One of the most unexpected things about a career or job choice is that sooner or later you realize that you are experiencing some level of career frustration. What is the likelihood of feeling satisfied with your current career/job all of the time? If you said "not good," you would be right.

Let me share some of the best advice with you about people, given to me by one of America's most decorated military heroes, David Christian. Back in 1993, Christian told me: "It is the nature of man to be discontent." It is true in everything, especially in a career.

There will always be parts of the job that you prefer less. There are usually challenging people with whom you must work. There will be things you don't think are fair. This is 100 percent normal 100 percent of the time.

The problem is that there are no guarantees you'll find things any better at a different employer. What it really comes down to is your attitude — your attitude most often is what needs to change. And your attitude is within your control.

Remember the mariners creed: "We cannot change the wind, but we can adjust our sails." In a career situation, our attitudes are the sails we must adjust to the winds around us. Whenever you are experiencing career frustration, take the time to ask yourself some good self-assessment questions (and perhaps record the answers):

• Does this job or career fit my overall strategic career plan?
• What specific things make me most/least happy with my current career situation?
• Of these things, which can I control (sails) and which can't I control (wind)?
• What are my goals and what specific things have I done in the last two weeks to make progress toward them (the things I control)?
• Which of my original goals I had when I took this position have I achieved? Is there still work left to be done?
• What percent of my effort and dedication am I giving my employer? What percent of the compensation we agreed on is my employer giving me? Is there a difference?
• What are my three worst work habits (sails) that I could fix?
• What advice have my mentors (people I trust) given me? Have I asked them?

After assessing, you may decide that things aren't so bad, and it's best to stay where you are. If you've made up your mind to leave, the next step is to develop a plan to transition from your current job to the next one.