Are you ready to take a risk and follow your heart's compass, just like Richard Blank did? Richard Blank was 27 years old when he relocated to Costa Rica to train employees at a call center in San Jose. He had the courage to leave his family and friends and move thousands of miles away. That's when he found his true passion and his wife. But Richard's story doesn't end there. He went on to become the Chief Executive Officer of Costa Rica's Call Center and now owns the largest collection of restored American pinball machines and antique jukeboxes in Central America. In this blog, I will outline how Richard Blank followed his heart's compass to Costa Rica, and the 5 steps he took to take a risk and live a happy life.
About Richard Blank
Meet Richard Blank: a successful entrepreneur, CEO, and collector of pinball machines and antique jukeboxes. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, Richard moved to Costa Rica in his mid-twenties to train employees for one of the larger call centers in San Jose. During his 23 years in Costa Rica, Richard has established himself as a leader in the call center space, trained over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers, and created an environment of gamification and motivation that has led to a successful company. With a heart for the underdog, Richard seeks to empower and embolden his employees, believing that everyone deserves their dignity, and that those with leverage should extend empathy. He has also developed a passion for collecting pinball machines and antique jukeboxes which he enjoys both at home and at the call center with his employees.
Why is it important to know what inspired Richard to travel to Costa Rica?
Knowing what inspired Richard to travel to Costa Rica is important for understanding the motivations behind his journey. By understanding his reasons for traveling, we can gain insight into his mindset, which can help us to better comprehend his experiences and the impact they had on him. Additionally, exploring Richard’s motivation for the trip can provide us with insight into his personal history and how it shaped his decision to go to Costa Rica. Overall, understanding Richard’s motivations for travel to Costa Rica is essential for gaining a full picture of his journey. It can help us to gain insight into his decision-making process, personal history, and how his experience shaped his life.
Here are the 5 steps Richard took which led him to a fulfilling life:
- Followed his heart's compass and took a risk.
- Had rational discussions with family and friends to explain why he was making the move.
- Showed his family through his actions that he is living a happy life.
- Hired experienced employees who can mentor and pay it forward.
- Took time to crack the code and create something new.
- Followed his heart's compass and took a risk.
Richard Blank is a prime example of following one's heart's compass and taking a risk. He moved hundreds of miles away from his family and friends to Costa Rica, where he trained 10,000 bilingual telemarketers. In 2008, he became the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center. His management style is focused on empathy, dignity, and respect for all of his employees. He even hires older, experienced adults who may need a little extra help with computer skills. He has taken a risk in choosing Costa Rica and his career, but it has paid off. Not only does he have the largest collection of restored American pinball machines and antique jukeboxes in Central America, but he also has 150 employees who look up to him and respect him. Richard has taken a risk and followed his heart's compass, and it has paid off greatly.
When thinking about taking a risk, it is important to remember that there is no guarantee that it will pay off, but it does open the door for opportunities. Taking a risk can be daunting, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. It is important to remember that taking risks can lead to growth, whether personal or professional. Taking a risk can also help to expand your horizons and add new experiences to your life. Following your heart's compass and taking a risk can be intimidating, but it can ultimately lead to great successes.
- Had rational discussions with family and friends to explain why he was making the move.
To have rational discussions with family and friends to explain why you are making the move, it is important to start by explaining your journey and goals. For example, Richard Blank explained his journey from college, to Europe, and then to Costa Rica. He was able to explain his motivations and explain that it was a one in a million opportunity to train employees for a call center. It is also important to explain the situation, such as the fact that he was learning an industry from the inside out, and that he was meeting his wife in Costa Rica. Additionally, Richard shared his management style and the fact that he was creating something from nothing. This all gave him the ability to explain why he was making the move and why it was important to him. Lastly, it is important to give rational arguments, such as Richard's explanation that his great grandpa came to the United States and how he was just going south, rather than competing with his siblings. This helped make the move more real and easier for his family to understand.
When making a move that is a big decision and involves family and friends, it is also important to remain calm and open-minded when having rational discussions with them. Showing that you are open to their input and that you take their advice into consideration will help them understand and feel comfortable with your decision. Additionally, it is important to be able to explain why you are making the move and why it is important to you. Showing that you have thought this through and have a plan will make them feel more secure in your decision. Lastly, it is important to emphasize that while you are making a big decision, it doesn’t mean that you are cutting ties with them. You will still have the same relationship with them and still be able to stay in touch, even if it is over the phone or internet. This will help them understand that while you are making a big move, they will still be a part of your life.
- Showed his family through his actions that he is living a happy life.
