I think that sounds like good advice to me, I've bitten off a bit too much this time !
The overall project - maybe is too much, BUT...
break it down into little pieces.
Get a breadboard and set up the 74192.
Don't forget decoupling capacitors on the supplies.
Don't forget pull-up or pull-down resistors where required.
Use LEDs , one on each output*, don't forget the current limiting resistors. Don't worry about driving a 7 seg display yet, get the counter working first.
* Can you count in binary? You will be able to when this is done!
Wire up little push buttons for the Up, Down, Load, Clear inputs.
Wire up a DIL switch for the Data Inputs.
Play with it, see it work.
Now add a 7 seg display.**
Now add a second 74192 counter.**
** Do this in which ever order suits you best.
And so on, build it up bit by bit (see what I said there).
NASA did not just "go to the moon", they tried each part bit by bit and then assembled all the bits.
In a while, when you need an up/down counter for whatever purpose, you will think:
"No problem, done that before, I can do the same again".
Easy.
JimB