Finding More Hours in the Day with Emma Mills

In the fast-paced world of business and entrepreneurship, finding enough hours in the day often feels impossible. Yet, Emma Mills, the founder of Mi PA, has built her career on proving that time mastery isn’t just possible—it’s essential. Through her award-winning virtual PA and call-answering business, Emma supports some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, directors, and professionals in reclaiming their time to focus on what matters most.

This blog dives into Emma’s journey, her philosophy on productivity, and her actionable strategies for anyone looking to achieve more by doing less.

Who Is Emma Mills?

Emma Mills is a productivity expert and the founder of Mi PA, one of the UK’s leading virtual PA and call-answering companies. Starting her career as a personal assistant, Emma realised the immense impact this role could have on a person’s productivity and life. In 2008, she took the leap to start her own business, recognising the growing demand for flexible, remote PA services.

Since then, Mi PA has grown into an award-winning agency, helping hundreds of clients free themselves from overwhelming tasks. Emma’s ethos is simple yet transformative: focus on what you love and do best, and delegate the rest.

The Birth of Mi PA

Emma’s story began with a desire to create something of her own. After leaving university, she found herself working as a PA for ambitious business leaders. She thrived in these roles, relishing the opportunity to make a direct impact on her employers’ lives. But Emma always knew she wanted to build her own business.

In 2008, she launched Mi PA as a freelance venture, supporting clients from her bedroom. Over the next four years, she developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by business owners, from managing email overload to streamlining operations. This hands-on experience laid the foundation for Mi PA’s evolution into a scalable, team-based service offering tailored support to entrepreneurs and professionals across industries.

Emma’s Productivity Philosophy: The £10, £100, £1,000 Task Framework

Emma’s approach to time mastery is rooted in a powerful framework that categorises tasks into three value levels:

1. £10 Tasks: Low-value, repetitive tasks like managing emails, scheduling appointments, or handling invoices. These are essential but don’t require the business owner’s unique skill set.
2. £100 Tasks: Mid-level tasks that require some expertise but can still be delegated, such as drafting reports or coordinating projects.
3. £1,000 Tasks: High-value activities that drive growth and revenue, such as strategy development, closing sales, or creating new opportunities.

Emma’s golden rule: spend your time on £1,000 tasks and delegate the rest. By outsourcing £10 and £100 tasks to a virtual PA, business owners can focus their energy on what truly moves the needle in their business.

Watch the full episode with Emma by clicking here.

How Mi PA Helps Clients Reclaim Their Time

Emma’s company offers two primary services:

• Call Answering: Mi PA’s team handles inbound calls on behalf of businesses, ensuring no opportunities are missed while freeing up clients to focus on high-priority work.
• Virtual PA Support: From inbox management to travel arrangements, Mi PA provides flexible, remote assistance tailored to each client’s needs.

Unlike freelancers, Mi PA operates as a team-based service. This means clients benefit from consistent support, even during staff absences, and can rely on a broad skill set to handle diverse tasks.

Emma’s Top Productivity Tips

If you’re ready to reclaim your time, Emma recommends starting with these strategies:

1. The One Thing: Identify one meaningful task each day that will move your goals forward. Dedicate focused time to completing it, whether it takes 30 minutes or three hours.
2. Time Audits: Track how you spend your time for a few days. Note down every task and evaluate whether it aligns with your goals or could be delegated.
3. Love It, Loathe It, Don’t Know It: Categorise your tasks into three buckets: what you love doing, what you dislike, and what you lack expertise in. Delegate the second and third categories to free up time for the first.
4. Limit Inbound Communications: Turn off notifications and set boundaries around when you check emails, messages, and calls. Reactive communication is one of the biggest productivity drains.
5. Start Small: Delegation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Begin by outsourcing one task per week and gradually build momentum.

Beyond Business Owners: Supporting Life’s Chaos

While Mi PA primarily serves business owners, Emma and her team also support professionals and families with personal tasks. From booking holidays to managing children’s schedules, Mi PA helps clients streamline their personal lives with the same precision as their professional ones.

The Ripple Effect of Time Mastery

Emma’s work is about more than just ticking off to-do lists. By helping clients master their time, she enables them to focus on what they love—whether that’s growing their business, spending time with family, or pursuing personal passions.

Her philosophy echoes a broader truth: time is our most valuable resource, and how we use it defines the life we lead.

If you’re ready to take back control of your time, explore Mi PA’s free 7-day trial for call answering or download Emma’s Productivity Pad to start identifying your £10, £100, and £1,000 tasks.

Emma Mills Directory

• Website
• Instagram

P.S. If you haven’t already I would encourage you to take my quiz to discover what type of business owner you are, knowing this can help take you from where you are now to becoming more successful personally, professionally and financially – quickly, efficiently and effectively.