Can success in business and faithfulness to God go hand in hand? On this classic edition of Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, Dr. Dobson sits down with respected entrepreneur, former Houston Astros owner and longtime business leader Drayton McLane Jr. for a conversation about faith, family, work ethic and serving God through the opportunities He provides. A Christian Faith Passed Down Through Generations McLane traces his faith back to his childhood in Cameron, Texas, where he was raised by devoted Christian parents and accepted Christ at seven years old. That faith became part of a larger family legacy. McLane’s grandfather entered the wholesale grocery business in the late 1800s, his father later joined the company, and Drayton followed in 1959. From one generation to the next, he says the family passed down more than business knowledge. They passed along values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and Christian character. Learning to Work From the Ground Up McLane began working in the family business as a young boy, sweeping floors and stocking inventory during summers. Years later, after completing six years of college, he returned home expecting a management role. Instead, his father assigned him to the overnight shift loading trucks in the warehouse. At first, McLane couldn’t understand why his education had earned him a job at the bottom. Eventually, he came to see it as one of his father’s greatest gifts. Working alongside employees taught him how the business actually functioned, how to appreciate the people doing difficult jobs and how to become a better leader by understanding the organization from the ground up. Take Responsibility and Make It Right Another lesson from his father was simple: accept responsibility for your decisions. Rather than wasting time assigning blame when something went wrong, McLane was taught to focus on making the situation right — particularly for the customer. That philosophy shaped his approach to business and Christian living: value every person, take ownership of mistakes and look for ways to serve others better. Honesty, Integrity and Christian Principles The McLane family grocery operation grew from a regional Texas distributor into one of America’s largest foodservice distribution companies. Through that enormous growth, McLane says the company’s mission remained remarkably straightforward: Honesty. Integrity. High Christian principles. He tells Dr. Dobson that businesses do not need complicated mission statements if leaders are willing to do what is right every day and invite employees and customers…
