it can provoke a sort of emotion. And so I suggest using assist, guide, and lend a hand. I just know that it's like a longbow. You'll get better distance out of that compared to using help. We're accustomed to it, but it's a very uncomfortable metal chair in a waiting room with bad magazines. It just doesn't work. And so I like to, as I mentioned before, use these soft skills with people. I like to guide. I like to assist and especially, and I give it double points because you're utilizing image streaming by saying lend a hand.
https://youtu.be/NjYHz2TbKv4
https://youtu.be/ZQq683zhx_U
https://youtu.be/JyNWO9jrLcA
https://youtu.be/LB6A-IeXN28
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.
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. 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.
Costa Rica’s Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center agent 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.
We encourage you to visit one of our call centers on your next personal vacation or business trip to Central America’s paradise, Costa Rica. While you are here, we would recommend taking an extra day of your trip to visit breathtaking virgin beaches, play golf next to the ocean, try your luck at deep sea fishing, explore tropical jungles, climb volcanos or just relax in natural hot springs. Come and see for yourself why call center outsourcing in Costa Rica is a perfect solution for your growing company and a powerhouse in the BPO industry.
https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/
Alex Elish, Big Performance Podcast, 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
#AlexElish #BigPerformancePodcast #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO
Utilizing the military alphabet for enhanced communication
And another thing, Alex, use the military alphabet so emails don't bounce back. A lot of people have served. And it gives you consistency. So you're not just thinking on the fly. And these are the sort of things where you might close one additional deal a month because an email didn't bounce back just because of that. And so I think that the military likes it. People will relate to it. And in my professional opinion, it's been able to end calls in a great way where you almost get an encore song or two where it should have been ending. But now you're talking the military and Memorial Day weekend and Veterans Day. And you show your pride and respect.
Introduction to a Successful Entrepreneur
All righty thank you for for joining me it's a pleasure to talk to you i feel like i know you for the viewers that just joined i want to introduce to you richard blank behind this magical smile there is one phenomenally strong entrepreneur. You have grown your business from renting desks to a 300-seat call center in Costa Rica. That's right. Your business is taking care of hundreds of employees and you build a strong company culture that lets you carry on through COVID and you're going strong in the face of AI apocalypse with your... on the ground business with the people that you hold dear, the people who work for you.
The Art of Leadership and Communication
It's not so stiff. There is a balance. And if you're going to come here and spend more time with me than you do with your own family, why don't we have a little bit of dessert as well and make it fun? And it's not enjoyable to be a boss where people are afraid of you and you scream and yell and make people stress. There is that responsibility. They have a job to do. Yeah. But we can almost do it by doing the apex, by being the leader and the one that can fly the highest and the furthest and the fastest. Thankfully, this is my wheelhouse. So at any time I can jump on this call and I can not only resolve the issue, would share a lesson to the agent that was looking for that guidance. So in essence, I just don't write checks. This is something that, as you say, you quit after a little bit but got the skills. I sold my soul. I decided to be in this industry for 24 years because I saw the art of the speech. I didn't want it to be ruined and muddied by the bad reputations that stocks and sweet steaks and other call centers do that take advantage of people there. You know, Alex, there's a ton of people out there that earn a wonderful living by retaining a client for a company, setting appointments, making business, getting a referral, possibly if a client is upset and giving you an exit interview or feedback that you're responsible, take the suggestions and implement. And so as long as you're engaged and proactive, that individual's priceless for a corporation.
Mastering the art of communication with strategic name-dropping
You're not lying. You're not angling or forcing a sale. All I'm doing is repeating a name drop. I'm introducing myself. I'm expecting you to ask me two or three clarification questions where I just use a buffer boomerang. I'll name drop you to adjust the tone, let you know it's a great question. Repeat the question, Alex, so you don't have to repeat it, right? And then I'll send it back to you in a positive way to just keep readjusting that negative, positive tone and shutting doors and checkpoints so we don't have to repeat rabbit holes and get you upset.
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.
