If you need to whip up a quick snack, these ham bites are the way to go. They’re simple to make and they’re great for a summertime cookout or picnic!

Ingredients:
- 1 package dinner rolls
- 2 cans of ham OR sliced deli ham
- 1 package shredded cheese
- Mayo/mustard (optional)

Directions:
1. Open your canned ham, drain & chop into small, bite-size chunks. Or you can use deli ham and chop it into smaller pieces.
2. Slice open the dinner rolls and spread the chunked ham evenly.
3. Sprinkle with the shredded cheese and place in the oven on 350 degrees. Leave the top layer of bread off at this time so that the bread won’t get too crispy. Leave the ham bites in the oven just long enough for the cheese to begin melting.
4. Place the top layer of bread back on the bites, and put them back in the oven for just a couple of minutes.
5. Take out and add mustard or mayo if you like.

Enjoy!

Holly

Printed Glass Game Tables

Practical and durable, these glass game tables stay out all the time,….allowing you the joy of an impromptu game and the reminder to play, anytime. Cute, and clever!

There are so many ideas for uses of Glass Countertops. They are like chameleons of color – able to work in any style room. Everyone always assumes glass is a “modern” material, but it’s really the color along with the mix of textures in a room that truly dictates how the eye moves around a room.

The glass countertop is a calming element against the busy energy of the tile pattern.

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This breakroom features patterned glass backsplash and a glass countertop with a sleek undermount sink.

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A thick glass countertop and serving bar, with Dreamwalls backpainted glass-fronted appliances and cabinets.

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Dreamwalls Color Glass desktop with monitor cutout.

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This sleek bathroom has backpainted glass walls, glass shelves, glass countertop,….even a glass sink!

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The glass countertops and fireplace surround give this space an instant unity.

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The extra attention to detail of enhanced edgework on this countertop gives it more dimension and a classical vibe that rivals any stone or synthetic countertop.

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

~ Albert Einstein

Dreamwalls True Black Backpainted Glass Table Topper

What is a table topper, you ask? It is a piece of glass – usually 1/4″ (6mm) or 5/32″ (4mm) thick that is placed on the existing top of a table, or some other piece of furniture like a dresser or credenza. Since it is completed supported by the solid piece of furniture, it may or may not need to be tempered, and the edgework is usually a simple polished edge. Historically, table toppers have been clear glass; but today, Dreamwalls offers so many glass options that you can change the look of a piece of furniture instantly with NO TOOLS, simply by placing a piece of glass down on the top.

Antique Mirror Table Topper

5 Reasons Dreamwalls Glass Table Toppers are Brilliant Solutions

• 1- They can revive an older, worn piece of furniture without refinishing or altering the piece in any way.

• 2- They protect wood furniture or table linens from moisture and stains – and clean up is a simple wipe.

• 3- They instantly update or unify a design with color.

Acid Etched Back-painted Glass Table Topper - "Tree" Design

• 4- They give all the beauty and practicality of a glass countertop, with an economical thinner piece of glass.

• 5- Dreamwalls has a huge variety of options so you can have a table topper back-painted in ANY color for an instant modern update, in a huge choice of stone or marble patterns for classic style, in antique mirror for a refined reflection, or in low-iron ultra-clear mirror for the brightest sparkle.

Dreamwalls Glass Red Table Topper

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I attended the 2012 Chick-Fil-A Leadercast™ event last week, and Angela Ahrendts was one of the interviewed speakers. She is the CEO of legendary English fashion house, Burberry. It is credited with inventing the trench coat in , and it’s iconic plaid pattern is recognizable he world over.

Angela Ahrendts is, an American with a background as VP of Liz Claiborne, Inc. and and was President of Donna Karan International. She has been CEO of Burberry since 2006, and is considered one of the most influential business people working today. Under her leadership, the company has been rigorously evolving as an “young/old company” that is very digital and into social media,…while still retaining a firm grasp of it’s “British-ness”. As you can see from this video, Burberry World Live, in Taipei from April 26th, 2012.

British Heritage, Fashion, Music and Weather to celebrate the opening of the Burberry Taiwan flagship store at Taipei 101. Combining an eight-part 360˚ film, a live musical performance and digital weather experience, Burberry World Live will eventually tour cities globally including London, Hong Kong and Chicago later this year. This experience just goes to show how Burberry is a company that can still be modern and fresh using amazing digital experiences – but the viewer always knows it’s still Burberry.

What struck me the most about Ahrendts segment was how her company wasn’t strict about strategy. In a casual interview format conducted by John Maxwell, Ahrendts spoke about trust and intuition being the keys to her company’s success. They have a Chief Creative Officer and a Strategic Innovation Council,….and their sole purpose is to dream of possibilities. In her opinion, ‘intuition’ is the manifestation of trust. As she pointed out, you can’t prove something that’s never been done before. “We value feeling over knowing.”

“Don’t get intimidated by how fast things (technology/social media) are moving. At the end of the day, a corporate culture of trust is what makes a great company.” Ahrendts concluded. So hire the best employees you can, but then trust them to make the decision that is best for the brand. A beautiful idea, indeed.

Last week, I was one of thousands that attended the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast simultateous webcast event. The focus was on “Leadership”, but many of the speakers spoke of personal growth, the importance of life balance, and choices. It was a truly inspiring event that I would strongly recommend.

