November 11, 20249 min de lectura

🍒 How to create something huge - 4 tips to do it better · The Bunker #108

Hi friend 👋🏻!

A Newsletter in which we talk about UX Design and the Freelance Journey, dedicated to those who are starting out in both worlds and who feel identified.

From The Bunker, we accompany you on the way.

Hello! I've been wanting to write this article for a while because, surprisingly, it's something you've asked me about a lot on Twitter.

In fact, I’ll tell you right from the start: as I was writing this article, it got so lengthy that I decided to turn it into a completely free eBook. Here in the newsletter, I'll only share an excerpt.

If, after reading the article, you want to dive deeper, at the end of this post I’ll leave a link where you can download the full version for FREE with more details and a few extra tips.

Oh, and there will be 2 special 🎁gifts if you decide to download it :)

I’ve been in the market for a long time, working for myself, specifically since I was 12, and I’m 23 now, so that’s 11 years of pretty much doing the same thing.

Over these 11 years, I’ve created quite a few projects, a lot, actually. Many of them you probably don’t know about or recognize (I’ll tell you about them someday).

Since I started writing this newsletter in 2022, you’ve seen how 2024 has been the year I launched Branding Website and Koala UI. Two projects that might appear big at first glance.

They’re two projects that, when I present them to you and say, “You could do this too,” some people might think, “Oh, that sounds exhausting/overwhelming,” because at first, they seem quite large.

So, today’s post is about exactly this, how to take on big things. Ambitious projects that you know you want to do but, for one reason or another, you never quite get around to starting.

I’ll share my top 4 tips for every time I want to do something big, because the truth is, I end up doing it. Rarely do I back down because of the project’s size.

1. Everything is an Iterative Process

If you think about how big a project is, you’ll probably feel overwhelmed. And I’m saying this with a lot of confidence because it’s actually scientific.

Scientifically speaking, thinking about the total magnitude of a project can paralyze us.

But why?

Scientific Reason #1

When we perceive a project as "big" or overwhelming, our brain activates the amygdala, a structure responsible for managing emotional responses, especially those related to fear.

The amygdala is designed to protect us from threats, whether real or perceived. Facing something that seems enormous, uncertain, or demanding can trigger a stress response or "fight or flight," even if there is no physical threat. This phenomenon can lead us to prefer avoiding or postponing the task, paralyzing us in the face of the magnitude we perceive.

Scientific Reason #2

The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning and decision-making, plays an essential role in how we approach complex projects.

However, when a task seems immensely large, this part of the brain can become overloaded with information and possibilities.

The prefrontal cortex can only handle a certain amount of data at a time; when we ask it to process a project in all its magnitude, it can feel overwhelmed, making it difficult to maintain clarity and focus. This causes a kind of "short circuit" in our ability to act right away.

Scientific Reason #3

The brain has a tendency to anticipate the effort that a large task might require, a phenomenon called "anticipatory stress."

This projection leads us to imagine all the possible obstacles and difficulties, which makes the project seem even harder than it really is.

As a result, our mind generates an avoidance response: by imagining all the problems at once, it prioritizes protection from potential stress, which contributes to us not taking action.

Today’s post is broght to you by koalaui.com.

Koala UI is a Design System built for users who are looking to create uniquely beautiful websites with highly converting structures and SEO optimization.

Get 20% off by being a The Bunker reader: “THEBUNKER20” koalaui.com

So, with all of this, it’s normal to not want to take that first step and face new challenges.

But there are tricks that can help us.

To start, the key is to remember that every great achievement is not built in one go but in small steps.

As Jeff Bezos says:

Start small and build.
Big things start small.

This is the phrase I try to remind myself of, even in my gym transformation project.

I always break projects down into stages, each with clear and achievable goals. Don’t start by thinking about the finished project, but about the first iteration, the first step that brings you closer to something tangible.

It’s okay to think about the finished project or at least an ideal version (because it will never be finished to your liking), so you can break down the tasks you need to do properly.

In reality, this will be the last time you have to think about the final product.

There’s a story about a knight on his horse, lost in a thick fog in the forest. The knight asks the horse, “Can you see the end of the forest? Can you see how to get out?” The horse replies, “I can’t see anything, I can only see my next step so I don’t fall.”

And that’s exactly what you need to do.

This approach helps me maintain motivation and see consistent progress. When I launched Koala UI, my initial goal wasn’t to build a complete design system, but something simpler: to structure a basic kit for Figma and Webflow that addressed specific design and usability needs.

For Branding Website, I just wanted to create a space where designers could get curated branding inspiration. I know today that to make a product consumable, I need to add at least 500 references. But that’ll come, I add 20 each week, and that’s it.

In a month, there will be 80 references, which is already pretty interesting.

2. Prioritize Impact Over Perfection

One of the most common mistakes I see in people starting large projects is obsessing over making everything perfect from the very beginning.

Make no mistake: perfection is the enemy of progress. Instead of focusing on every little detail before launching, focus on what will truly add value in the early stages.

When I founded Branding Website or Koala UI, the first versions had their imperfections, but they were functional and served the purpose of helping brands and designers.

Perfection came with time, after collecting user feedback and gradually introducing new improvements.

3. Trust in Resilience and Consistency

Another very important aspect is not giving up when the road gets tough, which inevitably happens in large projects.

I would even tell you it happens all the time: in small, medium, and large projects.

Resilience and consistency are your best allies to reach the goal. There will be times when you feel progress is slow or when you lack resources. In those moments, instead of giving up, remember the impact that project could have once completed.

Something that helps me is thinking: What would others do? To start, people are comfortable, and being where I am is already hard. On the other hand, what would be easy? Giving up, right?

Nothing worth having in life is easy.

Over the years, this mindset of consistency has helped me overcome the difficulties that naturally arise in every project. It’s not about moving fast all the time, but about moving continuously, no matter how big the challenges seem.

The goal is to keep moving forward.

What I know is I have to do it, or else, who will?

4. The Day the Idea Comes: Write Down Why You Thought It Was a Good Idea

Something that happens quite often is that at the beginning, we’re always very excited and motivated by the project, but then over time, as we face adversities or simply as time passes, we lose the purpose of the project.

We forget why we got involved in all of this.

Motivation is a fluctuating factor, so you shouldn’t rely on motivation.

In those moments, remembering why you started is one of the most effective strategies to stay focused and avoid mental burnout.

Having a clear "why" behind your actions gives meaning to your daily effort, even when things get tough.

Psychology studies show that a sense of purpose is deeply linked to resilience and long-term wellbeing, and it’s one of the most powerful tools to overcome obstacles.

And this is one of the many things I keep in mind and think about each time I face a new challenge.

When I start something, I don’t know many things, but what I do know is that I’m not going to give up, and that I’ll at least try.

If you liked this excerpt, you can download the full version for free.

If you download the full version, I’ll send you a 2 gifts to your inbox🎁.

Until next time,

Jordi Espinosa.

✨ This Week’s Sponsor

Koala UI is a Design System built for users who are looking to create uniquely beautiful websites with highly converting structures and SEO optimization.

Get 20% off by being a The Bunker reader: “THEBUNKER20” koalaui.com

If you are interested on making a living with Content Creation, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve recently release my book: From $0 to $10.000 on client projects with only 10.000 followers on Instagram”.

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