As some of you may have experienced, sending mail from your email program might not work when you are using public WiFi networking hot spots, such as those in hotels or coffee shops. This is usually due to port restrictions on the network, put in place to prevent anonymous users from using the network to send SPAM or attack other network systems.

Unfortunately, sending and replying to mail is often one of the most-used features when you are on the road. So what are you to do? You could always use the web mail access provided by most ISPs or use web-based services such as Gmail or Windows Live Mail (formerly Hotmail.com). Of course, this can be cumbersome when you simply want to reply to email you receive.

So, in my own laptop setup, I have done the following:

• Set up a free Gmail account
• Configure a new email account in your email program
• For this new account, set the Reply-To address to your standard email account, i.e. me@mydomain.com

Now, when I am confronted with an error when I try to send mail, I can change the outgoing email account to my Gmail account and, since Gmail uses different, usually unblocked ports, the mail will be sent. Also, by setting the Reply-To address, any replies will automatically be re-directed back to my standard email account. This allows me to work in my normal fashion, even when the local network puts roadblocks in my way.

Gmail recently added IMAP services to their offering, so now it is even easier to send and receive email while you are on the road.
For more great information on Gmail, check out fellow Friends in Tech member, The Gmail Podcast, hosted by Chuck Tomasi.

When you are as much of a bibliophile as my family, it can be a trial to manage all the books you have checked out and those you have on hold, waiting to be delivered to your local library. Add to this a spouse who is engaged in the final stages of a Ph.D and you have the makings of an organizational nightmare. This is what makes it such a lucky chance that I discovered Library Elf a year or so ago.

Library Elf, in cooperation with hundreds of libraries across the US, Canada Australia, New Zealand and the UK, allows you to collect information for each card you manage and combine it into one, easy-to-use, interface. If your library is included in their list of compatible library systems, you can enter your library card numbers and login information. Then, regardless of the online services your library provides, you gain automated web and email notifications of due dates and books on hold. Library Elf also provides RSS feeds, if you prefer to receive your notifications that way.

If you have a family-full of library accounts to manage, Library Elf can help to make your life a bit easier and also save you some money on late fees.

Sometimes we plan deeply and then take concerted action to build a computer consulting career. At other times, good fortune just seems to fall into our laps. That said, it doesn’t mean that you can’t learn something from my good, if somewhat accidental, fortune.

It is a natural part of any consulting business that you often make clients of people who once worked for you. In my case, a contractor who remodeled part of our house has hired me several times over the last few years to maintain his office and home computers. When he launched a new endeavor, running a high-end photo studio, he called me in once again.

As it happened, this studio was connected to a property management company that owns both residential and office properties. In fact, they were remodeling part of the photo studio building into office suites which were rapidly filling up. Before I really knew what had happened, I became the de facto computer consultant not only for the photo studio and the property management company, but everyone who rented from them. Through this one connection, I have added 3 new clients in the last 2 months. Even better, they are all at one location, so I can make one visit to handle a number of problems. Sweet!

Of course, while I really wasn’t trying to gather up a flock of new clients, I see now that anyone can actively pursue this particular method. In past Career Opportunities columns, I have written about the possibility of becoming the on-site computer consultant for local resort hotels. Connecting with property management companies is very similar. The goal in both is to maximize your client relationships so that they start working for you. Imagine the possibilities — Can you set up a meeting with the owners of that high-rise office building on the corner? How about the small set of office suites above the dry cleaners? How about that 5-star resort in Beverly Hills, Sedona or Las Vegas?

Be aware of the possibilities when dealing with your clients and their clients might just be your clients, someday.