I have worked under both good and bad managers, run my own shop and have been around the block a few times as well. :) One of the things I've learned over time is the power of a gantt chart. Sometimes the manager is also learning and the use of a tool like the gantt chart often provides an opportunity for both of you to reach an 'agreement of expectations'. If the gantt chart is reasonably accurate and the time necessary to complete the task is within reason, then the manager - having had regard to the gantt chart and knowing the constraints should be able to 'ease off a bit'... hopefully. But the point is, that you should consider breaking down each big task into smaller tasks and using a gantt chart 'map it out'. Provided each of you can reach a reasonable 'set of expectations' it can be dealt with. The gantt chart is of course only a tool 'used to find mutual expectations of delivery', there are other tools. Hope this helps.

M Hamilton

I have worked under both good and bad managers, run my own shop and have been around the block a few times as well. :) One of the things I've learned over time is the power of a gantt chart. Sometimes the manager is also learning and the use of a tool like a gantt chart often provides an opportunity for both of you to reach an 'agreement of expectations'. If the gantt chart is reasonably accurate and the time necessary to complete the task is within reason, then the manager - having had regard to the gantt chart and knowing the constraints should be able to 'ease off a bit'... hopefully. But the point is, that you should consider breaking down each big task into smaller tasks and using a gantt chart 'map it out'. Provided each of you can reach a reasonable 'set of expectations' it can be dealt with. The gantt chart is of course only a tool 'used to find mutual expectations of delivery', there are other tools. Hope this helps.

M Hamilton

Show some courage. Image your drive, Load Windows 8 and use it for two weeks - you won't go back. Make up your own mind - don't listen to others!

M Hamilton

I posted a message below yours just moments ago and just read your message about not going back to Windows 7 and agree - after using Windows 8 for a couple of weeks - once getting the 'hang of it' - I won't go back to Win 7 either... why digress. Windows 8 really rocks.

M Hamilton

As a developer having a number of windows desktop applications on the market I had no choice but to load Windows 8 so as to ensure that there were not issues with our products. There were some minor issues of course - as with any new OS - but none that were major and all were easily corrected. I've been using Windows 8 Pro since it's release to the Microsoft Partners on Aug 15, 2012 and will NOT go back to Windows 7 now that I've 'gotten the hang of it'. It's actually a wonderful OS despite all of the negative press! I too was listening too much to the negative press and installed it with some trepidation... (after making a drive image of my Windows 7 instance first :) ) My concerns as it turned out were un-warranted. Windows 8 is surprisingly nice! Granted, it does take about a week to 'get the hang' of it, but once that learning curve is behind you - it's extremely easy to use - and it's very fast and responsive... more so than any previous edition of Windows. I know that many are listening too much to the negative press and you must all keep in mind that many of the people that are espousing such comments simply do not like change... and this must be kept in mind when reading their comments. Since we're born things change yet so many dislike change. Don't listen to them! You're all grown-ups - make up your own mind. Install it and try it before you make a decision like a child that says "I don't like Oranges" when they've never even tried an Orange. I don't know how many times I asked a friend 'how was the movie?' and they replied 'It was OK' and then I went to see it and thought 'That was a good movie!'... had I listened to them - I'd have missed out on a good movie. So I've learned to judge for myself rather than listen to others... When I was a young man cars only went about 80k miles before they were done... now they go 180K or more before they're done... change is not always a bad thing... and in my opinion Windows 8 (despite the negative press) is a good thing too. What's the harm in making up your own mind rather than letting others make it up for you. Take an image of your HDD with Paragon Drive Image or one of the others out there and load Windows 8 and use it for a week or two - what's the harm when you can revert back to Windows 7 if you want... but I'd venture to say that after a week or two - you won't go back... it really is that flexible.

M Hamilton