In 2005, Steve Jobs famously advised Stanford graduates: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” This advice, repeated endlessly, gains weight when viewed through the lens of Jobs’ own turbulent career.
Jobs experienced significant failure, including being ousted from Apple, the company he co-founded. He then built NeXT and acquired the company that became Pixar. When Apple acquired NeXT in 1997, Jobs returned, ultimately transforming Apple into a global powerhouse.
Globally, only about 21% of employees feel engaged at work. Organizations prioritizing engagement see reduced turnover, lower absenteeism, and increased profitability. Loving one’s work is not merely inspirational; it has measurable impacts on performance and the bottom line.
However, some experts, like Cal Newport, argue that constantly chasing passion can be detrimental. Newport suggests passion is built through developing valuable skills, which lead to autonomy and impact. He posits that mastery precedes passion.
Jobs’ quote, however, distinguishes between “doing what you love” and “loving what you do.” The latter implies passion can be cultivated through commitment and care within the work itself, bridging the gap between Jobs and Newport. The key is to actively search, invest in skill development, embrace a growth mindset by refusing to stop growing, and expect failure as part of the journey. Jobs, facing his own mortality, emphasized the urgency of finding work that matters.