Volker Jaeckel

Key Account Consultant for Germany | B2B | D2C

AUTOMOTIVE SALES & MARKETING LEADER | 24 YEARS U.S. MARKET EXPERTISE

I've spent over two decades transforming how luxury automotive brands connect with customers in the world's most competitive market. One of my greatest achievement? Leading Mercedes-Benz of Temecula to 30% market share growth during the 2020/2021 pandemic, recognized by MBUSA as the ONLY dealership worldwide that grew while others stagnated.

PANDEMIC SUCCESS STORY
- Generated $2.16M additional revenue during COVID-19
- Achieved 300% marketing ROI through AI-driven strategies  
- Increased service revenue by 297% and parts revenue by 174%
- Grew internet leads 39%, inbound calls 89%

HOLISTIC BUSINESS APPROACH & EXECUTIVE COACHING
I don't see dealerships as separate profit centers – I see them as symphonic business systems. As a Certified DISC Business Executive & Marketing Coach, I help C-level executives understand the correlation between R&D, Marketing, Sales, Service, and Customer Experience, using data analytics to optimize total organizational health.

BUSINESS COACHING & ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
- Affiliate Business Coach: Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, CA 
- Executive in Residence Coach: California State University, San Marcos
- Founder & President: FocalPoint Business Coaching & Training Temecula Valley
- Featured Speaker: "Communication Breakthrough" & "DNA of an Entrepreneur" programs
- International coaching for automotive companies in Germany, Italy, and the U.S.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & SPEAKING
- Author: "The Digital Dealership" (2014) 
- Co-Author: "How to Survive and Thrive" (2024) with Reebok founder Joe Foster
- International Keynote Speaker: Autohaus eMarketing Days & DEKRA Gebrauchtwagentage (Germany), Internet Motors Milano, Digital Dealer Conferences
- Monthly workshops: Entrepreneurial Resource Center, Chamber of Commerce events

MULTI-BRAND EXPERTISE
Latest: Successfully managed 8+ luxury brands simultaneously - Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Sprinter, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, Jaguar, Land Rover with $9.8M budget responsibility.

CERTIFICATIONS
- Professional Certified Marketer® (American Marketing Association)
- Certified Digital Marketing Professional (Digital Marketing Institute, Dublin, IRL)  
- International Business Executive Coach (Brian Tracy International)
- Certified DISC Behavioral Analyst (FocalPoint International)

Currently seeking strategic leadership and digital marketing opportunities with progressive European automotive groups ready for digital transformation and executive development.

German Citizen | EU Work Authorized | Fluent German & English

Member of the Digital Sales & Marketing Advisory Board | B2B

➤ Serving an advisory role thru strategic reviews, suggestions, and program support to continuously enhance the quality of Volvo's national online exposure and programs.
➤ Consult Volvo's national manager suite through monthly meetings to enhance dealer network offerings.

Can you believe it? 17 years later, more gray set, wrinkles - nope, and still on the mission to change the digital automotive strategy here and abroad. To the next 17 years!

Volker Jaeckel - Top-10 automotive eCommerce Directors in the U.S. in 2009

Marcus Aurelius made one of history's worst leadership decisions. He chose his son Commodus as successor, and Rome paid the price. His private journal reveals why smart leaders make catastrophic choices. 

Spoiler: It's probably running your leadership team right now. 

Part 2 of my Marcus Aurelius series is live in The Pursuit of Leadership.

#Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #Communication #ThePursuitOfLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CultureMatters

View newsletter: In the Pursuit of Leadership

Part 2 of 3: What Marcus Aurelius’s Private Journal Reveals About Modern Leadership Last week, I told you about binge-watching Gladiator and Gladiator

Open article: When Ego Runs the Show (And Nobody Tells You) by Volker Jaeckel • 8 min read

When Ego Runs the Show (And Nobody Tells You)

Weekend plans: Gladiator (I + II) movie marathon. Unexpected result: Leadership wake-up call. Marcus Aurelius wrote himself daily reminders about not screwing up as a leader. The once most powerful man in the world needed these notes. What makes you think you don't? 

