Donald E. Weigend (10/5/2007)
I like to use Bob Vila's rule: Take your estimate and double the units of measure. So if you think something will take one minute to complete, your estimate should be two hours. If you think that a project will take three hours, your estimate should be six days, and so on. Now another good rule of thumb is to use Scotty's (from Star Trek) method for estimating; multiply everything by a factor of four. Something that should take two weeks to complete will actually take eight weeks.
But you left off the best Scotty/Kirk part!
Kirk: Mr. Scott, do you always increase your time estimates by a factor of four?
Scotty: Of course, Captain! How else can I keep my reputation as a miracle worker!
I've always liked the concept of under-promise and over-deliver. And Mark's piece is absolutely brilliant! Since he doesn't remember from where he unabashedly pinched it, I shall with equal unabashment pinch it from him.
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[font="Arial"]Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it. --Samuel Johnson[/font]