Following a Passionate Journey
You started from a communications background. You are bilingual and you decided to move to Costa Rica and start from the ground up. How did you decide to go for this journey? How did you start looking for that gold with the pen? How do you not when the road is there and open in front of you? When I was a young lad, I decided that Spanish was my favorite thing in the world. Fortunately, my parents would take me on vacations, sometimes to Mexico. I would come back with some vocabulary, and I had an interest, a base of it. Whenever I'd meet someone from the Latin community, they would give such reinforcement. It just wasn't a parlor trick or something cute. They realized that I really was into it. Then I understood something, my friend. When someone does above and beyond, there's dedicated practice. So besides what I had to do in school to get my grades, I loved watching movies and reading books. And my favorite was just having coffee and hanging out and speaking Spanish. And so anybody that has that sort of commitment and passion, you can't put that spark, you know?
Improving communication through strategic vocabulary
Any professional would know how much money is invested in somebody. To get them to that stage in business, unless they're throwing F-bombs and just giving the company away. I don't know if I, I don't think I would buy that blush. You're not firing somebody because a random customer's calling up because they got 13 extra dollars charged on the bill for a month. But that's not here nor there. I have some techniques for you, my friend, when you're thinking of this stuff. I like to adjust my vocabulary to make it more strategic and diplomatic. So I wouldn't say, excuse me on the phone. I would replace that for my clarification. Is it A, B, C, or 1, 2, 3? For my clarification. And then there's also tie-downs you could say. Sounds good, right? Makes sense, right? Because if you just keep talking, I don't know if it does sound good or makes sense. You need underwater scuba diving checkpoints. And then finally, my biggest question, My biggest gripe, it's like a gnat or a fly that bothers you. Whenever somebody uses the word help, I understand the intention behind it, but it can provoke a sort of emotion. And so I suggest using assist, guide, and lend a hand. I just know that it's like a longbow. You'll get better distance out of that compared to using help. We're accustomed to it, but it's a very uncomfortable metal chair in a waiting room with bad magazines. It just doesn't work. And so I like to, as I mentioned before, use these soft skills with people. I like to guide. I like to assist and especially, and I give it double points because you're utilizing image streaming by saying lend a hand.
https://youtu.be/NjYHz2TbKv4
https://youtu.be/ZQq683zhx_U
https://youtu.be/JyNWO9jrLcA
https://youtu.be/LB6A-IeXN28
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.
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. 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.
Costa Rica’s Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center agent 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.
We encourage you to visit one of our call centers on your next personal vacation or business trip to Central America’s paradise, Costa Rica. While you are here, we would recommend taking an extra day of your trip to visit breathtaking virgin beaches, play golf next to the ocean, try your luck at deep sea fishing, explore tropical jungles, climb volcanos or just relax in natural hot springs. Come and see for yourself why call center outsourcing in Costa Rica is a perfect solution for your growing company and a powerhouse in the BPO industry.
https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/
Alex Elish, Big Performance Podcast, 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
#AlexElish #BigPerformancePodcast #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO
Utilizing the military alphabet for enhanced communication
And another thing, Alex, use the military alphabet so emails don't bounce back. A lot of people have served. And it gives you consistency. So you're not just thinking on the fly. And these are the sort of things where you might close one additional deal a month because an email didn't bounce back just because of that. And so I think that the military likes it. People will relate to it. And in my professional opinion, it's been able to end calls in a great way where you almost get an encore song or two where it should have been ending. But now you're talking the military and Memorial Day weekend and Veterans Day. And you show your pride and respect.
Introduction to a Successful Entrepreneur
All righty thank you for for joining me it's a pleasure to talk to you i feel like i know you for the viewers that just joined i want to introduce to you richard blank behind this magical smile there is one phenomenally strong entrepreneur. You have grown your business from renting desks to a 300-seat call center in Costa Rica. That's right. Your business is taking care of hundreds of employees and you build a strong company culture that lets you carry on through COVID and you're going strong in the face of AI apocalypse with your... on the ground business with the people that you hold dear, the people who work for you.
