Jonathan Billingsley.
I was just 11 years old when I became the man of the house. Not by choice, but by survival. In a home where emotions were not met with warmth, where I was both the punching bag and the caretaker, I learned early that love was conditional and that safety was something you had to create for yourself. There was no space for feelings, no room for vulnerability. Narcissistic behaviour shaped the environment, and my childhood was marked by both mental and physical abuse. I was taught that my worth came from what I could provide, from how well I could hold everything together, and that any sign of weakness would only invite more pain. Responsibility came early. Playfulness, freedom, and a sense of self-worth did not. But I survived. And for a long time, that was enough.
But there was a cost.
The way I understood love, relationships, and even my own worth was shaped by an environment where feelings were not always heard, where vulnerability was not encouraged, and where strength often meant suppressing rather than expressing. These years shaped my thought patterns and relationships for decades. The need to be strong, to be successful, to prove something—these were the drivers that propelled me forward. But as I would later learn, the very traits that helped me survive were also the ones that kept me stuck.
A Love for Creation and Connection
Leaving school at 16, I had no grand plan—just a sharp mind for computers and a deep love for photography. Somehow, those two things became my way into the world. By 17, I was working with magazines like FHM and Esquire, capturing images that were not just about aesthetics but about stories. People fascinated me. Not just their appearances, but their journeys—how they got to where they were, the decisions they made, the struggles they faced.That fascination turned into something more. I found myself drawn to marketing, business, and the psychology behind why people do what they do. I saw patterns—how businesses succeeded or failed based on decisions that were often deeply emotional, how people built brands that were extensions of their own beliefs.Over the next 20 years, my agency thrived, working with some of the UK's biggest brands. I loved the work. Not just the numbers and the wins, but the human element—the clients, the strategy, the relationships. Business and marketing are not always glamorous, but the passion behind them? That was captivating.
Finding Belonging in Music and Motorsport
Alongside business, music was my second love. I DJ'd, I produced, I put on some incredible events that brought together like-minded people. It was never just about the music—it was about the energy, the connection, the feeling of being part of something bigger.Then there was motorsport. It started with karting, then moved into full-scale racing, and now I race a car that is 56 years old—a real pinch me moment. There is something grounding about being behind the wheel, about the precision, the camaraderie, and the sheer presence it demands. It is a world of discipline and passion, where community and competition exist in a way that few things in life allow.Motorsport did not just remain a hobby. It became something more. I have now created a car care company dedicated to restorations, classic cars, and high-end detailing. It has been another passion project that has turned into a thriving business. The same dedication that goes into perfecting a race line, the same attention to detail that goes into a finely tuned engine, goes into this company. Seeing it go from an idea to something that is making an impact has been another incredible journey.
Breaking the Patterns
But for all the success, for all the achievements, something still was not right.A decade ago, I started seeing the same patterns in my personal life and in my work—patterns that traced back to those early years. Relationships that were not as fulfilling as they should be. Business decisions that, while logical, were not always in alignment with my deeper values. A restlessness that no amount of success could silence.So, I did the hardest thing anyone can do—I started to unpick it all.With the help of an incredible mentor, I began the work of rewiring my subconscious, challenging the beliefs I had taken as truth, and allowing myself to see things differently. It was not easy. Facing your own conditioning never is. But I knew it was necessary.And through that process, I started to see something profound. Everyone is carrying something. Some weight from their past, some narrative that has shaped their present. Whether in business or in life, people are often trapped by beliefs they do not even realise they hold.I dove deep—studying neuroscience, coaching methodologies, transformational techniques. Not just from books, but through training with some of the UK's best. I was not interested in surface-level motivation. I wanted real, tangible change.
Why I Do What I Do Now
That is what led me here—to coaching, to mentoring, to helping others break through their own subconscious barriers.I am not just a business strategist. I am not just a mindset coach. I am someone who understands what it is like to carry the weight of expectations, to battle with self-worth, to strive for success while silently wondering why it still does not feel enough. I have been there. I have lived it. And now, I help others navigate it.Today, I work with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and high achievers—not just to help them grow their businesses, but to help them grow themselves. Because success without fulfilment is empty. Because wealth without peace is just stress in a nicer postcode. And because the most important work you can ever do is the work on yourself.
Schedule a session today to start transforming your life and business.