From 0 to 1

Picture this: you receive a Slack message or an email from a stakeholder with a grandiose idea for a project. What's the first thing you feel? Anxiety? Excitement? Maybe stress—or possibly all of the above?

Here's the thing: whatever you're feeling, it's valid. Let yourself feel those feelings. Curse internally if you need to. Then take a deep breath and focus.

When it comes to executing projects—whether they're large or small—there's no single "right" way to do it. But in my experience as a frontend engineer working on web properties, successful execution boils down to a few key strategies: syncing with the project requester and your team, breaking down tasks into manageable pieces, creating a roadmap, and staying highly communicative throughout the process.

Sounds easy, right? In theory, it is. In practice, it can feel like navigating a maze with no map.

Let's break it down.

Syncing With Your Team (or Yourself)

Once you've aligned with the stakeholder, it's time to get your team—or just yourself, if you're flying solo—on the same page. Grand visions are great, but they need to be distilled into something actionable.

• Establish Roles and Responsibilities: If you're in a team, clarify who's doing what. If you're solo, focus on prioritizing tasks that have the most immediate impact or unblock other work.
• Create a Shared Understanding: Projects that live only in your head (or your stakeholder's) are doomed to misalignment. Write down the goals, scope, and requirements somewhere everyone can access—Notion, Jira, or even a Google Doc works. ¹
• Define a Workflow: Whether it's Agile, Kanban, or just a trusty to-do list, create a system for how tasks will move from idea to execution.

Think of this phase as creating a blueprint for success. The better you lay the foundation, the smoother everything else will go.

Keeping the Momentum

Starting a project is exciting. Keeping it moving is where the real work begins. Momentum requires discipline, accountability, and a willingness to adapt when things inevitably change.

• Set Checkpoints: Break your roadmap into milestones and celebrate the small wins. Hitting those early goals builds confidence and energy.
• Communicate Progress: Regular updates are key. A quick "we're still on track" can go a long way to reassure stakeholders and keep everyone aligned.
• Address Roadblocks Quickly: Don't wait for problems to resolve themselves. Surface issues early, involve the right people, and brainstorm solutions. It's easier to course-correct when the detour is small. ²

Momentum is all about consistent effort. Even if progress feels slow at times, staying disciplined will keep the project moving forward.

Addressing Problems Early

Every project hits snags. The key is to address them early and avoid letting small challenges grow into major blockers.

• Build in Risk Management: Start every project by identifying potential risks—whether it's technical challenges, dependencies, or timeline constraints. Prepare for them upfront. ³
• Encourage Open Dialogue: Make it easy for your team to flag issues without fear of blame. The sooner a problem is identified, the easier it is to solve.
• Have a Plan B (and C): When something goes wrong, stakeholders care about solutions, not excuses. Always come prepared with alternatives. ⁴

The goal here isn't to avoid problems entirely—that's impossible. It's about being proactive and turning challenges into opportunities for improvement.

Communicating With Stakeholders

This is the thread that ties everything together. Stakeholders need to feel informed and confident that the project is on the right track. Good communication builds trust and keeps expectations in check.

• Set Expectations Early: Be upfront about what's achievable within the timeline and resources. Underpromise and overdeliver if you can.
• Provide Regular Updates: Weekly status updates or quick syncs keep stakeholders in the loop. Use visuals—like timelines or progress bars—to make updates easier to digest.
• Be Transparent: If the project shifts direction or hits a snag, don't hide it. Let stakeholders know immediately and share how you're addressing the issue. Transparency builds trust. ⁵

Good communication isn't just about delivering good news—it's about delivering the right information at the right time.

From 0 to 1

Executing a project from idea to reality is no small feat. It's a journey filled with excitement, challenges, and plenty of learning opportunities. By syncing with your team, maintaining momentum, addressing problems early, and staying communicative with stakeholders, you can guide any project to success.

And remember: no matter how daunting it feels at first, every project starts at zero. The difference between success and stagnation is taking that first step and seeing it through to one.