Focus on the Fun Stuff

Emma Mills
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  • Entrepreneurship
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Welcome to "Focus on the Fun Stuff" the podcast where we dive into what it takes to focus on the things you love in your business and enjoy the journey. We'll explore how to get more of those days where you're in the flow, loving what you're doing and using your unique abilities and passions.Many business owners find themselves down in the weeds, overwhelmed, stuck at a certain revenue level, limited by team size, or constantly time-poor. Often, it's a combination of all these challenges. If you’ve ever looked at another successful, ambitious happy business owner and wondered ‘How did they do that?’ I’ve totally done the same thing.And Focus on the fun Stuff explores how they did it.

  1. 5d ago

    He Built a £35M Business by Getting Out of the Way

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when you stop working in your business and start working on it? In this episode of Focus on the Fun Stuff, Emma Mills sits down with Julian Stafford, entrepreneur, sales expert and former owner of Midshire Business Systems, an SME he grew to £35 million in turnover before exiting after 21 years. Julian shares how he built a business that felt like a hobby to him, why stepping away from the day-to-day sales became a turning point in its growth, and how surrounding himself with people who were better than him helped take the business to the next level. They talk about sales training, marketing, leadership, decision-making, building a sales team, owner dependency and what actually makes a business attractive to a buyer when it comes to a business exit strategy. Julian also shares the story of his eventual exit, including the moment he walked out of a negotiation at the Belfry when the buyer's figure wasn't quite what he expected, and how he now works as a business exit coach helping other owners get ready to sell a business of their own. 🎧 Hit play to hear how to build a business that can grow without you, make better decisions faster, and become genuinely ready for an exit. What you'll take away: Why stepping out of sales helped Midshire's growth accelerateHow to stop being the bottleneck in your businessWhy you need people around you who are better than youJulian's approach to making decisions quicklyHow to market a "boring" product by selling the outcomeWhy testimonials became the backbone of Midshire's marketingHow to build and manage a sales team from scratchWhat makes a business genuinely attractive to buyersHow Julian approached the three-year exit negotiation processWhy you should build a business you actually enjoy running Support the show Support The Show -- Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start delegating all of the things a business owner shouldn't be doing: 👉 The 106 Tasks You Must Delegate -- Connect with Emma! Get my personal weekly newsletter here - if you want to Win the Week, every week. World Class Virtual PA support here: Mi-PA.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Watch the Episodes on Youtube EmmaMills.co.uk Reviews and Feedback: Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us! Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟

    He Built a £35M Business by Getting Out of the Way

  2. Sep 4

    Being Busy Is Keeping You Broke

    Send us Fan Mail What if being busy is actually keeping your business stuck? In this solo episode, Emma Mills tackles one of the biggest traps business owners fall into: confusing being busy with being productive. Emma explains why constantly sitting in your inbox, chasing invoices, scheduling posts and dealing with admin can feel productive, but can actually stop you from focusing on the things that generate revenue, create opportunities and move your business forwards. She shares how she structures her own week to protect three full days for the work that only she can do and why creating space in your calendar is one of the most important things you can do as a business owner. 🎧 Hit play to hear why being busy could be costing you growth, how to get out of the weeds, and how to start protecting your time for the work that really matters. What you'll take away: • Why being busy and being productive aren't the same thing • How busywork can quietly limit your business growth • How to identify the things only you should be doing • Why successful business owners protect their time • How Emma structures her week around high-value work • How to create more time for revenue, opportunities and growth • Why every hour you spend has a consequence Support the show Support The Show -- Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start delegating all of the things a business owner shouldn't be doing: 👉 The 106 Tasks You Must Delegate -- Connect with Emma! Get my personal weekly newsletter here - if you want to Win the Week, every week. World Class Virtual PA support here: Mi-PA.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Watch the Episodes on Youtube EmmaMills.co.uk Reviews and Feedback: Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us! Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟

    Being Busy Is Keeping You Broke

  3. Aug 28

    He Took Daniel Priestley From 5000 Views to 5 Million views | Here's How - The Content Strategy that works with Martin Huntbach

