If you use Outlook as your mail client, one of the more popular features is the new mail desktop notification which pops up a notice for a few seconds regarding new mail items received. While this is handy for normal use it is a distraction (or embarrassing when some “inappropriate” spam is sent to you) when you are sharing your desktop for others to see.

To avoid this, you can either close Outlook completely, disable the notification (In Outlook 2003/2007: Right click on the Outlook icon in your system tray and uncheck ‘Show New Mail Desktop Alert’) or, if you have multiple monitors, you can move it. I commonly share my desktop to demonstrate stuff, so I have just simply moved the new mail notification box to my second monitor (do this by dragging the popup to the second monitor when you get a new notification). This way I don’t have to remember to shut it off or close Outlook completely each time and when I get a notification, it appears on a monitor which is not shared.

This should be one you file in the “duh” category, but I have seen this more times than I care to remember.

Whenever you are giving a presentation or a demo, take the time to make sure everything is working before it is time to actually give your presentation. I have seen everything from expired licenses on products which were to be demoed all the way up to Powerpoint not being installed on the presenter’s computer. Seriously.

When you do a review of your system to make sure everything is working, give yourself ample time to address any problems you might encounter. Failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency for someone else.