Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do”

Steve Jobs, the renowned co-founder of Apple, was one of the most influential figures in the history of the technology industry. A true visionary, he revived a company that was on the brink of collapse and led the development of some of the most iconic consumer products of the following decades, including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. While Apple had built a reputation for innovation since its founding in 1976, Jobs’ leadership was instrumental in transforming the company into one of the world’s most valuable and influential businesses.

The philosophy behind that success is captured in one of his most memorable quotes, delivered during Stanford University’s 2005 commencement speech: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Steve Jobs’ most iconic quote: The key to success

One of Steve Jobs’ most enduring and insightful reflections had nothing to do with Apple’s groundbreaking products. Instead, it centered on the passion for work that fueled his success. Beyond spearheading the development of Apple’s most celebrated devices, Jobs also founded the animation studio that became Pixar, the company behind beloved films such as Toy Story, Cars, and many other Disney classics.

At the time of his death in 2011, Jobs’ net worth was estimated at $8.3 billion, placing him No. 110 on Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

His famous line, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do,” came during one of the most celebrated speeches in business history. The official video of the address has now surpassed 48 million views on YouTube. Jobs delivered those words while reflecting on one of the defining moments of his career: leaving Apple in 1985, only to return years later and rescue the company he had founded with his childhood friend, Steve Wozniak.

Recalling Apple’s extraordinary rise, Jobs said, “In ten years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4,000 employees."

For Jobs, genuine success required more than talent. It demanded passion, commitment, and perseverance. That belief is reflected in the full passage from his speech:

“You’ve got to find what you love—and that is as true for work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

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