The Art of Leadership and Communication
It's not so stiff. There is a balance. And if you're going to come here and spend more time with me than you do with your own family, why don't we have a little bit of dessert as well and make it fun? And it's not enjoyable to be a boss where people are afraid of you and you scream and yell and make people stress. There is that responsibility. They have a job to do. Yeah. But we can almost do it by doing the apex, by being the leader and the one that can fly the highest and the furthest and the fastest. Thankfully, this is my wheelhouse. So at any time I can jump on this call and I can not only resolve the issue, would share a lesson to the agent that was looking for that guidance. So in essence, I just don't write checks. This is something that, as you say, you quit after a little bit but got the skills. I sold my soul. I decided to be in this industry for 24 years because I saw the art of the speech. I didn't want it to be ruined and muddied by the bad reputations that stocks and sweet steaks and other call centers do that take advantage of people there. You know, Alex, there's a ton of people out there that earn a wonderful living by retaining a client for a company, setting appointments, making business, getting a referral, possibly if a client is upset and giving you an exit interview or feedback that you're responsible, take the suggestions and implement. And so as long as you're engaged and proactive, that individual's priceless for a corporation.
Mastering the art of communication with strategic name-dropping
You're not lying. You're not angling or forcing a sale. All I'm doing is repeating a name drop. I'm introducing myself. I'm expecting you to ask me two or three clarification questions where I just use a buffer boomerang. I'll name drop you to adjust the tone, let you know it's a great question. Repeat the question, Alex, so you don't have to repeat it, right? And then I'll send it back to you in a positive way to just keep readjusting that negative, positive tone and shutting doors and checkpoints so we don't have to repeat rabbit holes and get you upset.
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.
Following a Passionate Journey
You started from a communications background. You are bilingual and you decided to move to Costa Rica and start from the ground up. How did you decide to go for this journey? How did you start looking for that gold with the pen? How do you not when the road is there and open in front of you? When I was a young lad, I decided that Spanish was my favorite thing in the world. Fortunately, my parents would take me on vacations, sometimes to Mexico. I would come back with some vocabulary, and I had an interest, a base of it. Whenever I'd meet someone from the Latin community, they would give such reinforcement. It just wasn't a parlor trick or something cute. They realized that I really was into it. Then I understood something, my friend. When someone does above and beyond, there's dedicated practice. So besides what I had to do in school to get my grades, I loved watching movies and reading books. And my favorite was just having coffee and hanging out and speaking Spanish. And so anybody that has that sort of commitment and passion, you can't put that spark, you know?
Improving communication through strategic vocabulary
Any professional would know how much money is invested in somebody. To get them to that stage in business, unless they're throwing F-bombs and just giving the company away. I don't know if I, I don't think I would buy that blush. You're not firing somebody because a random customer's calling up because they got 13 extra dollars charged on the bill for a month. But that's not here nor there. I have some techniques for you, my friend, when you're thinking of this stuff. I like to adjust my vocabulary to make it more strategic and diplomatic. So I wouldn't say, excuse me on the phone. I would replace that for my clarification. Is it A, B, C, or 1, 2, 3? For my clarification. And then there's also tie-downs you could say. Sounds good, right? Makes sense, right? Because if you just keep talking, I don't know if it does sound good or makes sense. You need underwater scuba diving checkpoints. And then finally, my biggest question, My biggest gripe, it's like a gnat or a fly that bothers you. Whenever somebody uses the word help, I understand the intention behind it, but it can provoke a sort of emotion. And so I suggest using assist, guide, and lend a hand. I just know that it's like a longbow. You'll get better distance out of that compared to using help. We're accustomed to it, but it's a very uncomfortable metal chair in a waiting room with bad magazines. It just doesn't work. And so I like to, as I mentioned before, use these soft skills with people. I like to guide. I like to assist and especially, and I give it double points because you're utilizing image streaming by saying lend a hand.
https://youtu.be/NjYHz2TbKv4
https://youtu.be/ZQq683zhx_U
https://youtu.be/JyNWO9jrLcA
https://youtu.be/LB6A-IeXN28
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.
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. 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.
Costa Rica’s Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center agent 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.
