You have to have your heart in the business and the business in

Hear, O builders of dreams and seekers of fortune, the words of An Wang, the pioneer of technology and industry: “You have to have your heart in the business and the business in your heart.” These words are not the idle musings of one who watched from afar, but the wisdom of a man who carved a path with his own hands, who gave his spirit to creation, and who taught that true success is not born of calculation alone, but of devotion.

What is it to have your heart in the business? It is to give more than labor, more than intellect, more than time—it is to give passion, love, and the very essence of your being. A man whose heart is in his work does not toil only for wages or for recognition, but for the joy of creation, for the honor of service, for the purpose that burns within him. He rises not merely to complete a task, but to breathe life into a vision. His heart is bound to his labor as a warrior’s heart is bound to his sword, and in this union lies greatness.

And what is it to have the business in your heart? It is to let your work shape you, to carry its principles and purpose with you beyond the walls of the workshop or office. It is to let your enterprise become not a separate duty, but a part of your very soul. In this way, business is not reduced to profit and loss, but becomes a calling, a responsibility, a legacy. To have the business in your heart is to remember always the people it serves, the lives it touches, and the values it must uphold.

Consider the story of An Wang himself. Born in China, he journeyed to America with little but his vision. Through perseverance, he founded Wang Laboratories, which became a force in the world of computing. Yet his legacy was not in machines alone, but in his philosophy. He believed that work must be human, that success must be tied to integrity and compassion. He gave generously to education and community, proving that his business was not just in his hands, but in his heart. His name endures not only for his inventions, but for the spirit with which he labored.

So too do we see this truth in the life of Henry Ford. He did not merely build cars; he built a way for common people to move, to travel, to dream of horizons once far away. His heart was in his business—he strove for efficiency, innovation, and progress. But his business was also in his heart, for he sought to make life better for the everyday worker, to pay fair wages, to give dignity to labor. Though flawed like all men, his vision remains, a testament to Sher’s principle that greatness comes from devotion of heart as well as mind.

The meaning of Wang’s wisdom is clear: to succeed in any endeavor, there must be union between love and labor. A business without the heart of its leader becomes cold, mechanical, and soulless. A leader without the business in his heart becomes detached, selfish, and unworthy. But when heart and business intertwine, the work gains life, the people find purpose, and the legacy becomes eternal.

The lesson for you, O listeners, is this: do not treat your labor as a burden nor your enterprise as mere trade. Pour your heart into it. Let passion guide you, let purpose steady you, let integrity bind you. And in return, let your business dwell within your heart—care for its people, honor its mission, uphold its values. In this mutual devotion, both you and your work will flourish.

Therefore, let your practice be this: whatever you build, build with love; whatever you lead, lead with purpose. Remember always Wang’s teaching, that “You must have your heart in the business and the business in your heart.” For only then will your labor transcend the fleeting measure of profit, and rise to become legacy, honor, and the work of a life well-lived.