Name: Dr Disc (Phil Smith), travelling computer troubleshooter Age: 50.
Career path: I was born in Jeelong, Victoria, and grew up in Australia. When I left school in 1963, my father's choice of career for me was land surveyor. I studied part-time, and worked as a surveyor for three years but I didn't like the cold weather in. Victoria I had always wanted to teach so I went to the nearby Ballarat Teachers College. I then taught at a primary school and became a headmaster. In 1973, I had a bad motorcycle accident and became a Christian. I wanted to be a minister, so I studied theology for five years and later became the dean of Vision Bible College in Sydney. I married Wendy while I was a church pastor.
I remember when I was at high school I saw some computers on TV and had a strong urge to be a computer programmer, but we had no computers in Australia in those days. I realised that I was not going to get a full-time ministry, so I taught myself how to program computers.
My computer career began with a publishing company. I did a diploma in computer technology at Sydney's Control Data Institute, and they offered me a job. At night, I started a diploma in computer maintenance. By 1988, I was working for Control Data when it was taken over. I was transferred to Hong Kong, and as a training manager, I helped set up the Computer Power Training Institute of Hong Kong. In 1993, I set up my own business.
Phil's day: I live in Sha Tin and have three adopted children and a fourth on the way. I work from home in the mornings and on the road in the afternoon. My wife takes messages and helps me.
I decided from the outset that I would not establish myself as an instant Mr Fixit - being self-employed, I can't provide instant responses. I am now so busy - 'flat out like a lizard drinking', an Australian might say - I often have to schedule jobs a week in advance.