The world is all abuzz with talk of whether or not President Obama should take a vacation at this time of economic crisis: unemployment at 9.1 nationally, housing foreclosures still rampant and the stock market in a tizzy. The questions are: Do his actions show his inability to relate? Will a day or more on the golf courses in Martha's Vineyard help prepare him for the critical decisions he must make to get this economy going again? Is the President really ever on vacation?

Answer these questions as you like, but the fact is vacations are meant to be opportunities to step back, get rest and recharge in order to bring more energy to the work that needs to be done.

Right now in America, no one needs a vacation more than entrepreneurs! Particularly, women entrepreneurs!

It's been 3 or 4 years of continual pressure to stay solvent and try and guess which way the current economy will turn. Women entrepreneurs particularly have the added burden often of keeping a small business going while providing the day to day operations moving at home. Especially since statistically more men than women have lost their jobs.

My research of women entrepreneurs in small business (one to 5 employees) indicates that less than 5% have taken vacation in 2011, and those that have taken time off have not unplugged from their technology for more than 24 hours in more than 3 years.

As a business coach and entrepreneur, I know how difficult it is to completely cut yourself off from your staff, customers, vendors and all business-related material - HOWEVER - I also know that those that do come back with new ideas and more enthusiasm for the bigger vision.

Entrepreneurs, by definition are persons who own and operate businesses and unfortunately, in the last several years, those persons have been so involved in the day-to-day operations they have lost the time to focus on the larger vision.

So, take this coach's advice and take an unplugged vacation. You may not be able to afford 10 days at Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark, MA, but your business CAN'T afford for you stay stuck paddling in circles.

If you are still in business - you have what it takes to stay in business. Now it's time to step back, get away and give yourself a chance to look at your business as you did at the beginning-----a living, breathing, organization that contributes to the betterment of the community at large. Enjoy!