When you’re unhappy, you wonder: should you focus on improving your outlook or changing your situation?

Changing your outlook sounds easier and certainly less scary.  The positive thinkers will tell you to smile and the good feelings will find you.  Look for the silver lining.  It will all work out.

But after a while, positive thinking needs to lead to positive action.  It’s great to find a way to enjoy the job you’ve got in the short-term, but how do you know when to make the leap for the work you love?

Dave Hoskins may not have all the answers, but he has the experience.  He started playing guitar at age seven, but was convinced a career in music was too risky.   After twenty years of trying to “whistle while he worked” in other careers, he’s now got a great new band, named LYRE, and the confidence to let his heart sing.

We could all stand to take note.

The numbers are staggering.

Worker satisfaction levels are the lowest ever recorded in 22 years of surveys.

In February, June, and October of 2010, the number of U.S. workers voluntarily quitting surpassed the number fired or discharged.

84% of those currently employed are looking for a new job in 2012.

I can’t help but wonder: how did we get here?  Wasn’t the knowledge economy supposed to be better?

It’s easy to point a finger at the unstable economy, to imagine the stress and workload that accompanies the employment turmoil is the real source of the problem.  However, my informal analysis based on the clients I’m seeing is that federal government workers (who comparatively enjoy a lot more stability and security) aren’t terribly fulfilled either.

It’s also easy to blame the “entitlement seekers” of Gen Y, except the unhappiness isn’t confined to a particular age group.

As I started talking to people, it seemed the real issue was a problem with mentorship.

And it’s a problem that’s been allowed to fester for a long time.

Suppose you’re a writer and you’re in search of the perfect mentor to take your skills up a notch.

Do you tap Stephen King or Jon Morrow?

Now suppose your son needs someone to teach him basketball.

Would you prefer Michael Jordan or the neighbor down the street who played for Duke?

Sadly, many of us would make the wrong choice.

Admit it.  You’re sometimes motivated by bragging rights more than learning.   You want to impress your friends and colleagues with the company you’re keeping.  A well positioned mentor seems to suggest you’re destined for the top of the food chain yourself.

And you justify it by saying: look how successful they are? They’ve sold a bazillion thingamabobs and they’ve been on Oprah.  Of course they’d be a great mentor!

Maybe, maybe not.  It’s important to distinguish between networking and growing.  Turns out there’s a lot more to choosing a mentor than just stalking the best name in your business.