The Dead Pixels Society podcast. Mastering Customer Service Excellence with Richard Blank

This podcast is for a business-to-business audience of entrepreneurs and companies in the photo/imaging retail, online, wholesale, mobile, and camera hardware/accessory industries.

Embark with us on a journey to the heart of entrepreneurship as Richard Blank shares the vibrant tale of his rise to business success in Costa Rica. From his early days as a Spanish major, Blank's path diverged from family expectations, leading him to the lush tropics where he cultivated a top-tier bilingual call center. His story is one of embracing individuality, with a healthy dose of risk-taking, as he lays bare the trials and triumphs of building a business anchored in empathy and the genuine acknowledgment of his team's dedication.

https://youtu.be/TIUS4cl829g

In our dialogue, Blank unveils the crucial role of interpersonal relationships in business development and the art of fostering a customer service ethos that prizes personalized interactions over rote transactions. His approach to leadership—judging performance over a season and embedding 30-second checkpoints in conversations—reveals a philosophy that sees beyond the numbers to the people and passion that drives enduring success.

MAY 02, 2024 RICHARD BLANK SEASON 5 EPISODE 164. Blank discusses his philosophy of workplace dynamics, emphasizing the symbiosis of discipline and understanding in nurturing a growth-centric environment. He underscores the enduring value of human engagement in an age where automation often overshadows the personal touch.

The Dead Pixels Society podcast
Published By Gary Pageau

News, information and interviews about the photo/imaging business. This is a weekly audio podcast hosted by Gary Pageau, editor of the Dead Pixels Society news site and community.

Gary Pageau is principal of InfoCircle LLC, continuing his marketing communications career. InfoCircle LLC is a marketing and communications consulting firm, specializing in business-to-business markets. For nearly 25 years, he was with PMA International, serving most recently as Publisher, Content Development and Strategic Initiatives. His primary responsibilities included overseeing the Association’s editorial department, marketing research unit, education and corporate relations department.

Gary Pageau: As the editor-in-chief of Dead Pixels Society, the leading photo/imaging industry newsletter and website, I combine my passion for photography and storytelling with my expertise in market research, media relations, and publishing. For over six years, I have been creating and editing engaging and informative content that reaches thousands of readers and subscribers across various platforms, including digital and social media.

Gary Pageau is also the owner of InfoCircle LLC, a content marketing company that provides services for small businesses, such as social media marketing, corporate communications, industry research, and email marketing. He has helped several clients achieve their business goals by developing and implementing effective marketing strategies, such as launching new products, entering new market segments, and increasing sales and growth. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor at Jackson College, where he teaches entrepreneurship 101 to inmates in Michigan correctional facilities, sharing his knowledge and experience in starting and running a business


1. Interpersonal Communication Conflict Management Strategy

2. Phonetic Micro Expression reading for mastering verbal tell signs.

3. The Famous Buffer-Boomerang Technique


Advanced telemarketing strategy, conflict management, interpersonal soft skills, customer support, rhetoric, gamification, pinball machines, employee motivation and phonetic micro expression reading.


Richard’s vision quest journey is filled with twists and turns. At 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