Part 1 is live in my newsletter "The Pursuit of Leadership."

#leadershipdaily #leadermindset #leadershiplessons #focalpointcoaching #CoachVJ

Part 1 of 3: What Marcus Aurelius’s Private Journal Reveals About Modern Leadership I spent last weekend doing something I rarely do. I binge-watched 

Open article: The Self-Awareness Crisis Destroying Your Leadership by Volker Jaeckel • 7 min read

The Self-Awareness Crisis Destroying Your Leadership

You've read about the self-awareness crisis. You've seen how ego destroys teams. Now here's what to actually do about it. Marcus Aurelius practiced this for decades. Most modern leaders won't touch it. 

Part 3 of my series is live in The Pursuit of Leadership newsletter.

#Leadership #CultureTransformation #ExecutiveLeadership #ThePursuitOfLeadership #LeadershipSkills #TeamBuilding #focalpointcoaching

Part 3 of 3: What Marcus Aurelius’s Private Journal Reveals About Modern Leadership This series started with a weekend binge-watch. Gladiator and Glad

Open article: The Ancient Solution Modern Leaders Won’t Try by Volker Jaeckel • 8 min read

The Ancient Solution Modern Leaders Won’t Try

IQ gets you into the boardroom, but only EQ allows you to lead it effectively. When you are wondering why your team is hitting a wall, the culprit might be a lack of emotional resonance rather than a lack of talent. 

I’m breaking down the findings from Daniel Goleman’s book "Primal Leadership" and how they apply to modern DISC behavioral assesment dynamics in today’s post.

#DISC #FocalPointCoaching #BehavioralAssessment #newleadership #PrimalLeadership

I believe we’ve all seen it. A C-suite filled with the “smartest people in the room.” They have the MBAs, the 10-year growth strategies, and the most 

Open article: The Ghost in the Boardroom: Why Your KPIs Are Crying for Help by Volker Jaeckel • 3 min read

The Ghost in the Boardroom: Why Your KPIs Are Crying for Help

Hey Managers, on which side do you see yourself? More on this can be found in my latest NL article "The Ghost in the Boardroom" - link below 👇 

https://lnkd.in/gxm_Ms-d

If we look past the geopolitical headlines, there is a subtext that every executive needs to hear: The Doomsday Clock is a scoreboard for failed leadership.

#focalpointcoaching #leadershipcoach #wakeup

The Doomsday Clock moved to 85 seconds before midnight this week. The closest it's been in 78 years. Reason? Scientists cite "failure of leadership" at the highest levels.

I read that announcement and saw the same patterns playing out in every boardroom I've worked in. Failed leadership looks the same at every level. The scale changes. The behaviors don't.

You're not negotiating nuclear treaties. But you are making daily choices that either move your organization forward or push it closer to its own midnight.

I wrote about the five specific changes executives can make tomorrow to break these patterns. Read it here ...👇 

#failedleadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipskills #5vor12 #eleventhhour

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds before midnight this week. That's the closest it's been in 78 years. The 

Open article: When Scientists Warn Us About Failed Leadership by Volker Jaeckel • 4 min read

When Scientists Warn Us About Failed Leadership

Your leadership style hasn’t evolved since 2016?
Sorry, you aren’t leading!
You’re reminiscing.

A decade ago, we were obsessed with "engagement surveys," "climbing the ladder," and the "globalization" of the office. 

In 2026, those concepts feel like relics. We’ve moved from the Engagement Era to the Augmented Era, and the rules of the game have fundamentally changed.

Leading today isn't about having all the answers.

It’s about being the person who knows how to ask the right questions. Whether addressed to a human team or your AI partners.

The shift from managing to orchestrating is the defining challenge of this year. 

Below is what that looks like in practice:

AI Fluency > Digital Literacy: It’s no longer enough to "use" tools. 
You need to partner with AI to augment your strategy and decision-making.

Psychological Safety > Employee Engagement: Retention isn't about perks; it's about creating "brave spaces" where failing fast is safe, and wellness is a core KPI.

Skills-Based Agility > Corporate Ladders: The ladder is broken. We’re now building internal talent marketplaces based on "adaptability & learnability."

Real-Time Coaching > Annual Reviews: The feedback "sandwich" is officially stale. In 2026, we thrive on continuous, AI-assisted feedback loops.

Check out the visual breakdown below for the full "Then vs. Now" comparison.

#Leadership2026 #FutureOfWork #AILeadership #ManagementTips #CoachVJ  #FocalPointCoaching

Leadership Tips 2026 vs. 2016 by Coach VJ (Volker Jaeckel) @ Focal Point Business Coaching Temecula Valley, California

How did Leadership evolve in the last 10 years?

I have built and sold companies in Silicon Valley and abroad, driving $65M in sales and achieving an 8-figure exit.

I have served as a mentor, providing guidance backed by extensive experience in business strategy, sales & marketing, operations, and M&A.

My mission now is to help other entrepreneurs make good, informed decisions at every stage.

Thinking: I can help you decide if entrepreneurship is the right path for you

Early-stage: I help you avoid the pitfalls that derail many new businesses

Started and struggling: I work with you to push through the barriers that are holding your business back

Seasoned entrepreneurs: I provide tried-and-true but individualized guidance to help you reach your destination, whether that's your next level of growth, or an exit

Don't do it on your own. Wherever you are in your entrepreneurial  journey, I can help you take the next right steps.

I'm equally committed to supporting nonprofits, bridging the income inequality gap, and mentoring youth and young professionals. 

My dedication and training in the Japanese martial art of Aikido continues to strengthen my conviction in finding harmonious resolutions to conflict.

Motto: Work hard. Play hard. Give Back.

Feras Alhlou

Hitting the slopes with the kiddos for a couple of days last week, I was reminded of something simple:

If you’re working hard to excel at everything, you’re not likely to excel at anything.

I learned to ski relatively late, in my thirties after we moved to the Bay Area. I’ve settled into the intermediate range.
Blue (intermediate) runs are my comfort zone.

I decided a long time ago I’m fine staying there.
I’d like to save my knees for Aikido. 🙂

Every now and then, my competitive side gets the better of me and I’ll head down an advanced run.
I usually make it down safely.

But it’s a chore, not a joy.

It feels good to say I did it.
But if I’m honest, I don’t actually enjoy it while I’m doing it.

Then I remember that being a pro skier isn’t one of my goals, and I ease up the next time.

I’m all for pushing yourself and improving.
But sometimes, in life and in business, you need to conserve most of your energy for the main path you’ve chosen.

And let the side pursuits stay exactly that.
Enjoyable. Optional. Not something you need to master.

#entrepreneurship #mindset

8-Figure Exit | $65 Million Combined Revenue | Helping Founders Build 7 & 8-Figure Businesses | Author | Speaker

More sales and proposal roasting 🙂

Some of these mistakes are so obvious, it’s honestly mind-boggling:
- Still using @gmail (yes, it matters)
- Don’t use ALL CAPS for someone’s first name
- If you’re using AI and automation (which is great), do it right. Test your emails. Make sure your field insertions actually work
- End your email with a thank you and a proper signature

You can have the best offer.
You can be smart, capable, and hardworking.

But if you’re sloppy in your sales process or your proposals, you will NOT close deals.

Details signal competence.
Sloppiness signals risk.

I just released the most in-depth video I’ve ever produced on closing deals and winning proposals in 2026 — including:
- Email templates
- Sample proposals
- Custom AI assistants

I walk through all of it here: https://lnkd.in/gdasA68K

#Entrepreneurship #Consulting #Sales #Proposals

More sales & proposal roasting 🔥

So I get this outreach email declaring:

“THIS WILL BE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE OUTREACH YOU’VE EVER SEEN IN YOUR LIFE!”

Bold. Very bold.
But then… the link actually delivers.

A full slide deck. Customized insights. A legitimately thoughtful teardown of our content.
Sure — 80% was templated.
But the remaining 20%? Pretty sharp.

