“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.” -Steve Jobs

On Labor Day Weekend, we celebrate our labor by enjoying ourselves — and I hope you are having an enjoyable holiday. But if we truly dread most Mondays and every other day we’re working, how can we bring that enjoyment back into our jobs?

I’m fortunate in that I do love my job — except for those pesky deadlines. I’ve had other jobs, though, that I also loved, and some I hope never to think about again. For me, determining what I did like about each one helped me realize that writing fiction would pack in everything I enjoyed and more. And hey, they actually agreed to pay me to do it.

For those who don’t love what you’re doing, perhaps identifying pieces of your work that you do love — or at least in which you can find some satisfaction — may help you to achieve more enjoyment in the short run. Maybe it’s time to make an honest list and find ways to do more of what you love and less of what you don’t–if you can. If you can’t, is it time to search for something more fulfilling? Time to get more training so you can move on–not necessarily up–to something you love. Can you do it, if not now, at a later date?

As Steve Jobs said, don’t settle — keep searching for a job you love, one that gives meaning and joy to your life. Then Labor Day will be a true celebration in your life.

Have you found your dream job (or close) yet? I hope so. Happy Labor Day to all, the doers, the seekers, and those making lists. And thanks to all those who labor to make each of our lives that much better.