“You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
Zig Ziglar
quolira
quolira.com
The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
About this quote
Meaning
This line argues that genuine passion is not a bonus in a career but a prerequisite for exceptional output. Jobs was making the case that people who merely tolerate their work will always fall short of those who feel a deep connection to it, because love sustains the effort and attention that great results demand.
Context
Steve Jobs delivered these words during his commencement address at Stanford University in 2005, one of the most widely shared speeches in the history of the internet. The address was organized around three personal stories from his life, and this idea appeared as the emotional core of the section about work and vocation. Jobs had himself navigated career setbacks, including being removed from Apple, the company he co-founded, and he spoke from lived experience about returning to work he loved.
About the author
Steve Jobs was the co-founder of Apple and a defining figure in personal computing, consumer electronics, and digital entertainment. He helped shape products that changed how people relate to technology in everyday life, from personal computers to portable music players to smartphones. He was also involved in the animation studio Pixar. Jobs was known for an intense focus on design, simplicity, and user experience, and his public presentations became celebrated events in their own right. He passed away in 2011.
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