When I got out of my corporate job and started my real estate career...

When I got out of my corporate job and started my real estate career 10 years ago, one of the things I craved right off the bat was to have some semblance of a daily routine. Starting my day with breakfast at Stone Soup Kitchen in Grant Park gave me just that. It got me going, got me mingling with people in my neighborhood, and quite frankly, it got me business.

Over the years, Stone Soup has been like my morning office. I conduct my most important business there. I have breakfast meetings there with home buyers and sellers, my associates, employees and team members, and I've even held casual interviews there with potential future team members as well as many others who were thinking of starting a career in real estate. I've also had breakfast there with neighborhood champions, public education heroes, city and state leaders as well as some incredible people running for local office. I mean, seriously . . . it really has been the perfect venue for starting my mornings off with an attitude of service and gratitude so that I can be the best person I can be every day.

The owner, Sarah Rick, and her staff at Stone Soup have always been gracious to me and my guests, and have never failed to make me feel like an honorary employee moreso than just that crazy customer that camps out way too long. Hell, they even put my made-up breakfast item on the menu just so I wouldn't have to repeat the ingredients every morning.

I'm sad to say that this week is Stone Soup Kitchen's last. Although they were slated to close their doors on August 23, most of the staff have had to start their next jobs sooner rather than later. Therefore, Sunday, August 14, will be their last day serving breakfast and lunch at 584 Woodward Ave SE. You've only got 4 days to get your final fill of pigs in a jamwich, Hungarian mushroom soup and Rob's scramble.

To Sarah and all her staff -- past and present -- suffice it to say I will miss you all so terribly much. Thank you, so so so much, for all you've done for me and for everyone in our community. I wish you all the luck in the world and can't wait to see what you'll be up to next.