We encourage you to visit one of our call centers on your next personal vacation or business trip to Central America’s paradise, Costa Rica. While you are here, we would recommend taking an extra day of your trip to visit breathtaking virgin beaches, play golf next to the ocean, try your luck at deep sea fishing, explore tropical jungles, climb volcanos or just relax in natural hot springs. Come and see for yourself why call center outsourcing in Costa Rica is a perfect solution for your growing company and a powerhouse in the BPO industry.
https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/
Alex Elish, Big Performance Podcast, 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
#AlexElish #BigPerformancePodcast #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO
Utilizing the military alphabet for enhanced communication
And another thing, Alex, use the military alphabet so emails don't bounce back. A lot of people have served. And it gives you consistency. So you're not just thinking on the fly. And these are the sort of things where you might close one additional deal a month because an email didn't bounce back just because of that. And so I think that the military likes it. People will relate to it. And in my professional opinion, it's been able to end calls in a great way where you almost get an encore song or two where it should have been ending. But now you're talking the military and Memorial Day weekend and Veterans Day. And you show your pride and respect.
Introduction to a Successful Entrepreneur
All righty thank you for for joining me it's a pleasure to talk to you i feel like i know you for the viewers that just joined i want to introduce to you richard blank behind this magical smile there is one phenomenally strong entrepreneur. You have grown your business from renting desks to a 300-seat call center in Costa Rica. That's right. Your business is taking care of hundreds of employees and you build a strong company culture that lets you carry on through COVID and you're going strong in the face of AI apocalypse with your... on the ground business with the people that you hold dear, the people who work for you.
The Art of Leadership and Communication
It's not so stiff. There is a balance. And if you're going to come here and spend more time with me than you do with your own family, why don't we have a little bit of dessert as well and make it fun? And it's not enjoyable to be a boss where people are afraid of you and you scream and yell and make people stress. There is that responsibility. They have a job to do. Yeah. But we can almost do it by doing the apex, by being the leader and the one that can fly the highest and the furthest and the fastest. Thankfully, this is my wheelhouse. So at any time I can jump on this call and I can not only resolve the issue, would share a lesson to the agent that was looking for that guidance. So in essence, I just don't write checks. This is something that, as you say, you quit after a little bit but got the skills. I sold my soul. I decided to be in this industry for 24 years because I saw the art of the speech. I didn't want it to be ruined and muddied by the bad reputations that stocks and sweet steaks and other call centers do that take advantage of people there. You know, Alex, there's a ton of people out there that earn a wonderful living by retaining a client for a company, setting appointments, making business, getting a referral, possibly if a client is upset and giving you an exit interview or feedback that you're responsible, take the suggestions and implement. And so as long as you're engaged and proactive, that individual's priceless for a corporation.
Mastering the art of communication with strategic name-dropping
You're not lying. You're not angling or forcing a sale. All I'm doing is repeating a name drop. I'm introducing myself. I'm expecting you to ask me two or three clarification questions where I just use a buffer boomerang. I'll name drop you to adjust the tone, let you know it's a great question. Repeat the question, Alex, so you don't have to repeat it, right? And then I'll send it back to you in a positive way to just keep readjusting that negative, positive tone and shutting doors and checkpoints so we don't have to repeat rabbit holes and get you upset.
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.
Following a Passionate Journey
You started from a communications background. You are bilingual and you decided to move to Costa Rica and start from the ground up. How did you decide to go for this journey? How did you start looking for that gold with the pen? How do you not when the road is there and open in front of you? When I was a young lad, I decided that Spanish was my favorite thing in the world. Fortunately, my parents would take me on vacations, sometimes to Mexico. I would come back with some vocabulary, and I had an interest, a base of it. Whenever I'd meet someone from the Latin community, they would give such reinforcement. It just wasn't a parlor trick or something cute. They realized that I really was into it. Then I understood something, my friend. When someone does above and beyond, there's dedicated practice. So besides what I had to do in school to get my grades, I loved watching movies and reading books. And my favorite was just having coffee and hanging out and speaking Spanish. And so anybody that has that sort of commitment and passion, you can't put that spark, you know?
