Between work, family and personal ambitions, it can be a challenge for even the most successful woman to keep her life in balance. Purpose and fulfillment share an importance in ensuring women live their lives to the fullest. However, it often seems as if one area of life suffers, while in the pursuit of achievement in another. These challenges can be frustrating and overwhelming, creating psychological and even physical problems. A life coach serves as one solution offering hope and help for women in these situations.

Charmaine Carraway, multi-talented life coach, entrepreneur and Visionary Woman, recently launched her unique vision into the world at TheVisionaryWoman.com. The site establishes a forum for women to connect, meeting their emotional and spiritual needs, as well as finding the support they need for success in their careers and personal and professional relationships. Through webinars, blogs, and one-on-one counseling, Charmaine provides support and guidance to women around the country. One needs only to speak with her for a moment to realize that she is not only a counselor, but also a motivational speaker with a good sense of humor.

Charmaine shares, “Many women who are successful in the business or corporate world need support to be the best they can be in all aspects of life. Successful women are not one-dimensional. Too often, success comes at the cost of relationships.” Charmaine is passionate about empowering women to be purposeful in their choices, so that they will not look back with regret having not realized the value of the relationships in their lives. “Women are complex creatures who want to know their purpose,” Charmaine says. “Prioritizing and investing in yourself and relationships brings dividends, just like a business would.”

Many women seek words of advice from family, friends, or neighbors when it comes to focal decisions in life. But jealousy, biases, and even personal dysfunctions on the part of advice givers can steer a successful woman toward regret, bitterness, and even isolation. Moreover, those resources may not have insight regarding next steps in pursuit of achieving a goal.

Enters The Visionary Woman. Charmaine has a Bachelor’s in Marriage and Family Counseling, and is working toward her Master’s in Psychology. She has also been a successful business woman, rubbing elbows with other career-driven women who need a little help to hold it all together. “Trying to balance it all, yourself, family, and career, causes unnecessary anxiety, stress, and depression,” Charmaine says, which is why she loves to engage women by encouraging and challenging them. In turn, she practices what she preaches, seeking counsel through her life coach and mentor.

Here are the top five reasons a woman may need to consult a life coach.

1. Stuck in a rut. Sometimes people feel like they do the same types of work and routines day after day, year after year. Also, careers stagnate, such as not being promoted to that coveted position or a lack of challenge.

2. Failed relationships. Everyone has failed relationships. A good life coach can help one discover the causes of these failures, and what can be done to fix them now avoiding the same mistakes in the future.

3. Bad habits. A life coach can help a person kick a bad habit, such as smoking, overeating, lack of exercise, etc… through encouragement and empowerment.

4. Purpose in life. Life goes by too quickly, and a life coach can help one discover what makes one feel fulfilled, bringing joy to her day-to-day.

5. Plan for success. Whether it’s a business plan or a personal plan, a life coach can help formulate those next steps and hold a person accountable.

Charmaine Carraway is excited about helping women become “visionary women.” She says, “I love to help women soar and be successful in all aspects of life.” For those women wanting to take their lives to the next level, a life coach may just be the secret weapon for success! Making the decision to take action is the first step to achieving an abundant and full life.

Buyers and sellers of farm or equestrian land have unique needs when it comes to real estate. Because of their individual and often complex requirements, it’s important that they partner with a realtor who has expertise within this specific industry.

Burck Stevens not only understands real estate, but he also knows how to use the land. After all, his nickname is “The Land Man.” Perhaps this is what makes him a premier equestrian and farm land agent with United Country Real Estate in the Leipers Fork area of Franklin, TN.

His own knowledge and expertise has come first hand from owning his own farm for ten years. Burck can look at a piece of land and know how to use it best, and he guides buyers through all the steps of not only real estate but the new responsibilities that come from owning farm or equestrian land. “It’s important to help buyers visualize how to use a property to its full potential and get specialized financing for farms” says Burck.

Buyers are usually looking for peace and quiet with some privacy and a chance to enjoy being close to nature. Many are looking for a property with fencing, a water supply for animals like a creek or a pond, as well as a barn. The typical acreage has a wide range as well with different needs, from a small property of 5-10 acres to a large farm of 50+ acres. Each piece of land has its benefits and obstacles, so it’s important that an expert guides buyers through the process. Burck recommends working with a realtor with local connections so he or she knows what’s coming on the market, even if it’s not available yet.

Sellers should work with an experienced realtor as well. According to Burck, “a skilled realtor or broker will know how to stage the properties and help them look their best as well as what improvements would help the sale.” Dealing with these equestrian and farm properties on a regular basis, the real estate agent knows what the property is actually worth. Burck says that pricing a property correctly is the most critical element to selling it. If sellers are overreaching with their price, not only will it take longer to sell, but also buyers may not be able to get financing.

Here are the top five requirements buyers or sellers of a farm or equestrian property should look for with a realtor.

A good listener. A good agent will actually listen to what the client wants. “You can find out pretty quickly if you spend time with your agent whether they are listening to what you want,” Burck says.

