Even as a teenager, I was fascinated by how things worked - especially when they consisted of circuit boards, cables and displays. At the age of 15, I got my first money for my confirmation and used it to buy a Commodore 128D. Shortly afterwards, I was sitting at home with a freshly bandaged leg and plaster cast due to a torn ligament - and instead of resting, I began to immerse myself in the technology of this computer.
A little later, I saw a classmate of the New Grammar School Oldenburg an Atari ST with the then legendary SM124 monitor. I was immediately thrilled. The Commodore was quickly sold and the Atari moved in. A phase of experimenting, tinkering and learning began for me: I rebuilt my Atari, upgraded it, soldered memory boards and put countless hours into getting the best out of the technology. Looking back, I can say that this is where it all began - this curiosity and the urge to understand and create things are still with me today.
From training to software development
After leaving school, I started a commercial apprenticeship at Creditreform. That was a time when I not only learned the basics of organization and business management, but also developed an eye for how to design processes efficiently.
After my apprenticeship, I joined the German Armed Forces, more specifically the Air Force. I worked in the IT department there and looked after the computers in the flight theory course. It was a formative experience for me because I was able to combine the technical side with the structured working methods of a large system.
Back at Creditreform, I finally began to put my passion for databases into practice. I developed my first sales management system based on FileMaker 5 and 6 and later ported it to FileMaker 8. This work had a lasting impact on my thinking: I discovered how to translate complex processes into simple structures - an approach that is still the basis of my work today.
The path to self-employment
Over the years, I realized that I wanted to implement my own ideas. I first founded a company as a Apple dealer and then switched to software development. This phase gave rise to gofilemaker.de - and later my central project to this day: gFM-Business.
With gFM-Business I have a ERP software which goes far beyond traditional systems. It combines ERP, CRM, merchandise management and individual customizations in a modular system. In contrast to many large providers, I do not rely on rigid structures, but on flexibility and individual solutions.
Freedom, data sovereignty and independence
One central value has accompanied me throughout my professional life: Freedom.
I realized early on how important it is to retain control over your own data. Today, data is at the heart of every company, and I believe it would be a strategic mistake to relinquish it lightly.
That's why I consciously rely on FileMakerIt enables me to develop databases that are always located on my customers' own servers. No dependence on external platforms, no hidden risks - instead maximum control and security. For me, this is not a small matter, but a fundamental attitude: if you have your data under control, you retain your freedom of action.
The M. Schall publishing house and my books
Over the years, another focus has been added: writing.
I have the M. Schall Verlag to publish my own books and address topics that move me personally: crisis management, personal development, digitalization, AI and health.
For me, writing is more than just content production - it is an opportunity to share knowledge and provide food for thought. My books are not intended to lecture, but to help people understand and open up new perspectives.
Today: An ecosystem of its own
Today, I combine all these areas into my own ecosystem:
- M. Schall-Verlag - my platform for knowledge, practice and new perspectives
- gFM-Business - my ERP software that supports companies individually
- AI integration - the next evolutionary stage for publishing and ERP
My goal is to connect these worlds. Whether it's software, books or AI - in the end, it's always about the same thing for me: making complexity understandable and giving people tools that help them to act independently.
What drives me
I have never taken the easy route in my life. Instead of relying on standard solutions, I wanted to understand things, improve them and design them myself. This applies equally to technology, business models and knowledge transfer.
Today, I use this attitude to provide companies, readers and customers with clear structures and genuine independence - with software, books and content that is authentic and based on my own experience.
My credo
"Freedom means understanding the things that surround you - and retaining control over your own data, tools and decisions."