From Treadmill to Thriving: How I Learned to Love What I Do

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs

You know, I had a moment in my life when things started to click for me. It was all thanks to a simple quote from Steve Jobs.

You’ve probably heard it before —

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Sounds awesome to hear. It’s one of those lines you see all over social media like it’s supposed to motivate you magically.

But for me, it hit a little bit different.

Back then, I was stuck in a job that felt like running on a treadmill that never went anywhere. The treadmill is very confusing for me.

Sure, the job paid the bills, and I wasn’t miserable or anything, but deep down, I wasn’t excited about what I was doing. Every day felt like just another checkmark on the to-do list, and let me tell you, I was checking a lot of checkboxes. I kept waiting for something to change, but it never did.

Then, one day, I came across that quote by Steve Jobs. And at first, I just brushed it off, like, “Yeah, right, Steve. Easy for you to say. You built Apple.” But the more I thought about it, the more it bugged me.

Why wasn’t I doing work that I Loved? And why did that feel so out of reach?

Let me tell you, it was like someone flipped a switch in my brain. Suddenly, I realised that if I didn’t find something I was passionate about, I was going to stay stuck on that treadmill forever and work, work and work with no fire and passion towards it.

I wasn’t just going through the motions at work — I was going through the motions in life. And that wasn’t the kind of life I wanted to live.

It was like one of those moments when you’re walking down the street, and you realise you’ve been taking the same route every single day without even thinking about it. I needed to find a new path and needed it immediately.

Then, I started thinking about what made me feel alive. You know those moments when you lose track of time because you’re so wrapped up in something?

For me, that was writing. I’d always loved it, but I had pushed it aside so long that I didn’t even think of it as something I could focus on. Writing was just a hobby, right? Something I did in my spare time when I wasn’t too tired from my “real job” (real for me was exhausting at that time).

But that quote from Steve Jobs kept rattling around in my head. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. And I realized I didn’t have to change drastically overnight. I didn’t need to quit my job and become a full-time writer instantly. I just needed to start making small changes, little by little, to bring more of what I loved into my daily life.

So, I began writing more often — before work, on the weekends, whenever I could squeeze it in. At first, it didn’t feel like much. Just small moments here and there. But something amazing started to happen. The more I wrote, the more alive I felt. Even though my day job was the same, I found myself with more energy, enthusiasm, and drive.

I wasn’t just surviving anymore — I was starting to thrive.

I always thought that to find happiness in work, you had to land your “dream job” or make some huge life change. But really, it’s about finding the small things that make you happy and letting them grow. The more time I spent doing what I loved, the less everything else felt like a chore. I wasn’t just counting down the hours until the weekend anymore. I started finding joy in the little moments of my everyday life. For me, it mattered more than anything. After all, we all long for happiness, satisfaction and love (be it work or someone).

And that’s when it hit me: Steve Jobs wasn’t just talking about work. He was talking about Life. Loving what you do isn’t just about your job — it’s about finding passion, purpose, and Love in everything you do.

Whether it’s your career, hobbies, or relationships, you bring your best self to the table when you love what you’re doing.

Of course, that doesn’t mean everything is suddenly perfect. There are still days when I struggle, when I’m not feeling particularly inspired, or when writing feels like pulling teeth. But even on the tough days, there’s this underlying sense of fulfilment that I never had before. It’s like knowing that you’re still heading in the right direction, even though the road gets bumpy sometimes.

What matters is enjoying that ride.

The cool thing about this journey is that it taught me to be more curious about what matters. Like, I started asking myself questions I never used to think about.

What do I enjoy?

What gives me energy?

What makes me feel like I’m contributing something valuable, even small?

It’s like figuring out a puzzle. You don’t always get the whole picture immediately, but each piece brings you closer to the final image. For me, writing was just one piece. Now, I’m finding other pieces — like spending more time outdoors, learning new things, and connecting with people who inspire, love, and are with me. It’s all part of this bigger picture of doing things I love, not just because they’re “important” but because they make me feel alive, full of love, passion and energy.

Looking back, that quote from Steve Jobs wasn’t just a motivational line — it was a wake-up call. It made me realise that I had the power to shape my life in ways that brought me more joy, purpose, and, yes, more love for my work.

And the best part? It wasn’t some massive, life-altering shift. It was about making small daily changes to focus on what I truly cared about.

So, if you’re feeling stuck, like you’re just going through the motions, maybe take a step back and ask yourself:

What’s something you love?

What excites you, even if it’s just a little bit?

And how can you bring more of that into your life?

You don’t have to quit your job or completely overhaul everything overnight. Just start small. Trust me, those little changes can add up to something big.

Because the only way to do great work is to love what you do, and once you start loving what you do, even in small ways, you’ll find that everything else starts to fall into place.