A story in Business Week contends you do indeed need a headhunter. And they’ve compiled a list of the most influential headhunters in the world to help all of you out there who are climbing the corporate ladder. (I know, hearing “the most influential in the world” anything sounds a bit far reaching, but hey everyone is going global today.)

We’re talking the top positions here. Not typically low-to-mid level manager type posts.

There is something to be said about having a headhunter as your go-between when you’re going for those big gigs, but I have found many of the leaders I’ve interviewed in my book got to where they are by making connections, connections with high level managers at a variety of companies.

In some ways this structure of connections has kept a lot of minorities and women from getting in on the top jobs, so I’m hopeful that the premise of this article is correct. If it’s true that you need these headhunters to move up then that must bode well for the individuals who have traditionally been kept out of the senior manager party. Why? Because a newcomer might have a chance.

Here’s a bit of the Business Week story:

You can’t get to the top without the headhunters. That’s as true for businesses as it is for established and emerging leaders. The world’s top headhunters control access to the lion’s share of C-suite succession and leader-replacement searches for the world’s largest corporations. Their influence also extends to the top ranks of the most ambitious smaller companies, which understand how crucial top talent is and are willing to pay for it.

OK, check out the story and the list of top recruiters. If you are a mid- or upper-level manager and you’re ready to move to a different company and move up, just call these people. What do you have to lose?

My favorite Super Bowl moment last night, well favorite after the Giant’s win, was the CareerBuilder ad with the heart that rips out of a woman’s chest while she sits like a zombie at her office desk. The heart then makes its way to her boss’ office and holds up a sign that says “I quit.” Her heart just wasn’t in it anymore.

It was priceless, morbid and funny. The ad also made me sad. You don’t know how many people I meet and get emails from that are just like that women — stuck in a job that has slowly zombified them.It’s a horrible thing when we wake up in the morning and head for a job we can’t stand, or are totally indifferent to.

So many of you ask me how you can find your career bliss. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer.

I will tell you there is one common denominator I see among people who are happy with their jobs: Passion. They followed their career paths with passion. Passion for what they thought they’d be doing in their jobs, or passion for the money they’d be receiving. Here’s an MSNBC.com column I wrote about an accountant who left his job, for a big cut in pay, to become head of a youth center. The interesting part of this story was the guy ended up going back to accounting, in part for the money, but he still kept his dream job.

We all need something to motivate us. While I’m not sure money should be your only driving force, find something damn it! Go out in the world, talk to people, read books, remember what you loved as a child. Go on a journey to find your bliss already! Why? Motivation is the only thing that will keep your heart beating and keep it inside your chest cavity.

OK, how much money have you guys put on your team for the Super Bowl?

I’m betting the farm that the Giant’s win. Who cares about history.

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of sports gambling in the work place, just be discreet about it!

An attorney with law firm Fisher & Phillips, Steve Miller, a Giant’s fan, says there’s a “don’t ask, don’t tell” attitude among employees when it comes to gambling. He says the trick is to keep the pot of money low and to be discreet when you’re enlisting bets from your co workers.

It the pot’s too big, he says, then there may be a chance the loser will really be a sore loser when the Patriots lose and then begins an office investigation. (I added the part about the Patriots losing.)

And keep in mind your employer may have some sort of moral problem with gambling, he adds.

So, when you go in Monday morning don’t gloat about your windfall. It could get everyone in trouble. And it could get some New England fans upset, and then you’ve got a whole other problem…worker conflict.

That’s a whole other story.