Andy Stanley

The first speaker, Andy Stanley, is a pastor and the founder of NorthPoint Ministries in Georgia, and was a fantastic speaker.  He is the author of the new book, When Work and Family Collide.

Stanley spoke about a single theme that could help us become better at our careers – be that as the CEO of a company, sales, marketing, or a customer service: Uncertainty.

He argued that uncertainty is what made leaders, leaders. It is why we need leaders, it is what separates leaders from followers. But uncertainty is also what allows us to grow and gain control of our own lives when we deal with uncertainty with courage and conviction.

When you wake up in the morning, or are faced with a challenge; Stanley recommended you ask yourself these 3 questions:

1- What would my replacement do? – Tough economic times always make us feel worried about our job. Face that fear head on. Don’t lose your objectivity because it’s always been done a certain way. This simple question points out the waste in your efforts and keeps you focused.

2- What would a GREAT leader do? - Don’t be concerned with reputation, the board of directors, or a bonus. Your concern is to be the best you can be for the right reasons. Be that great leader.

3- What story do I want to be able to tell? - Every decision is ultimately nothing more than a story once it has passed. What you wake up and do everyday is your legacy – you don’t want to have to lie or feel ashamed about any of it. You want to be proud to tell your children what you do each day. “Money comes and money goes,…but your story is always with you,” Stanley said.

The first question alone was trans-formative for me. When I’m mired in detail work and the minutea of a project,…it’s time to remember that my replacement wouldn’t do it – she would probably delegate it. She would focus on the important bigger vision.

What is a good lesson in work that you’ve learned recently? How did it transform your actions?

This week, we’ve been focusing on customer service.  I was reflecting on key customer service that I’ve received that made me really feel good to be a customer,…and one experience recently jumped out at me.

There’s a little company called Apple….they make computers and gadgets,…you may have heard of them. I kid, but the point is, that they are a HUGE company and my small purchase doesn’t really amount to anything in their world. It won’t make or break them. But they have customer service that treats everyone special, and it made my life a little easier in a way that made me want to tell people about it.

It was a cold trip to Indianapolis for a sales meeting. I was super-prepared. I’d packed all my cables and adapters. I double-checked and triple checked. But when I actually got to Indy, I realized I had packed a white apple adapter,…but it was the WRONG white apple adapter. I needed a Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter,…and instead I had another type that would not help me get my presentation from computer to big screen.

I was scrambling. I went online and found the apple store in Indy. I checked the hours, I could just make it if I caught the cab now. We high-tailed it over there, 15 minutes before close. I walk into the mall and all the other stores are dark. My heart sank. But there was the Apple Store, all lit up. There were nothing but employees within,…mopping, restocking, and meeting. Technically, they were closed too. I steeled myself to turn on the charm, water-works, or cold hard cash to get what I needed from them.

But one store employee took me in and got me exactly what I needed while she explained that the mall had different hours in winter due to the extreme cold. But they were getting ready to do a training on new items, so they were glad they were there to help me. Which she did extremely efficiently. I was back in my hotel room in time to run through my presentation one more time before bed.

The fact that she didn’t chastise me for failing to call first (or make me feel like they were doing me a big favor), was wonderful. She took care of me cheerfully and sent me on my way in 5 minutes. Truly, she was only doing her job,….but it made me feel like I was important to her and she was glad to help. And it instantly made me feel even better about my MacBook Pro, my Apple TV, and my iTunes account.

So does your customer service do that for someone? Leave us a comment about a recent customer service experience that elevated the art form. And if you’ve ever reached out to us,…or had a salesman reach out to you,…we hope you’ve had a good experience. Let us know how we did.

“If we get better, customers will demand we get bigger.”

~S. Truette Cathy
[founder of Chick-Fil-A]

Good customer service starts with taking a good look at yourself!

Working for a mirror manufacturer has its advantages. I am surrounded by mirrors. Down every hallway and around every corner in our offices, there’s likely to be one. When I was new, it was a little unnerving; but now I’ve become very comfortable with my own reflection. (No one ever has to tell you your slip is showing or you have broccoli in your teeth around here!)

So it was easy for me to find the perfect customer service tool for improving the quality of my interactions: Mirrors. I have a mirror on the wall directly in front of my desk, as well as a small one to my right side (where my phone is angled).  This means that when I’m talking to customer or vendors via phone, I can visually check myself.

What do I check in the mirror? These 3 basic things:

1) Am I smiling? The smile ALWAYS comes through your voice and makes a difference.
2) Do I look calm and cool? That’s the type of person customers are needing me to be, so it’s important to project the proper self.
3) Am I present? If I’m able to address my own reflection like the customer, I’m not also checking e-mail, filing paperwork, or doing other tasks which take away from the customer’s experience.They have my full attention.

Once you let go of your preconceived notions of vanity, it will greatly improve the quality of your phone conversations. To think more about customer service and the person in the mirror, this article by Don Crawley (an expert in helping IT folks finesse their customer service skills) talks more in depth about some of the subtle messages we send to our customers and vendors when we don’t use positivity, empathy and confidence, by first looking at the person in the mirror in customer service. I’m just perhaps a little more literal than most,….but I tell you, it works!

Give it a try and let me know the results,…I’m curious to hear your feedback.