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.
Jobs isn't merely saying you should find fulfilling work—he's making the harder argument that satisfaction is *conditional* on believing your work itself is great, not just that it pays well or suits you temperamentally. This distinction matters because it means you can't outsource the judgment to others' expectations or social approval; you must develop your own standards of excellence and be willing to defend them. A software engineer who builds reliable code she's proud of will find more contentment than one chasing promotions at a firm whose products she quietly despises, even if the latter earns more. The real sting of the quote is its demand: it requires you to know what you think is great, and then to pursue it despite easier alternatives.
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive — to breathe, to...”
Marcus Aurelius“Drive your business. Let not your business drive you.”
Benjamin Franklin“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Seneca“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin