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The Intentional Leap: Lessons & Learnings for Newer Entrepreneurs
The entrepreneur's book that will leap your mindset, profitability, and scalability years into the future. Real story, a steady plan, and the guts to leap.
The Intentional Leap is a raw, practical guide for newer entrepreneurs who are ready to ditch the fluff, get serious, and hear what it really takes to build a business—from scratch, with clarity, courage, and no BS.
Jeff Swartz bootstrapped his advertising agency from a duplex kitchen table into an 18 person, 7-figure company—without outside funding, inflated hype, or a secret network. In this book, he shares the mindset, systems, and stories that helped him grow, sell, and buy back into a business on his terms. Additionally, he expanded his entrepreneurially experience into real estate investing, ad tech, teaching, book writing, and consulting.
"I have been a full-time entrepreneur for 11 years, and wanted to write the book I wish I had before I spent some much time and money figuring out how to be a really good business owner. If I can help other business leader shave years off their entrepreneurial learning cure and get to a happier, simpler, more scalable business then I've accomplished my goal with The Intentional Leap." Jeff Swartz
Whether you're stuck in a 9–5 wondering if it's time to leap… or you're already in the trenches working through your first 1-5 years as a business owner, this book will show
How to turn fear into focus and overcome imposter syndromeWhat to do in Year One to stay out of debt and build real tractionWhy vision isn’t optional—and how to reverse engineer successThe emotional rollercoaster no one warns you about (and how to ride it)How to avoid the “cool trend” trap and build a business that lastsWhen (and how) to hire, delegate, and stop being the bottleneckExit strategy and mindsetIncludes a two page Simple Long-Term Planning worksheetA ten point "entrepreneur's gut-checklist"Filled with real stories, hard lessons, and encouraging wisdom, The Intentional Leap is part memoir, part masterclass—and your entrepreneur's, down-to-earth guide to launching a company intelligently, growing intentionally, and leading like you were meant to. It holds value for any business owner or leader at any stage in their journey, but it was specifically intended for the entrepreneur in years 0-5 and trying to leap frog their businesses and mindset years into the future.
The Intentional Leap will guide your through three sections. The Inner Shift that lays the foundation for a solid entrepreneur and business. The External Build that tactically guides you through the items that should demand your attention for a happier, more profitable, efficient, and scalable business. The Long Game that gets into exit planning, leveraging hard times as growth times, and a ten point checklist for you to achieve your entrepreneurial goals.
Amazon #1 Best Seller within the first 30 days!
2025 Goody Business Book Awards Entrepreneurism
The Intentional Leap is a raw, practical guide for newer entrepreneurs who are ready to ditch the fluff, get serious, and hear what it really takes to build a business—from scratch, with clarity, courage, and no BS.
Jeff Swartz bootstrapped his advertising agency from a duplex kitchen table into an 18 person, 7-figure company—without outside funding, inflated hype, or a secret network. In this book, he shares the mindset, systems, and stories that helped him grow, sell, and buy back into a business on his terms. Additionally, he expanded his entrepreneurially experience into real estate investing, ad tech, teaching, book writing, and consulting.
"I have been a full-time entrepreneur for 11 years, and wanted to write the book I wish I had before I spent some much time and money figuring out how to be a really good business owner. If I can help other business leader shave years off their entrepreneurial learning cure and get to a happier, simpler, more scalable business then I've accomplished my goal with The Intentional Leap." Jeff Swartz
Whether you're stuck in a 9–5 wondering if it's time to leap… or you're already in the trenches working through your first 1-5 years as a business owner, this book will show
How to turn fear into focus and overcome imposter syndromeWhat to do in Year One to stay out of debt and build real tractionWhy vision isn’t optional—and how to reverse engineer successThe emotional rollercoaster no one warns you about (and how to ride it)How to avoid the “cool trend” trap and build a business that lastsWhen (and how) to hire, delegate, and stop being the bottleneckExit strategy and mindsetIncludes a two page Simple Long-Term Planning worksheetA ten point "entrepreneur's gut-checklist"Filled with real stories, hard lessons, and encouraging wisdom, The Intentional Leap is part memoir, part masterclass—and your entrepreneur's, down-to-earth guide to launching a company intelligently, growing intentionally, and leading like you were meant to. It holds value for any business owner or leader at any stage in their journey, but it was specifically intended for the entrepreneur in years 0-5 and trying to leap frog their businesses and mindset years into the future.
The Intentional Leap will guide your through three sections. The Inner Shift that lays the foundation for a solid entrepreneur and business. The External Build that tactically guides you through the items that should demand your attention for a happier, more profitable, efficient, and scalable business. The Long Game that gets into exit planning, leveraging hard times as growth times, and a ten point checklist for you to achieve your entrepreneurial goals.
