What do folks in this forum think about this Steve Jobs quote

First off, don't get me wrong, I'm also/still looking to break into strategy/management consulting from a big 4 advisory background. However, I truly and strongly resonate with this Steve Jobs quote and do believe I have found "what I love", which is neither consulting nor business in general even - I'd be very curious as to how this kind of professional attitude/philosophy is perceived by folks in this consulting forum.

"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. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

Thanks for reading!

5 Comments
 

A professor once suggested there were 3 steps to follow to choose what to do with your life. 1st, determine what you're good at. 2nd, determine whether it makes you happy. 3rd, determine whether it's something the world needs you to do. Three really easy steps that most people never consider or follow.

 
Best Response

I really don't think anyone is born to be in client service. You want to be the client in life. Your job is a launchpad, and you should keep launching off until you're happy. But also don't get bogged down in what other people are doing - when you run with a crowd too long, as I did, you tend to think that the 'track' is better than it is - it wasn't in my case, and I'm glad I left ibanking after 3 years to see the world, and meet people like the 35 yr old from South Dakota who's lived in Florence and Spain and is now starting a kickass logistics company from scratch. I've now lived in London and Rome and traveled a ton, and I can't wait to see even more of the world - the more I see, the more I want to see.

I also think that actually a job can be a very small part of a more well balanced life - of course not for young consultants and bankers, but certainly for people in many other professions where it is totally fine to take 6 weeks of vacation, leave at 5 pm, and not work Fridays in the summer. Corporates, government, thinktanks, self employed consultants, professors, recruiters/HR and many others have this lifestyle and make plenty of money to do the things they want to do with the rest of their time.

Just remember your path is wide open. Don't let things bog you down because that makes you too dependent on your job - live lean and be ready to move at a moment's notice. Leave any job you hate. And don't worry about what people think or say. You only have your 20's once and your whole life to work and make moneys.

if you like it then you shoulda put a banana on it
 

Better approach:

1) Finding something that you love to do and therefore spend 60-80 hours a week doing it.

or

2) Finding something that allows you to do what you love by paying you well enough and allowing enough time off (within reason).

In my mind #1 has always been the option of choice because working a job just for the cash or freedom always seemed like slacking to me.

 

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