Improving communication through strategic vocabulary
Any professional would know how much money is invested in somebody. To get them to that stage in business, unless they're throwing F-bombs and just giving the company away. I don't know if I, I don't think I would buy that blush. You're not firing somebody because a random customer's calling up because they got 13 extra dollars charged on the bill for a month. But that's not here nor there. I have some techniques for you, my friend, when you're thinking of this stuff. I like to adjust my vocabulary to make it more strategic and diplomatic. So I wouldn't say, excuse me on the phone. I would replace that for my clarification. Is it A, B, C, or 1, 2, 3? For my clarification. And then there's also tie-downs you could say. Sounds good, right? Makes sense, right? Because if you just keep talking, I don't know if it does sound good or makes sense. You need underwater scuba diving checkpoints. And then finally, my biggest question, My biggest gripe, it's like a gnat or a fly that bothers you. Whenever somebody uses the word help, I understand the intention behind it, but it can provoke a sort of emotion. And so I suggest using assist, guide, and lend a hand. I just know that it's like a longbow. You'll get better distance out of that compared to using help. We're accustomed to it, but it's a very uncomfortable metal chair in a waiting room with bad magazines. It just doesn't work. And so I like to, as I mentioned before, use these soft skills with people. I like to guide. I like to assist and especially, and I give it double points because you're utilizing image streaming by saying lend a hand.
https://youtu.be/NjYHz2TbKv4
https://youtu.be/ZQq683zhx_U
https://youtu.be/JyNWO9jrLcA
https://youtu.be/LB6A-IeXN28
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.
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. 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.
Costa Rica’s Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center agent 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.
We encourage you to visit one of our call centers on your next personal vacation or business trip to Central America’s paradise, Costa Rica. While you are here, we would recommend taking an extra day of your trip to visit breathtaking virgin beaches, play golf next to the ocean, try your luck at deep sea fishing, explore tropical jungles, climb volcanos or just relax in natural hot springs. Come and see for yourself why call center outsourcing in Costa Rica is a perfect solution for your growing company and a powerhouse in the BPO industry.
https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/
Alex Elish, Big Performance Podcast, 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
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Utilizing the military alphabet for enhanced communication
And another thing, Alex, use the military alphabet so emails don't bounce back. A lot of people have served. And it gives you consistency. So you're not just thinking on the fly. And these are the sort of things where you might close one additional deal a month because an email didn't bounce back just because of that. And so I think that the military likes it. People will relate to it. And in my professional opinion, it's been able to end calls in a great way where you almost get an encore song or two where it should have been ending. But now you're talking the military and Memorial Day weekend and Veterans Day. And you show your pride and respect.
Introduction to a Successful Entrepreneur
All righty thank you for for joining me it's a pleasure to talk to you i feel like i know you for the viewers that just joined i want to introduce to you richard blank behind this magical smile there is one phenomenally strong entrepreneur. You have grown your business from renting desks to a 300-seat call center in Costa Rica. That's right. Your business is taking care of hundreds of employees and you build a strong company culture that lets you carry on through COVID and you're going strong in the face of AI apocalypse with your... on the ground business with the people that you hold dear, the people who work for you.
The Art of Leadership and Communication
It's not so stiff. There is a balance. And if you're going to come here and spend more time with me than you do with your own family, why don't we have a little bit of dessert as well and make it fun? And it's not enjoyable to be a boss where people are afraid of you and you scream and yell and make people stress. There is that responsibility. They have a job to do. Yeah. But we can almost do it by doing the apex, by being the leader and the one that can fly the highest and the furthest and the fastest. Thankfully, this is my wheelhouse. So at any time I can jump on this call and I can not only resolve the issue, would share a lesson to the agent that was looking for that guidance. So in essence, I just don't write checks. This is something that, as you say, you quit after a little bit but got the skills. I sold my soul. I decided to be in this industry for 24 years because I saw the art of the speech. I didn't want it to be ruined and muddied by the bad reputations that stocks and sweet steaks and other call centers do that take advantage of people there. You know, Alex, there's a ton of people out there that earn a wonderful living by retaining a client for a company, setting appointments, making business, getting a referral, possibly if a client is upset and giving you an exit interview or feedback that you're responsible, take the suggestions and implement. And so as long as you're engaged and proactive, that individual's priceless for a corporation.
