From the time a project starts until it is finally completed, it passes through three distinct phases.  While we may have different names for the first two phases (Uninformed Optimism followed by Vague Concern are favorites), we all know that the third and final phase is called PANIC!  Have you ever found yourself in the panic phase of a project?  If so, what do you always tell yourself when the project is finally completed?  I am never going to put myself through that again.  Next time, I will do things differently.  Yet, despite our best intentions, history seems to repeat itself, and we find ourselves right back in the panic phase.  This presentation shows that by following a few commonsense steps early in the project, the project team is forced to shift its worry curve, thereby avoiding the panic phase altogether.