I genuinely appreciated the effort, so I replied:
“Thanks for reaching out. Strong system. Great personalization.
We’re currently working with someone, please check back end of Q1 2026.”

A normal human response.
Clear boundary.
Simple instruction.

And then… two hours later…
“Completely understand… BUT we have ideas that will solve MAJOR issues.
Can we hop on a quick 15-minute call?”

Ah yes, the classic “I heard your ‘not now,’ and I’ve decided it actually means ‘convince me harder.’”

Look —
I love persistence.
I preach follow-up.

But you have to read the room.
When a lead gives you a specific follow-up timeframe… don’t bulldoze past it.
It signals inexperience, breaks trust, and turns an otherwise strong pitch into a hard no.

If you want to stop burning deals with good intentions and bad timing, I just dropped the most comprehensive guide I’ve ever made:

👉 The Ultimate Guide to Writing Proposals That Close Clients in 2026
https://lnkd.in/gN26RPc9

The guide includes proposal templates, the Proposal Preparedness Checklist, and a custom AI assistant to help you build proposals that don’t get ghosted.

Your future clients (and their inboxes) will thank you.

#entrepreneurship #consulting #proposals

Most consultants underprice for one reason:
They guess.

Early in your consulting journey, pricing isn’t about being clever.
It’s about being protected.

Hourly pricing gets a bad reputation because people use it lazily.

But when you’re new, it’s actually the most honest model you can use.

You don’t yet know:
 • How long projects really take
 • Where scope creeps in
 • What clients will change mid-engagement

So fixed pricing can quietly destroy your margins.

Hourly done right gives you flexibility and clean math.

That’s why even experienced firms still use it — selectively.

If you’re guessing your rate, you’re not pricing.

You’re gambling, and gambling is a terrible business model.

I break down hourly pricing in this 16-minute video — when it works, when it doesn’t, and how to do it right in 2026. 

Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/giDB-rXp 

#entrepreneurship #consulting #pricing #hourly

Great pitch landed in my inbox last week.
Smart ideas. Helpful PDF. 
Then they followed up with:

“?”
 and
“Following up my friend.”

Good proposal.
Bad execution.

If you want clients to take you seriously, this is not the play.

Tomorrow I’m releasing the most comprehensive proposal guide I’ve ever made — built to help you pitch better, follow up smarter, and actually close deals.

Stay tuned.

#entrepreneurship #sales #proposals

Today I released the most in-depth video I’ve ever produced:

The Ultimate Guide to Writing Proposals that Close Clients in 2026.

80% of proposals fail — not because consultants can’t deliver, but because the process before and after the proposal is broken.

This guide is built on 2,000+ proposals, $65M in closed revenue, and years of selling to small businesses, mid-size companies, Fortune-level organizations, and federal agencies, in the US and internationally.

If proposals are part of your business, this is required viewing. :)

👉 Read the full article below
👉 Watch the full guide + download the proposal toolkit: https://lnkd.in/gdasA68K

This will change the way you sell.

#entrepreneurship #consulting #sales #proposals

When Nancy reached out to me a few months ago, she was panicking. She had just landed a well-qualified lead. The discovery call went great. The client

Open article: The Complete Proposal Framework for Consultants in 2026 by Feras Alhlou • 3 min read

The Complete Proposal Framework for Consultants in 2026

Transitioning from corporate to consulting is like moving from a cruise ship to a rowboat.

On the cruise ship (corporate):
- The engine runs whether you push or not
- You feel safe and steady
- But you don’t control the destination

In the rowboat (entrepreneurship):
- You have full control over where you’re going
- But nothing moves unless you do

Here’s the part most people underestimate:

You can know everything about the ocean (curriculum, credentials, experience, expertise), but if you don’t build the muscle to row (sales, conversations, follow-ups, offers), the boat stays exactly where it is.

This is why so many smart, capable professionals struggle after leaving the 9–5. Not because they lack skill, because they never had to build propulsion.

#entrepreneurship #consulting

I’m going live on Tuesday for a full AMA on sales proposals.

If you’ve ever sent a proposal and heard nothing back… struggled with pricing… or weren’t sure what to include or leave out, bring your toughest questions.

I’m dropping my full 1-hour “The Ultimate Guide to Writing Proposals as a Consultant in 2026” in the next couple of days, and this livestream is your chance to get early insights, ask follow-ups, and get direct feedback on your proposal approach.

Whether you're brand new or already closing clients, this session will help you tighten your sales process and stop losing deals you should be winning.

Drop your questions below — or join live and ask them in real time.

Mehrnaz Zuie MA, BCom and 1 other attendee

Stop Losing Deals: Proposal Q&A for Consultants

You’ve built real expertise over the years — and whether you’re thinking of starting your consulting business or already started but feel stuck — this livestream is for you.

Maybe you’re done with corporate.
Maybe the last round of layoffs made that decision for you.
Either way, the transition to consulting is the ultimate test of discipline.

Think of it like this:
Corporate life is a cruise ship — the engine runs whether you show up or not, but you have zero control over the destination… or whether you’ll be tossed overboard in the next “restructuring.”

Entrepreneurship, though? That’s a rowboat. 
You have total control — but if you don’t build the muscle to row, that boat won’t move.

And it doesn’t matter how much you know about the ocean (your expertise) if you refuse to pick up the oars (sales, marketing, mindset).

In this week’s livestream, I’ll share the 3 must-haves every professional needs to go from employee to entrepreneur — or to get back on course if your consulting business is drifting.

Live this Tuesday.
Not someday. For real.

#Entrepreneurship #Consulting Business #Mindset #2026Goals

From Employee to Entrepreneur in 2026: 3 Must-Haves for a Successful Leap

You’ve sent emails and proposals.
You’ve followed up—politely, strategically, repeatedly.
And still… silence.

That kind of ghosting hits hard. Even seasoned experts start wondering if they’re cut out for business development.

Here’s the truth: your problem isn’t the market.
It’s that you’re hiding behind a keyboard, acting like a robot.

This livestream is about breaking that cycle—moving from technical spammer to trusted solution provider.

We’ll unpack:
- Why prospects ghost (and how to stop triggering it)
- The psychology of “follow-up fatigue”
- How to re-humanize outreach without sounding desperate
- The mindset shift that turns silence into dialogue

If you’ve been ghosted by clients—or feel invisible even with great offers—join me live.

Let’s crack the ghosting code together and make sure this year clients actually reply.

#Entrepreneurship #Consulting #Ghosting #Sales

Carlos Cesta 🔜 IAB ALM and 2 other attendees

Cracking the Ghosting Code: Why Leads Ignore You (and How to Stop It)

Why Do People Seem Lost When You Explain What You Do?

Stop explaining how your black box works (marketing automation, performance frameworks, API consolidation, etc.).

Start translating it into what clients actually care about: more revenue, lower risk, peace of mind.

In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath describe the Curse of Knowledge as the arch-villain of communication. It’s what happens when you know something so well that you forget what it’s like not to know it.

You’re tapping a rhythm in your head that makes perfect sense to you.
The person across the table just hears noise.

If you’re getting glazed-over looks while pitching, that’s your signal.
You’re tapping — not connecting.

How to Know If Your Message Is Landing
Don’t look for polite nods. People nod even when they’re lost.

Look for these signals instead:
- They ask clarifying questions
- They ask how this would work in their business
- They interrupt to share their version of the problem

If you don’t see these, pause. Reframe. Try again.

My Own Pivot
Early on, I introduced myself by saying, “We have an analytics consultancy.”

Result? Blank stares. Even my family told people,“He works on the web.”

When we stripped away the black box and said, “We help companies derive actionable insights from their marketing data,” the conversations changed immediately.

Your turn:
What’s the jargon-free version of what you do? Drop it in the comments.

#entrepreneurship #communication

On this MLK Day, we reflect on Dr. King’s legacy—and remember that it wasn’t built on a dream alone. It was built on service. 
Dr. King famously said:
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

A commitment to serving others can take many forms: supporting a cause, building a venture that creates value for others, mentoring, or simply showing up for your community. 