Amazon #1 Best Seller within the first 30 days!
2025 Goody Business Book Awards Entrepreneurism
121 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2025
2 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Swartz
4 books3 followersHey everyone, Jeff here! You know, for a long time I've been absolutely fascinated by the wild, ever-changing world of advertising, marketing, and its intertwining throughout business and entrepreneurship. It all started when I was about 20 working as an intern at a small ad agency in Dayton, OH. I knew right then and there that I wanted to run my own agency one day which I accomplished back in 2014.
Let’s fast forward through the last 20 years; I’ve gone from internship and employment at ad agencies, to Silicon Valley start-up, to CBS Television, and eventually a one-person shop run out of half a duplex that grew to an 18 person, 7 figure ad agency in Ethic Advertising Agency over 10 years. In 2024, Ethic Advertising Agency was acquired by Blink Advertising (Yeah! Successful business exit for me!) and I have had the pleasure of co-running and co-owning that 8 figure, 30 person agency that specializes in strategy, media, branding, creative, website/SEO, and video production for the last year. I’ve also developed, launched, and managed Qujam, a DIY geofence advertising platform, became an author, a real estate investor, and podcast host since I started working for myself.
My love for learning and teaching is at the root of why I’m writing books now and started producing thought leadership content over the last 7 years. I’m currently completing my MBA with a specialty in Entrepreneurship and Small Business from LSUS with a desire to teach at a collegiate level, hired coaches, took courses, joined groups, and specifically made sure to get myself into the room with brilliant business leaders and marketers to soak in their knowledge. Now I want to share what I’ve experienced and learned with as many professionals as possible.
It’s a fun, exciting journey that has always been about helping others succeed, whether it's my incredible team, our clients, or even folks like you who are tuning in. And trust me, I've picked up a few lessons along the way, some of which even made it into my free e-book, "9 Reasons Advertising Doesn't Work" as well as my new book on entrepreneurship called “The Intentional Leap” that just became a #1 best seller on Amazon (Aug 2025).
I hope you find my information entertaining and valuable. Also, if you have questions or just want to connect, feel free to hit me up on LinkedIn.
Awards and Recognitions:
-Amazon #1 best seller
- 2025 Goody Business Book Awards Winner: Entrepreneur: Entrepreneurism
Let’s fast forward through the last 20 years; I’ve gone from internship and employment at ad agencies, to Silicon Valley start-up, to CBS Television, and eventually a one-person shop run out of half a duplex that grew to an 18 person, 7 figure ad agency in Ethic Advertising Agency over 10 years. In 2024, Ethic Advertising Agency was acquired by Blink Advertising (Yeah! Successful business exit for me!) and I have had the pleasure of co-running and co-owning that 8 figure, 30 person agency that specializes in strategy, media, branding, creative, website/SEO, and video production for the last year. I’ve also developed, launched, and managed Qujam, a DIY geofence advertising platform, became an author, a real estate investor, and podcast host since I started working for myself.
My love for learning and teaching is at the root of why I’m writing books now and started producing thought leadership content over the last 7 years. I’m currently completing my MBA with a specialty in Entrepreneurship and Small Business from LSUS with a desire to teach at a collegiate level, hired coaches, took courses, joined groups, and specifically made sure to get myself into the room with brilliant business leaders and marketers to soak in their knowledge. Now I want to share what I’ve experienced and learned with as many professionals as possible.
It’s a fun, exciting journey that has always been about helping others succeed, whether it's my incredible team, our clients, or even folks like you who are tuning in. And trust me, I've picked up a few lessons along the way, some of which even made it into my free e-book, "9 Reasons Advertising Doesn't Work" as well as my new book on entrepreneurship called “The Intentional Leap” that just became a #1 best seller on Amazon (Aug 2025).
I hope you find my information entertaining and valuable. Also, if you have questions or just want to connect, feel free to hit me up on LinkedIn.
Awards and Recognitions:
-Amazon #1 best seller
- 2025 Goody Business Book Awards Winner: Entrepreneur: Entrepreneurism
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 12, 2025
#GoodreadsGiveaway
Reviewing as part of #GoodreadsGiveaway I won this ebook. I am not an entrepreneur but found value in the reading to bring into my own career.
Reviewing as part of #GoodreadsGiveaway I won this ebook. I am not an entrepreneur but found value in the reading to bring into my own career.
November 12, 2025
Excellent read. I appreciated how direct and "to the point" Swartz is. There is a lot of great information here that translates well to any industry. A very useful resource.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews