Excellence Over Success: Leading with Eternal Purpose

I had the chance to sit down with my friend Alex Wilson, a man I deeply respect and admire, for this powerful episode. Alex is a husband, father of three boys, and a Chick-fil-A owner/operator of two thriving locations. But behind the accolades and business success is a story of perseverance, obedience, and faith. We reflected on the early days—our time in a peer advisory group together, his unique journey from consulting to fast food, and how God used seemingly unrelated experiences to prepare him for this season. His path wasn't linear, but it was divinely ordered. Alex's heart for excellence over success really stood out. We talked about how Chick-fil-A’s values, particularly their commitment to glorify God, shape the way he leads his stores and teams. He opened up about the ongoing tension between competitiveness and surrender—between chasing wins and pursuing the will of God. I loved how he put it: excellence is doing your best unto the Lord, not chasing recognition. His insights into running a business while keeping Christ at the center challenged me. He’s not just building stores; he’s building culture, legacy, and discipleship opportunities. But maybe the most impactful part of our conversation was the honest back-and-forth about fatherhood, marriage, and identity in Christ. We dug into what it means to truly die to self, to trust God with our time and influence, and to live out our faith authentically in every area—home, work, and beyond. Alex shared how his intentionality has created margin to invest deeply in his family and community. For both of us, this episode was more than a conversation—it was a moment of sharpening, reminding us that success is defined by obedience and that our lives are best lived when surrendered to Him.