Different paths. 
Same commitment.

Today is a good reminder to honor Dr. King’s memory by thinking of how we can be of greater service to others throughout the year.

New year. Same pricing mistake.

Every January, professionals reset their goals — and carry the same broken pricing into a new year.

Whether you’re guessing your hourly rate or using one that no longer works, the result is the same:
 • Tight margins
 • Overwork
 • Constant second-guessing

I’m hosting a live session on:
How Much to Charge as a Consultant — An Hourly-Based Pricing Strategy

We’ll cover:
 • How to calculate a defensible hourly rate
 • Why hourly pricing still matters (when used correctly)
 • How to present it without scaring clients
 • When hourly stops working — and what to do next

If pricing feels fuzzy, capped, or stressful going into the new year, this is your reset.

Leave me a comment below and/or bring your questions.

#entrepreneurship #consulting #pricing #hourly

How Much to Charge as a Consultant - Hourly-Based Pricing Strategy

Over the last week, I shared a few proposal breakdowns — and the comments blew up. Clearly, many consultants are struggling with pitches and proposals.

So we’re taking it to the next level.

I’m hosting a LIVE Pitch & Proposal Roast on February 3.

If you’ve ever hit “send” on a pitch or proposal and wondered: “Is this actually good… or is this why clients ghost me?”

This livestream is for you.

How it works:
- Send me your pitch email or proposal document
- I’ll review and roast it live (constructively, I promise)
- You and your client stay fully anonymous
- You’ll walk away with practical, specific fixes to help you close more deals in 2026

Why this matters:
Roughly 80% of proposals fail — not because the consultant can't deliver, but because the pitch and proposal process is broken.

This session will show you exactly how to fix that. Email me your pitch/proposal.

If you missed it, watch The Ultimate Guide to Writing Proposals that Close Clients in 2026: https://lnkd.in/gdasA68K

Let’s make your next pitch or proposal the one that actually gets signed.

Mehrnaz Zuie MA, BCom and 2 other attendees

Growth doesn’t happen without resistance—on the mat or in business.

In Aikido (and other arts), your first repetition of a technique and your tenth shouldn’t look the same.

Early reps are clumsy. You’re thinking instead of feeling.
Later reps introduce resistance—your partner doesn’t move the way you expect, timing breaks down, and sometimes the technique fails entirely.

That’s where learning actually happens.
Entrepreneurship works the same way.

There are easy reps and hard reps.

Easy reps feel productive, but they don’t build much:
- Tweaking your website for the fifth time
- Getting another certification you don’t need yet
- Planning the “perfect” strategy without talking to a single human

They’re comfortable and keep you busy, but they rarely move the business forward.

Hard reps are where the resistance lives.
This is where most capable professionals freeze:

- Reaching out to an ex-colleague to ask for an introduction
- Sending a proposal and risking a “no”
- Following up again when silence would be easier

I know this pain personally.

After getting laid off from a VP role at a VC-backed startup, I started my first business and spent a day knocking on restaurant doors trying to sell websites. Five straight rejections. No wins.

It felt like being thrown off balance on the mat—again and again. I wanted to quit and go back to the “safety” of corporate life.

But that moment was what we call in Aikido ukemi—the practice of learning how to fall safely and keep going.

Those rejections forced me to drop the ego, refine my approach, and build resilience. Not long after came a $1,400 check. Later came an eight-figure exit.

The lesson:
You can’t outsource the hard reps before you’ve built the muscle yourself. No consultant, script, or tool can replace time on the mat.

The challenge:

Identify the one thing you’re avoiding today—the outreach, the ask, the follow-up—and do it until it feels heavy.

That discomfort isn’t failure.

It’s the clearest signal that you’re training.

Step on the mat.

#Entrepreneurship #Consulting #StartupLife

taplio

The Battle

Volker Jaeckel

Feras Alhlou

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreVolker Jaeckel's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreFeras Alhlou's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Volker Jaeckel

Feras Alhlou

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Volker Jaeckel's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreFeras Alhlou's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreVolker Jaeckel's LinkedIn Performance