Mastering the art of communication with strategic name-dropping
You're not lying. You're not angling or forcing a sale. All I'm doing is repeating a name drop. I'm introducing myself. I'm expecting you to ask me two or three clarification questions where I just use a buffer boomerang. I'll name drop you to adjust the tone, let you know it's a great question. Repeat the question, Alex, so you don't have to repeat it, right? And then I'll send it back to you in a positive way to just keep readjusting that negative, positive tone and shutting doors and checkpoints so we don't have to repeat rabbit holes and get you upset.
Popol Vuh Nicht hoch im Himmel, from album Hosianna Mantra, 1972.
Florian Fricke pioneered the use of synthesizers in German rock, but by the time of Hosianna Mantra he had abandoned them (eventually selling his famous Moog to Klaus Schulze). While In den Gärten Pharaos had blended synths with piano and African and Turkish percussion, Hosianna Mantra focuses on organic instrumentation. Conny Veit contributes electric guitar, but other than that, Fricke pulls the plug and builds the album around violin, tamboura, piano, oboe, cembalo, and Veit's 12-string, often with Korean soprano Djong Yun's haunting voice hovering above the arrangements. As the album's title suggests, Fricke conceived of Hosianna Mantra as a musical reconciliation of East and West, a harmonization of seemingly opposed terms, combining two devotional music traditions. That notion of cultural hybridity resonates throughout. On "Kyrie" droning tamboura, simple piano patterns, ethereal, gull-like guitars, and yearning oboe ebb and flow before coalescing in a passage of intensity and release. The epic title track adds another dimension to the fusion, emphasizing a Western rock sound with Veit's spectacular playing to the fore, simultaneously smoldering and liquid, occasionally yielding to Djong Yun's celestial vocals. Above all, Fricke envisioned this as sacred music, intimately linked to religious experience; however, as his musical synthesis of disparate religious traditions indicates, he was seeking to foment a spiritual experience beyond the specificity of any particular faith. Indeed, Fricke called this album a "mass for the heart" and that aspect can be heard most succinctly on the melancholy "Abschied" and the gossamer-fragile "Segnung," which blend an austere hymnal sensibility with a more mystical vibe. Julian Cope has said that Hosianna Mantra sounds like it was made in a "cosmic convalescent home" -- an excellent description underscoring the timeless, healing quality of this music, which is far removed from the everyday world and yet at one with it.
Mike Oldfield Ommadawn part 2.
Although it features the beautiful recorder of Leslie Penny and the Chieftains' Paddy Maloney playing the uilean pipe, Ommadawn didn't gain Mike Oldfield the success he was looking for. The album was released in the same year as the David Bedford-arranged Orchestral Tubular Bells and nine months after Oldfield picked up a Grammy award for the original Tubular Bells album. The most pleasing attribute of Ommadawn is its incorporation of both African and Irish music in its symphonic rock & roll mainframe. Boosted by a hearty amount of different horns, piano, cello, trumpet, and synthesizer, the album has its moments of rising action, but the whole of Ommadawn fails to keep its lovely segments around long enough, and there are some rather lengthy instances that include bland runs of unvaried music. Another plus is Oldfield's use of a choir, giving the album a soft, humanistic feel when contrasted against the keyboards or synthesizer. While it does include flashes of Mike Oldfield's brilliance, the entire album may seem a little anticlimactic when compared to some of his other releases.
Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells Live at the BBC 1973.
Mike Oldfield's groundbreaking album Tubular Bells is arguably the finest conglomeration of off-centered instruments concerted together to form a single unique piece. A variety of instruments are combined to create an excitable multitude of rhythms, tones, pitches, and harmonies that all fuse neatly into each other, resulting in an astounding plethora of music. Oldfield plays all the instruments himself, including such oddities as the Farfisa organ, the Lowrey organ, and the flageolet. The familiar eerie opening, made famous by its use in The Exorcist, starts the album off slowly, as each instrument acoustically wriggles its way into the current noise that is heard, until there is a grand unison of eccentric sounds that wildly excites the ears. Throughout the album, the tempos range from soft to intense to utterly surprising, making for some excellent musical culminations. Mandolins and Spanish guitars are joined by grinding organs and keyboards, while oddball bells and cranking noises resound in the distance. In the middle of the album, guest Vivian Stanshall announces each instrument seconds before it is heard, ending with the ominous sounding tubular bells, a truly powerful and dominating instrument. The most interesting and overwhelming aspect of this album is the fact that so many sounds are conjured up yet none go unnoticed, allowing the listener a gradual submergence into each unique portion of the music. Tubular Bells is a divine excursion into the realm of new age music.
