Swyft: The Origin Story
How a dad fighting to save his family led to one of the leading done-for-you website services in the industry
Jason Gracia, Founder of Swyft
It's June 9, 2016.
I'm sitting at the kitchen table checking email. My wife is close by, rocking back and forth with our four-month-old daughter in her arms.
“Call me at home as soon as you get this.”
- Dr. Ehrhardt
I’d gone in for tests the day before, so I excuse myself, walk upstairs to our bedroom, and make the call.
“I’m so sorry, Jason, but your results came back positive. You’re scheduled to start treatment next week.”
I’m numb. I walk into my daughter’s room where Megan is waiting, still holding Cora. My first thought is not being there to walk her down the aisle. I don’t say a word, wrap my arms around them both, and cry for the first time in 15 years.
The realization that I have cancer is terrifying, but even more concerning is how I'm going to take care of my family.
My income all but vanished. Medical bills emptied our savings. Our options seem to have come down to selling our home and my wife getting a second job.
Even though I have the excuse of cancer, I still feel like a failure…as a husband and as a new dad…because I’m breaking the one promise I made to myself years ago.
The realization that I have cancer is terrifying, but even more concerning is how I'm going to take care of my family.
My income all but vanished. Medical bills emptied our savings. Our options seem to have come down to selling our home and my wife getting a second job.
Even though I have the excuse of cancer, I still feel like a failure…as a husband and as a new dad…because I’m breaking the one promise I made to myself years ago.
I grew up in a small blue-collar town in Wisconsin, raised by a single mom who worked third shift at a light bulb factory to take care of me and my two older brothers.
She did the best she could, but it was a struggle. Moving from one apartment to the next. Power turned off repeatedly. Never enough money to buy food or clothes.
And then one day, while grocery shopping with my mom, scared that someone from school might see us paying with food stamps, I made a promise to myself: “If I have a family of my own, I will NEVER let them struggle like this.”
And now, watching my wife worry about how we’ll make it, we’re there. I’m lost. I’m scared. And I’m ashamed.
And then I get an email.
“Do you design websites?” - Bill
Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated with computers and technology. When websites arrived on the “World Wide Web,” I was all in.
I started coding simple sites, but eventually built a personal development website to sell books I had written on the topic that had a ten-year run as the #1 motivation website in the world, and after it, dozens more for various projects. But I’d never built one for someone else.
I replied, “I certainly do!”
At that point I already had 15 years’ experience in web design and online marketing…but this was my one shot…so I threw myself into mastering the coaching website.
I studied the most successful coaches in the world, dissecting their pages and processes, mapping out their funnels, picking their brains when I had the chance–whatever it took to deliver a winning website to my very first client. And he loved it.
Then he said something I didn’t expect.
“This is going to help me help so many more people.”
And that was it. My "aha moment."
I wrote books because I wanted to change people’s lives, but became so disillusioned with how few people read the books they buy that I eventually walked away. Since then I struggled to find a way to make a difference in the world.
Then it hit me: using my untapped skillset to help coaches share their message and connect with their clients would allow me to play a role in the happiness and success of more people than I could have ever reached alone.
After Bill came Jamie and Sam and Daniel. Then Russell and Robyn. Then they came by the dozens. I had found my purpose.
No more wondering how I would make a difference. No more worrying about how I would support my family.
Today, Swyft is a done-for-you website service used by coaches throughout the world.
We not only build the site and systems but also give coaches the training they need to make a lasting difference and an incredible living.
One more thing…
On October 9th, 2016, recovering from surgery and hooked up to IVs, my doctor walks into the room with the final results from my scans. She picks up my daughter, places her in my arms, and says, “You’ll be walking her down the aisle. You’re cancer free.”
Today, Swyft is a done-for-you website service used by coaches throughout the world.
We not only build their site and systems but also give them the training they need to make a lasting difference and an incredible living as a coach.
One more thing…
On October 9th, 2016, recovering from surgery and hooked up to IVs, my doctor walks into the room with the final results from my scans. She picks up my daughter, places her in my arms, and says, “You’ll be walking her down the aisle. You’re cancer free.”