As a parent of one child a year out of college and another one heading into college, I was struck by a statistic quoted by Seth Godin that only 20 percent of 2009 college grads who applied for jobs got one. Ouch! Seth goes on to convey some great suggestions for what the unlucky 80 percent of grads can do while they wait for the world to catch up to them. Things like mastering a programming language; giving a speech a week to local organizations; self-publishing a book; writing a regular blog on a subject you care about; and a bunch more. Great ideas!

But not just for unemployed grads. I coach executives in the 40s, 50s, and 60s who are either out of work, see the writing on the wall with the current job, or might be spray painting the wall themselves just to get the hell out of corporate America. Seth’s ideas can work for them, too.

Getting outside your own head is great advice. Too often we brood on our situation instead of creating something new and re-energizing our career prospects or entrepreneurial desires. What’s one project you can start this month that will take you to a new place and get you passed where you’re currently stuck?

Tags: Career Coaching, Seth Godin