Experience with these types of properties. Out of town or inexperienced agents don’t know enough about land issues from fencing and barns to water and animals. A real estate agent from the city is not going to be able to look at a property and know its potential and pitfalls. Also, an experienced agent can help a seller price the property so it will sell.

A marketing plan. Sellers should ask their agent what their plans are for utilizing social media and other websites to market a property. “It’s not just MLS anymore,” Burck says. “A good agent needs to utilize everything from Facebook to Trulia, Zillow, and even Craigslist.” He also lists properties on other websites such as Country Homes.

Willing to go the extra mile. An agent should help get the buyer or seller what they need when they need it. Burck has resources available for his clients, from financing to contractors, in order to assist in the purchase and ownership of farm or horse properties.

Advice about owning the property. Many buyers are purchasing farm or equestrian property for the first time. Burck’s ten years of experience with his own farm property can help buyers know what owning the property will entail, from general upkeep to potential repairs or project ideas.

The market is hot right now for these types of properties, according to Burck. No doubt that part of the reason is that Middle Tennessee is a beautiful place to live. Since 2009, prices have climbed steadily, and now it has shifted to a seller’s market. What that means for buyers and sellers alike is that they need a qualified real estate agent to help them navigate. There are a lot of steps between an offer and sold. An experienced agent will smooth the path for clients, turning dreams to reality.

According to the Migraine Research Foundation, nearly 1 in 4 American households have at least one member suffering from migraine headaches. About 4% of these sufferers have chronic migraines that can occur as many as 15 days per month, lasting 4-6 hours each. Migraines can be severely debilitating and include symptoms such as pulsing or throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and sound, blurred vision, and nausea or vomiting.

Most people think of Botox as a treatment for wrinkles, stiff muscles, and similar complaints. While Botox helps alleviate these, recent research tells us it can benefit chronic migraine patients, too. Dr. John R. Schneider with Comprehensive Pain and Neurology Center in Brentwood, Murfreesboro and Spring Hill, TN shares, “Botox is a FDA approved medication that is injected in small amounts at specified muscle targets around the head and neck.”

The injection pattern includes 31 injections over 7 areas of the head and neck, given once every 12 weeks. Physicians use small, fine needles to prevent discomfort. The injections may feel like tiny pinpricks. Dr. Schneider’s patients report a reduction in the severity and frequency of headaches by over 50% from the baseline.

Botox differs from other chronic migraine treatments. According to Dr. Schneider, “Botox is considered a prophylactic medication, meaning the medication is used to help prevent a problem from starting. Typical migraine medications focus on aborting the headache once it starts. Chronic migraine patients usually manage with a combination of both types of medications.”

Many patients are concerned about getting injections with needles. The typical needle size is quite small and comparable to insulin needles. Other patients are anxious about having “toxin” put in their body. Dr. Schneider responds, “although this is not an unreasonable concern, the amount of toxin injected is quite small and rarely causes any unwanted side effects.”

To prevent or lessen any side effects, patients should tell their doctor about any medication they currently take, and not start new medications until they know how their body reacts to Botox. Although not very frequent, Botox’s common side effects include – pain at the injection sites, head and neck pain and vision problems; tell a doctor right away if this occurs. Additionally, patients should tell their doctor if they’ve received Botox for any other condition, the number of injections received, and exactly what type of Botox received.

Dr. Schneider reminds migraine suffers to “be aggressive with treatment and do not wait until the migraine has peaked before initiating treatment. Try to identify any triggers to your migraine and eliminate as much as possible.”

Remember, Botox is a preventative treatment that needs time to work. Stay in touch with the doctor to chart progress and be specific about any symptom experiences. If a patient is not progressing as he or she would like or if the headache days don’t diminish after 1-2 treatments, the patient and their doctor may need to discuss alternative treatments.

Vaccines have been a hot topic in the news lately because of the recent measles outbreak. A growing number of parents have increased worries over immunizations, despite the medical community confirming time and time again the safety and benefits of vaccines.  

Dr. Phyllis Townsend, a pediatrician in Franklin, TN, is concerned about recent trends that leave children unprotected from potentially deadly diseases. “If you walk through an old cemetery, you can see why vaccines are important. Many people lost a child, often under the age of one, from diseases that are completely preventable now,” shares Dr. Townsend.

Dr. Townsend believes that parents are avoiding vaccines because of misinformation that links vaccines to autism. She says that people are scared and blame vaccines, but that there is “no evidence in science that vaccines cause autism.” She states that vaccines are safe, and that the side effects are very mild and short-lived such as a low-grade fever, which are nothing compared with the actual disease.

At Pediatric Associates of Franklin, where Dr. Townsend is one of seven doctors, they follow the vaccine schedule recommended by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Some parents want to spread out the vaccines, but “spreading them out,” she says, “opens the baby up to potential infections.” For example, pneumococcal diseases in babies less than six months of age are potentially deadly, but the recommended schedule begins vaccination at two months of age. If the recommended schedule is not followed, the baby is open to infection for a longer timeframe when they are most vulnerable.

Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of newborns should be revaccinated to protect the baby. Pertussis, known as “whooping cough” or the “100 day cough”, is a disease that pregnant mothers are revaccinated against between weeks 27 to 36 in order to prevent severe infant illness or death. Fathers should be revaccinated, too, as well as siblings. According to the CDC, in 2012, there were over 48,000 cases of whooping cough because of a lack of vaccination, resulting in 20 deaths.

Children who are not vaccinated need a really good pediatrician, Dr. Townsend points out. This generation of parents doesn’t have a concept of a world with terrible diseases like polio. “People used to forego swimming pools in the summer just to avoid getting polio,” she says. “Because new parents never lived through outbreaks of now-preventable diseases, they don’t understand how vital vaccines are.” She hopes to come alongside parents and educate them on the importance of vaccines as well as their safety.

Above all, Dr. Townsend loves watching the children in her practice grow up healthy. The relationships with families in her practice as they change have kept her going for over 17 years. She has seen kids grow up, graduate, and, now, bring their children back to her office.

Vaccines are an important part of having healthy children. Vaccinate and revaccinate to prevent infant mortality and keep families safe.

Pediatric Associates of Franklin is open 7 days a week, located at 570 Bakers Bridge Avenue, Franklin, TN, and can be reached at 615-790-3200.

Selling cars and furniture on Craiglist can be easily accomplished and encourages people to give Zillow and a “for sale by owner sign” a try for the family home. However, from earning more money on the sale to avoiding unnecessary home repairs, attorney Kim Hollingshead says people may want to rethink their home sale strategy by enlisting professional help.

Hollingshead, president and co-founder of Touchstone Title & Escrow outside Nashville, says experience has proven time and again a home seller can save themselves some big problems and definitely earn more money on the home sale by using the services of a licensed Real Estate Agent.

“It may not seem like residential real estate is a very technical field, if you enjoy watching House Hunters International or Property Brothers. Don’t get me wrong; I love those shows! But, with constantly changing real estate laws and regulations, I’ve seen friends and clients miss out on so much money by not having qualified assistance in navigating their unique market,” Hollingshead said.

Although she’s not a real estate agent, Hollingshead knows from years of home closing experience the pitfalls of owners representing themselves. Here are her top reasons to use an agent  – proving selling a home is a marathon not a sprint!

1. Keep It Professional. The first persons to whom Real Estate Agents market a home are other Real Estate Agents. Agents know the lingo and the way in which to best present a home. Some Real Estate Agents even decline to show For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listings to avoid all the headaches.  By hiring a professional to list a home on the MLS, people will attract more buyers and the transaction will be handled professionally.

2. Always Look The Best.  People have to be able to sell the home to other buyers, but of course.  Real Estate Agents know all the tricks of the trade to make a home look its best, sell quickly and for the most money.

3. Get The Ducks in a Row.  Sellers have to sell their home to the title company by proving they can convey “free and clear” or “marketable” title.  This can be especially difficult if it is an estate sale, short sale or elderly trust case. The title company will assist you with the paperwork but it is your Real Estate Agent who acts as the go-between, keeping everyone informed and satisfied.

4. The Home is Worth What?  Banks are now required to seek independent appraisals of the value of a home.  This means homeowners must be able to sell their home to the appraiser – key to yielding the most money in the sale.  What can sellers do to combat a bad appraisal? The Real Estate Agent will find comps that work and point out important features, such as missed square footage.

5. Inspection Homework! Many FSBO’s list their home for less than market value in hopes of a quick sale and feel saving money on the Real Estate Agent’s commission gives them the wiggle room they need to do so.  The problem is they forget to factor in the cost of repairs.  Real Estate Agents work closely with home inspectors and know what repairs a home inspector is going to recommend, factoring the cost into the list price. Home inspectors are important in the process of a home sale but an experienced agent will help the seller avoid costly and unnecessary home repairs through knowledgeable negotiating.

A seller acting as his or her own agent is difficult when people need a professional advocate for the biggest transaction of their life – the sale of a personal home. An advocate reminds sellers to turn off utilities, assists in transferring warranties and security systems and helps sellers remember 100 different items they might overlook trying to pack and working through the stress of a new adventure.

“Most importantly, I’ve seen clients miss out on thousands of dollars in the sale of their home due to good intentions and lack of information.  It pains me to see this, but, after working with so many qualified, smart Real Estate Agents, I know this is something which can be easily avoided,” Hollingshead said. 

BIO: Kim Hollingshead, Esq., is president and co-owner of Touchstone Title & Escrow, a Nashville-area, full-service, residential real estate closing and escrow company. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and David Lipscomb University.  Hollingshead is also a member of the American Land Title Association, Tennessee Land Title Association, Tennessee Bar Association, National Association of Realtors as well as the Middle Tennessee, Greater Nashville and Williamson County Association of Realtors.