One of the best ways to show your family that you are living a happy life is through your actions. Richard Blank's story is a great example of this. He moved thousands of miles away from his family and friends to Costa Rica to build a life and a company from scratch. Despite his family's initial hesitation, he showed them through his actions that he was living a content and fulfilled life. By continuing to visit them every five years and demonstrating his loyalty, dedication, and maturity, Richard was able to show his family that he was living a happy life in Costa Rica. He also showed his family that he was staying true to himself by investing in his hobby and passion of restoring pinball machines and antique jukeboxes. The fact that he was able to balance his work and his passion projects was a great example of how he was living a happy life. By exemplifying these traits, Richard was able to show his family through his actions that he was living a life he was proud of.
Another way to show your family that you are living a happy life is by engaging in activities that bring you joy. If you are passionate about a specific hobby or activity, make sure to share that with your family. This could mean taking a class, joining a club, or simply talking with your family about it. Your enthusiasm will be contagious and will show your family that you are living a life of contentment.
It is also important to show your family through your actions that you are living a life of gratitude. A great way to do this is by expressing your appreciation for the people and experiences that you are blessed with. This could mean sending thank you cards, calling to catch up, or writing down what you are grateful for each day. Showing your family that you are thankful for the blessings in your life is a great way to demonstrate that you are living a happy life.
- Hired experienced employees who can mentor and pay it forward.
In order to hire experienced employees who can mentor and pay it forward, Richard Blank recommends hiring “gray hairs”, or older employees with years of experience in various fields. This is because they are not only more likely to have the experience needed to mentor younger employees, but they also have life experience that can be invaluable in a work environment. He also emphasizes that while it is important to teach employees how to use a computer, it is more important to teach them life skills that come from the heart. Richard himself looks for people who have a marathon-runner mentality and are willing to learn and take responsibility for their work.
Richard has found success in hiring experienced employees and creating a culture of mentorship and positive reinforcement. He believes that each employee should be treated with respect and dignity, and that those in power should extend empathy. He also encourages employers to give employees a chance if they don’t have the computer skills necessary for the job, as there are other qualities such as life experience that can be more important. By creating a culture of mentorship, Richard has found success in his call center in Costa Rica and has been able to continue to stay true to himself and his passions.
In addition to hiring experienced employees, Richard believes that it is important to create a positive work environment in order to foster mentorship. He suggests finding ways to reward employees for their hard work and dedication. He believes that this will encourage employees to mentor their peers, which will lead to a more productive and successful work environment.
Richard also stresses the importance of providing employees with career development opportunities. By offering employees the chance to learn new skills, they will be more likely to stay with the company and mentor those around them. He has implemented a variety of programs in his call center in Costa Rica that focus on helping employees grow both personally and professionally. Through these programs, he has created a culture of mentorship and positive reinforcement that has resulted in success and growth.
- Took time to crack the code and created something new.
Richard Blank was able to do this in his own life by taking a leap of faith and moving to Costa Rica. He was able to take his knowledge of Spanish and his experience abroad from his junior year in Spain to build something from nothing. He was able to use his communication skills to motivate and train over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers at the call center he created. He also implemented gamification as a part of the call center culture by having the largest collection of restored American pinball machines and antique jukeboxes in Central America. Richard took a risk, but he was able to use his existing knowledge and skills to create something new and successful. He also implemented a unique management style that places emphasis on empathy and dignity, which has paid off, as he now has 150 employees. Finally, Richard is setting his sights even higher and is planning to write children's books and create interactive mini golf and Rube Goldberg experiments. By taking time to crack the code, Richard was able to create something new and successful in his life.
Step 5 is also an opportunity to look outside of your comfort zone and try something new. If you are looking to make a change, why not try something completely different? For example, if you are a software engineer, why not take some time to learn about web design or marketing? You may find that you have a passion for something you never would have thought of. There is no harm in taking a risk, as it may lead you to something great that you would not have otherwise discovered.
You can also take some time to crack the code by taking an online course or attending a seminar. Taking classes or learning from other experts can give you the knowledge and skills you need to create something new. You may find that you have the basics down but need some additional training to take it to the next level. Taking the time to learn something new can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to create something great.
Richard Blank's story is one of courage, resilience and risk-taking. He left his family and friends to move to Costa Rica, where he ended up training employees for a call center and eventually becoming the CEO of the company. He also built the largest collection of restored American pinball machines and antique jukeboxes in Central America. By taking the time to learn the industry from the inside out, having rational discussions with family and friends to explain his move, showing his family and friends he was living a happy life, hiring experienced employees who can mentor and pay it forward as well as taking time to crack the code and create something new, Richard was able to follow his heart's compass and take a risk to live a happy life. You can do the same: take a risk and follow your heart's compass. Believe in yourself, and you will find the courage and strength to make your dreams come true.
I’d love to hear how you apply Richard Blank's steps to get fulfillment and joy from risk-taking in your life. Leave me a comment on how it went for you or if you still struggle with any of these steps!
Photo by Juliana Barquero on Unsplash
Photo by Cosmic Timetraveler on Unsplash
