From Young Life to 700 Caregivers: Will Cox on Finding Value Beyond Performance | Avila Home Care

Will Cox spent 15 years in ministry with Young Life before stepping into the business world. When he did, he didn't start at the top. He started at the bottom of the org chart, getting feedback on his emails from a 23-year-old scheduler. Today he leads 700 caregivers serving hundreds of Maryland seniors and their families as CEO of Avila Home Care. But this conversation isn't really about home care. It's about a truth Will learned leading teenagers and now sees every day with seniors: your value has nothing to do with what you've accomplished. In this episode: - Why a Young Life leader moving two doors down changed the trajectory of Will's life - How his father came to faith, and the locked-door moment that connects Will to the work he does now - The mentor who saw "executive leadership" on a resume that just said "Young Life staff" - Why Avila is named after a saint, and what "Christ has no body now but yours" has to do with hiring caregivers - How to build culture across 700 people with brutal industry turnover - Why clear is kind, and how direct feedback is an act of love - Ephesians 2:8-10 and the tension of working hard without trying to prove your worth - The breath prayer Will says in his driveway before he walks in the door Leaders On Tap is brought to you by C12 Maryland, where Christian CEOs and business owners come together to build great businesses for a greater purpose. ABOUT THE GUEST Will Cox is the CEO of Avila Home Care, a private duty home care agency helping seniors age in place across Maryland. Avila's motto is "thriving in the home you love." CONNECT C12 Maryland: https://c12md.com Take The More Audit (a 7-question read on your leadership): https://themoreaudit.com Avila Home Care: https://avilahomecare.com SUBSCRIBE for more conversations with Christian leaders building for a greater purpose. ⏱️ CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:51 Growing up in chaos & discovering Young Life 00:03:25 His father's transformation at Young Life camp 00:04:17 Honoring your father & seeing God in the pain 00:05:25 What is Young Life? Relationship over program 00:07:03 15 years in ministry & the passion to see people thrive 00:09:00 From area director to care coordinator: starting at the bottom 00:12:22 Avila Home Care: 700 caregivers & the sacred work of aging in place 00:15:00 The door between us: his father's final months & the role of caregivers 00:16:25 Teenagers and seniors: the same struggle for value 00:17:58 Senior prom & thriving in the home you love 00:19:18 Building culture with 700 caregivers: the power of being seen 00:22:37 Sacred work: stepping into someone's home & owning our mistakes 00:24:31 Coaching, candor & the cost of sloppy agape 00:27:12 Scaling the business & learning to say no 00:29:32 Work hard, stay humble & the two things he looks for when hiring 00:31:38 Saved by grace, created for works: the Ephesians 2 tension 00:32:54 Spiritual disciplines & the litmus test of multitasking with God 00:34:16 The fruit 20 years from now: kids who want to come home 00:37:01 Do the right thing & trust God with the bottom line 00:38:58 Four hours: a breath prayer for showing up at home 00:41:12 Making faith relatable: adventure, friendship & the awe of God