    Send us Fan Mail What if your content could generate leads and sales instead of just likes and views? In this episode, Emma Mills sits down with Martin Huntbach, co founder of Jammy Digital and Vidonary, to unpack the content strategy behind taking Daniel Priestley’s content from hundreds of views to millions. Martin shares how they built a predictable content system using the 3 Rs: reps, rhythm and repetition, why views aren't the most important metric, and how business owners can create content that actually drives leads and sales. They also talk about the expert trap, repurposing content, long form video, and the story behind Vidonary. Hit play to hear how to create content that builds trust, generates leads and grows your business without overcomplicating your content strategy. What you'll take away: • Why consistency beats perfection • The 3 Rs behind predictable content growth • How to turn content into leads and sales • Why long form content builds trust • How to escape the expert trap • The story behind Vidonary and its 4,500 person waitlist You can connect with Martin here: Connect with Martin Huntbach: Website:  https://get.vidonary.com/u93g6s297jg6  LinkedIn: Martin Huntbach Support the show Support The Show -- Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start delegating all of the things a business owner shouldn't be doing: 👉 The 106 Tasks You Must Delegate -- Connect with Emma! Get my personal weekly newsletter here - if you want to Win the Week, every week. World Class Virtual PA support here: Mi-PA.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Watch the Episodes on Youtube EmmaMills.co.uk Reviews and Feedback: Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us! Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟

    He Took Daniel Priestley From 5000 Views to 5 Million views | Here's How - The Content Strategy that works with Martin Huntbach

  4. Aug 21

    You're Hiring in the Wrong Order (Here's Who to Hire First)

    Send us Fan Mail Most business owners hire in the wrong order. The instinct is to hire more people to sell, market, or deliver your service. But what if that's actually slowing your business down? In this solo episode, Emma explains why the smartest first hire isn't someone who generates revenue directly, it's the person who removes you as the bottleneck. She shares the three questions every business owner should ask before making their next hire, how to calculate the true value of your time, and why buying back your time creates more growth than simply adding more people. If you're feeling busy but your business still relies on you for everything, this episode will help you rethink your next hire and start building a business that can truly scale. 📥 Get the Free Productivity Planner: https://mi-pa.co.uk/planner/ 🔑 Topics covered: Why most business owners hire in the wrong orderHow to calculate your true hourly valueThe hidden cost of doing your own adminWhy you're losing opportunities without realising itThe three-step framework for deciding who to hire firstHow to stop being the bottleneck in your business 🎧 Hit play to discover why your next hire shouldn't just grow your team, it should buy back your time, remove you as the bottleneck, and give you the freedom to focus on the work that actually grows your business. Support the show Support The Show -- Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start delegating all of the things a business owner shouldn't be doing: 👉 The 106 Tasks You Must Delegate -- Connect with Emma! Get my personal weekly newsletter here - if you want to Win the Week, every week. World Class Virtual PA support here: Mi-PA.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Watch the Episodes on Youtube EmmaMills.co.uk Reviews and Feedback: Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us! Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟

    You're Hiring in the Wrong Order (Here's Who to Hire First)

  5. Jul 10

    Do You Actually Need a CFO? (What They Do That Your Accountant Doesn't)

    Send us Fan Mail What if the next breakthrough in your business isn't another customer… but better financial leadership? In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Mills, former professional footballer and Chief Revenue Officer at The CFO Centre. Like many business owners, I didn't think I needed a CFO. But after working with one myself, I realised how much clarity, confidence and profitability I was missing. We talk about Matthew's journey from professional football into business, what a fractional CFO actually does, why so many business owners wait too long to get financial support, and how understanding your numbers can completely change the way you run your business. In this episode: Why most business owners think they don't need a CFO The biggest financial mistakes growing businesses make How better financial reporting leads to better decisions The surprising similarities between elite sport and business Why profitability matters more than revenue When it's the right time to bring in a CFO 🎧 Hit play to discover why understanding your numbers could be the biggest competitive advantage your business is missing. Support the show Support The Show -- Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start delegating all of the things a business owner shouldn't be doing: 👉 The 106 Tasks You Must Delegate -- Connect with Emma! Get my personal weekly newsletter here - if you want to Win the Week, every week. World Class Virtual PA support here: Mi-PA.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Watch the Episodes on Youtube EmmaMills.co.uk Reviews and Feedback: Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us! Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟

    Do You Actually Need a CFO? (What They Do That Your Accountant Doesn't)