Led Zeppelin - Going To California, from album Led Zeppelin IV, Encompassing heavy metal, folk, pure rock & roll, and blues, Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album is a monolithic record, defining not only Led Zeppelin but the sound and style of '70s hard rock. Expanding on the breakthroughs of III, Zeppelin fuse their majestic hard rock with a mystical, rural English folk that gives the record an epic scope.
Pink Floyd If, from album Atom Heart Mother, Appearing after the sprawling, unfocused double-album set Ummagumma, Atom Heart Mother may boast more focus, even a concept, yet that doesn't mean it's more accessible. If anything, this is the most impenetrable album Pink Floyd released while on Harvest, which also makes it one of the most interesting of the era. Still, it may be an acquired taste even for fans, especially since it kicks off with a side-long, 23-minute extended orchestral piece that may not seem to head anywhere, but is often intriguing, more in what it suggests than what it achieves. Then, on the second side, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Rick Wright have a song apiece, winding up with the group composition "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" wrapping it up. Of these, Waters begins developing the voice that made him the group's lead songwriter during their classic era with "If," while Wright has an appealingly mannered, very English psychedelic fantasia on "Summer 68," and Gilmour's "Fat Old Sun" meanders quietly before ending with a guitar workout that leaves no impression. "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast," the 12-minute opus that ends the album, does the same thing, floating for several minutes before ending on a drawn-out jam that finally gets the piece moving. So, there are interesting moments scattered throughout the record, and the work that initially seems so impenetrable winds up being Atom Heart Mother's strongest moment. That it lasts an entire side illustrates that Pink Floyd was getting better with the larger picture instead of the details, since the second side just winds up falling off the tracks, no matter how many good moments there are. This lack of focus means Atom Heart Mother will largely be for cultists, but its unevenness means there's also a lot to cherish here.
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon
Live 1974
By condensing the sonic explorations of Meddle to actual songs and adding a lush, immaculate production to their trippiest instrumental sections, Pink Floyd inadvertently designed their commercial breakthrough with Dark Side of the Moon. The primary revelation of Dark Side of the Moon is what a little focus does for the band. Roger Waters wrote a series of songs about mundane, everyday details which aren't that impressive by themselves, but when given the sonic backdrop of Floyd's slow, atmospheric soundscapes and carefully placed sound effects, they achieve an emotional resonance. But what gives the album true power is the subtly textured music, which evolves from ponderous, neo-psychedelic art rock to jazz fusion and blues-rock before turning back to psychedelia. It's dense with detail, but leisurely paced, creating its own dark, haunting world. Pink Floyd may have better albums than Dark Side of the Moon, but no other record defines them quite as well as this one.
Album: Dubstep Of Death
Age: 2020
Artist: Luis Gomez
Genre: Electronic
00:00 Distortion
05:50 Pixel Broken Soul
09:12 Drag To Hell Ft. Jesus Alejandro
12:03 VideoGame Metal and BASS Dubstep Ft. Jesus Alejandro, Diosdelfuego10, GtxMax, SergioGamer34
16:00 Breaking My Soul
19:31 Destroying At Every Step Ft. GtxMax
23:45 End Of Existence
28:28 Crying To Death
32:05 ****, Destruction, At A High Distance
Ghi hình trong Buổi giới thiệu Album "GIẤC MƠ TÌNH YÊU" của Ca sĩ Dương Đình Trí, năm 2003. Sáng tác: Cao Minh Thu, Biểu diễn: Minh Du.
#vpopretro #minhdu #movecobeyeu #giacmotinhyeualbumrelease
