Straight out of university during a recession, Grant didn’t have many job prospects. So he did what few would; he took his early Apple Macintosh computer, knocked on doors, and offered to work for free.

“I said, if you pay me the same as unemployment benefit—50 quid a week—I’ll bring my own Mac and work for you.”

That hustle paid off. The role quickly became salaried, and he gained invaluable experience working with a true entrepreneur who became a role model. Over time, Grant was poached by a printing firm that promised him shares and his own department. While he enjoyed the company, the promised equity didn’t materialise as hoped.

Eventually, with the support of his wife Abby, he made the bold decision to remortgage his home and launch his own business in 2001.



“I handed in my notice, gave back the keys to my company car, bought some equipment, and rented an office.”

The early days of Stain Design, his first agency, were all about self-belief and action. Grant designed a letterhead and business cards, sent out mailers, and knocked on doors when the phone didn’t ring.

“I just thought, I’m going to go knocking on doors, because that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Looking back, Grant recognises that his proactive nature was rare, even then.

“If a young person knocked on my door now with a computer and said they’d work for free, I’d snap their hand off.”

That tenacity and willingness to act without overthinking became part of his DNA.

When asked about young people today being labelled a “soft generation,” Grant expressed genuine concern.

“People are brought up communicating without talking. Their attention span must be really low.”

He believes society has made it easier to avoid real human interaction, which is why initiative has become so rare. But rather than judging, he encourages empathy and structure; suggesting, for example, that banning smartphones under age 12 might be a good start.



“There’s so much easy distraction. It’s no wonder people don’t push themselves like we used to.”

The desire to take action came partly from personality and partly from his father’s example.

“My dad was 100% an action taker. Very dynamic. That definitely influenced me.”

But Grant believes action-taking is also about self-awareness and recognising your natural instincts.



“If I have an idea, I just do it. I don’t really overthink it. I just get cracking.”

While Grant admits he was probably ‘an overconfident teenager,’ the pressure of leadership brought unexpected challenges.

“I started suffering from panic attacks while public speaking. It caught me completely off guard.”

He described feeling calm mentally but being overwhelmed physically during presentations. This was especially when speaking to people he admired. That experience helped him understand the emotional toll of imposter syndrome.

“I think everybody feels like an imposter when they start a business. It’s natural.”

His solution was ‘radical honesty’.



“Disarming honesty. Just tell the truth. If you’re nervous or new, say so. People respect that.”

There’s a myth that entrepreneurs must risk it all, but Grant offers a more balanced take.

“I knew exactly what I needed—£1,300 a month to survive—and I gave myself six months.”

Although some promote the ‘burn your boats’ approach, Grant favours Richard Branson’s model: expect the best, plan for the worst.

“A plan B helps me sleep at night. But I still go all in on Plan A.”

Grant’s happiness stems from gratitude and structure.

“The first thing I do when I wake up is visualise my day and think about all the good stuff.”

He has a solid morning routine that gives him energy and focus, and now that his children are grown up, he has the time to invest in it.



“It’s about appreciating what you’ve got, not just striving for more.”

Grant’s advice for a 20-year-old dreaming of launching a business is simple:

“Just start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, it’ll never come.”

He believes action is the greatest teacher, and that youth is the perfect time to take risks.



“You’ve got nothing to lose. So take the risk, enjoy the ride, and ask for help when you need it.”

Grant Stain’s journey is a combination of grit, gratitude, and grounded wisdom. As the CEO of Blam Digital, Grant brings a real-world, no-nonsense approach to entrepreneurship that resonates deeply in an era of overthinking and overwhelm.

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learn from them. And most importantly, have fun.”