  6. Jun 26

    How to Have the Hard Conversations You Keep Avoiding

    Send us Fan Mail The hard conversations you keep avoiding are costing you more than money. In this solo episode of Focus on the Fun Stuff, I unpack why business owners avoid difficult conversations - with team members, clients, and ourselves - and the four-step approach I now use to have them quickly. Inspired by Patrick Lencioni's The Motive, I talk through the shift from "reward-centred" to "responsibility-based" leadership, why most avoidance is a motivation problem rather than a skill problem, and the simple two-step test that tells you whether you're genuinely waiting for the right moment or just dodging the discomfort. ⏱️ In this episode: – Why the conversations you're not having drain your energy, focus and money – The Motive by Patrick Lencioni, and the one line that stopped me in my tracks – The two-step test: are you waiting, or avoiding? – My four steps for having the hard conversation — fast 🎙️ For more on building a business you actually enjoy running, join the Win the Week newsletter - straight to your inbox every Tuesday. Support the show Support The Show -- Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start delegating all of the things a business owner shouldn't be doing: 👉 The 106 Tasks You Must Delegate -- Connect with Emma! Get my personal weekly newsletter here - if you want to Win the Week, every week. World Class Virtual PA support here: Mi-PA.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Watch the Episodes on Youtube EmmaMills.co.uk Reviews and Feedback: Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us! Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟

    How to Have the Hard Conversations You Keep Avoiding

  7. Jun 19

    Everyone Told Him Not To Do It. He Built a Global Empire Anyway

    Send us Fan Mail Sacha Lord is the founder of Parklife Festival and The Warehouse Project — two of the UK's most successful live event brands, built over 30 years from a market stall in Liverpool. He served as Greater Manchester's Night-Time Economy Adviser, became a Sunday Times bestselling author, and helped shape Manchester's cultural landscape into what it is today. He is one of the most influential figures in UK hospitality and events. And it all started with selling leather jackets. In this episode, Sacha sits down with Emma to talk about what really happens when you stop listening to everyone telling you to play it safe. He opens up about anxiety, self-belief, and the mindset behind building iconic brands — as well as the mistakes, the leadership lessons, and the moment he knew it was time to let go. This is one of the most honest conversations Emma has had on the podcast. If you've ever doubted yourself, felt stuck, or wondered whether now is the right time to start something new this one's for you. Emma and Sacha cover: How he went from market trader to building world-renowned eventsWhy most people give up too early — and how to push throughHow to build teams you can genuinely trustThe leadership lessons behind scaling large organisationsHow to know when it's time to exit a businessWhy passion still matters, even at the top"If you've got a passion for something, don't listen to anybody. Just do it." Support the show Support The Show -- Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start delegating all of the things a business owner shouldn't be doing: 👉 The 106 Tasks You Must Delegate -- Connect with Emma! Get my personal weekly newsletter here - if you want to Win the Week, every week. World Class Virtual PA support here: Mi-PA.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Watch the Episodes on Youtube EmmaMills.co.uk Reviews and Feedback: Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us! Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟

    Everyone Told Him Not To Do It. He Built a Global Empire Anyway

  8. Jun 12

    How to Win the Week: A Guide to Weekly Planning and Goal Setting

    Send us Fan Mail Feeling like your weeks are slipping by without real progress?   That’s where I was for 10 years. Another Friday, another week of fighting fires at MiPA, no closer to my big picture goals, no longer enjoying the business I was running.   Then four years ago, I found a way to change all that.   In the latest episode of MiTV, I share that “Win the Week” philosophy that’s seen me completely revolutionise my life as a small business owner, grow my business, and enjoy my life a hell of a lot more.   Give it a watch, and if you need support to create more time in your calendar and get progress happening faster, comment below and let’s have a chat.  Em x  P.S. You’ll get more crucial insights for small business owners like this in my Sunday night newsletter, Win the Week (sign up here: https://emmas-newsletter-adef7a.beehiiv.com/subscribe), and over on my Instagram @emmamipa (give me a follow!) Please visit my website to get more information: https://www.mi-pa.co.uk/  Support the show Support The Show -- Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start delegating all of the things a business owner shouldn't be doing: 👉 The 106 Tasks You Must Delegate -- Connect with Emma! Get my personal weekly newsletter here - if you want to Win the Week, every week. World Class Virtual PA support here: Mi-PA.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Watch the Episodes on Youtube EmmaMills.co.uk Reviews and Feedback: Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us! Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟

    How to Win the Week: A Guide to Weekly Planning and Goal Setting
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About

Welcome to "Focus on the Fun Stuff" the podcast where we dive into what it takes to focus on the things you love in your business and enjoy the journey. We'll explore how to get more of those days where you're in the flow, loving what you're doing and using your unique abilities and passions.Many business owners find themselves down in the weeds, overwhelmed, stuck at a certain revenue level, limited by team size, or constantly time-poor. Often, it's a combination of all these challenges. If you’ve ever looked at another successful, ambitious happy business owner and wondered ‘How did they do that?’ I’ve totally done the same thing.And Focus on the fun Stuff explores how they did it.

Information

  • Creator
    Emma Mills
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Focus on the Fun Stuff
  • Show Website
    Focus on the Fun Stuff

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