'The only way to do great work is to love what you do.' - Steve Jobs
I used to hate this quote.
Seriously. Every time I saw it on LinkedIn or Instagram, I'd roll my eyes. 'Easy for you to say, Steve. You built Apple. I'm stuck in a job I tolerate to pay my mortgage.'
But then something clicked, and I realised I'd been reading it wrong the whole time.
The Monday Morning Reality Check
It's Monday. For millions of people, that means the Sunday scaries, the alarm clock dread, the 'here we go again' feeling.
According to research reported by The Guardian, only 32% of UK workers feel genuinely engaged in their roles. That's sobering. Two-thirds of us are just... existing at work.
But here's what caught my attention: Financial Times research shows that professionals who invest in continuous learning report 47% higher job satisfaction – even in the exact same roles.
Same job. Same boss. Same office. But completely different experience.
What Steve Jobs Actually Meant (I Think)
Here's what I got wrong about that quote for years: I thought he was saying 'find your passion and turn it into a career.'
That's rubbish advice for most people. We've got bills. Responsibilities. We can't all quit our jobs to become artists or entrepreneurs.
But what if he meant something different? What if 'love what you do' doesn't mean 'do what you love' – but rather 'find a way to love the doing'?
Stay with me here.
The People Who Don't Hate Mondays
I've worked with thousands of professionals through VH Courses. And I've noticed something interesting about the ones who don't dread Monday mornings.
They're not all in dream jobs. They're not all passionate about their industry. But they all have one thing in common: they're always learning something new.
The office administrator who's mastering AI tools. The team leader learning proper management techniques. The accountant exploring data visualisation. The HR professional studying employment law updates.
They've found a way to make their work interesting by constantly growing.
[Add your personal story here – maybe about a time you felt stuck, or a student who transformed their outlook through learning]
The Science Behind This
Research from Oxford University shows that professionals who adopt a 'growth mindset' – the belief that abilities can be developed through effort – are more resilient, more innovative, and more successful.
The UK government's skills strategy emphasises lifelong learning as essential for career progression. Not just for getting promoted, but for actually enjoying the journey.
And BBC workplace studies found that employees who engage in regular professional development are 34% more likely to receive promotions and 28% more likely to report high job satisfaction.
It's not magic. It's just that when you're actively developing yourself, work becomes more interesting.
How This Actually Works
When you're learning, you start seeing opportunities instead of obstacles.
That annoying repetitive task? Becomes a challenge to automate. That difficult colleague? Becomes a case study in communication skills. That boring report? Becomes an opportunity to try new data presentation techniques.
Problems become puzzles. Obstacles become opportunities. Mondays become... well, not terrible.
I've seen it happen over and over. The office administrator who learned Excel properly and suddenly became indispensable. The manager who took a leadership course and transformed their team. The professional who mastered AI tools and saved 10 hours a week.
Same jobs. Different mindset. Completely different experience.
Your Monday Challenge
Here's what I want you to do today – and I mean actually do it, not just nod and scroll past:
Identify ONE skill you've been meaning to learn. Just one. Not a massive career change. Just something that would make your work more interesting or your life easier.
Then take 30 minutes – maybe on your lunch break, maybe this evening – and start learning it.
Try our FREE Harnessing AI in the Workplace Mini Course if you're curious about AI. Explore our leadership courses if you manage people. Check out our digital skills training if you want to work smarter.
The specific course doesn't matter. What matters is that you're choosing to grow instead of just surviving.
Why VH Courses Exists
This is exactly why we built VH Courses the way we did.
Our CPD certified courses aren't just about ticking boxes for your CV. They're about reigniting that spark, that curiosity, that drive to be better.
We use professional voiceover narration because reading boring slides is soul-destroying. We offer 24/7 AI tutor support because getting stuck and giving up is frustrating. We make courses 30 minutes to 2 hours because your time is precious.
We want you to finish thinking 'that was actually interesting' instead of 'thank god that's over.'
Because learning shouldn't feel like punishment. It should feel like possibility.
The Bottom Line
Maybe you don't love your job right now. That's okay. Most people don't.
But you can love the person you're becoming through continuous learning and development. You can love the challenge of mastering new skills. You can love the feeling of progress.
That's how you do great work, even in imperfect circumstances.
Steve Jobs was right – just not in the way most people think. You don't need to find your passion. You need to find passion in the process of getting better.
Start your Monday right. Start learning something new.