Avoiding the use of Activate and Select when working with charts (Excel)

I know that using Activate and Select in Excel VBA is not best practice. I've seen references on how to avoid them when dealing with Ranges (example: LINK). How can I avoid them when dealing with ChartObjects (or anything other than Ranges, in general)?

For instance, a way to modify the maximum value on the y-axis using Activate and Select would look something like this (which works):

        ActiveSheet.ChartObjects("MyChart").Activate
        ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).Select
        ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MaximumScale = Range("MaxVal").Value

In order to avoid using Activate and Select, I tired to declare variables, and work with those, but that does not work:

     Dim ws As Worksheet
     Set ws = Worksheets("Chart")
     With ws.ChartObjects("MyChart").Axes(xlValue)
        .MaximumScale = Range("MaxVal").Value
     End With

The code above runs (i.e. does not throw an error), but the scale on the axis does not change. What am I missing?

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EDIT: Got it to work with this "longwinded" version:

    With Worksheets("Chart").ChartObjects("MyChart").Chart.Axes(xlValue)
        .MaximumScale = Range("MaxVal").Value
    End With

Answer

As for your question #1: How can I avoid them when dealing with ChartObjects (or anything other than Ranges, in general)?, the method you use is correct. Your conclusion that does not work is brought about by the other error.

As for your question #2: What am I missing?, a ChartObject does not have a method Axes.
What you called the "longwinded" version is actually the way to do it.

PS: The only reason I can think about for the non-working code to run with no error is an error handler that ignores the error.
I get the expected "Run-time error '438': Object doesn't support this property or method".