cannot replace time.Because deadlines with consequences are taken more seriously, keep a written list of definitive reasons why certain tasks must be completed by a given date. Losing money, customers and other assets create real incentives to work.Schedule deadlines as specific tasks, not the ends of phases. Rather than Content will be completed by 4 April 2010, state Review the content over lunch on 4 April 2010. This ties the deadline to an event at which results must be shown. Mini-deadlines tied to specific events are more powerful than general statements.Making up for minor time discrepancies during the course of a project is easier than facing a big shortfall when no time is left.Plan For Unpleasant SurprisesIncentive may not be the problem, though. Unexpected problems cause many people to break deadlines. Their unpredictability make these problems hard to plan for, and good intentions dont help you see the future. The key is to recognize that, whatever their nature, problems will likely occur.If everything seems accounted for in the project plan, then invent a problem. Keep it realistic: reshoot staff photos is more likely than spontaneous server combustion, but it doesnt really matter. The point is to create extra time to allow for a deadline crisis. One rule of thumb is to add between half and all of a projects expected duration. That is, increase the full time that has been budgeted by between 50 to 100% to allow for surprises.A plan of time estimates for major tasks in a project could look something like this:Task:Time allotted:Content audit15 hoursDevelop content strategy15 hoursMake WordPress theme changes20 hoursImport data from old website15 hoursTest on multiple browsers5 hoursTotal70 hoursBeing conservative, lets take half of 70, which is 35. Now we invent a problem: say, having to retype all content from print-outs. Is 35 hours for that ridiculous? Perhaps. But obstacles are unexpected by nature, and they always steal time from an otherwise ideal budget.Scheduling for unknowns is hard, but acknowledging that extra time is required will better align estimates with reality.A line item needs to be added to the budget. It could be Time to make changes or Allowance for unknowns. The description isnt as important as the fact that you have planned for surprises.Is half of the original budget too much? It may drive cheaper clients away, but overestimating and finishing under the deadline is better than the alternative.Mitigate A Deadlines Threat By Adding Other DeadlinesImplement mini-deadlines within a projects timeline. Mini-deadlines minimize last-minute problems by serving as checkpoints to gauge how far off track the schedule is, if at all, at certain phases.StartWhile the project is fresh in everyones mind, a schedule for the other phases should be set.First quarterEveryone involved should have a sense of whether they can work together. Work begins, and the pristine project on paper comes up against the sticky details of reality.Halfway pointThe bulk of the work happens here. If you doubled your estimate to account for surprises, you would actually be aiming to launch the project right now.Third quarterIf everyone pushed to launch by the halfway point, then