Hey there —

How often do you shave the yak? 🐃

No, we aren’t talking about trekking to the Tibetan mountainside to give cattle a haircut. “Yak Shaving” happens when you set out to complete a task, but get sidetracked by related errands.

Here’s an example:

You need to film a scene for your “morning routine” sketch. → You notice a drool stain on your pillowcase. → You decide to wash your sheets. → You realize you’re out of laundry detergent. → You head to the store to buy laundry detergent (and beef jerky and Skittles) → You go home. → You remember you have a spare set of sheets.

First coined by Carlin Vierie in the ‘90s after watching an episode of “The Ren and Stimpy Show,” yak shaving impacts us all. But we rarely notice when it’s happening.

And that’s because yak shaving feels like we’re being productive, since we’re completing tasks related to what we set out to do. It’s all part of the to-do list, right?

But shaving that yak is a rabbit hole. (Sorry, mixed metaphor.)

What we’re trying to say is that it’s easy to trick ourselves into thinking that being “busy” is the same thing as being “productive.” It’s not.

Looking to quit yak shaving? Great! Try this one tactic the next time you set out to tackle a task.

Make a “to-do later” list. 📝

Grab a piece of paper (online note-taking is fine, too), and write your task at the top of the page. As you start working on your task, you’ll inevitably be hit with distracting side quests.

Instead of drifting off course, jot down those additional to-dos, noting that you’ll get them done later. Once you’ve finished your meta task, then you can dive into the related assignments.

Here’s an example: 👇

Yak shaving isn’t always negative. Sometimes you realize there is one thing you’ve got to take care of in order to complete your main task. It happens! But always ask yourself, “Is this really necessary?”

And remember this little tune next time you feel yourself getting sidetracked…

 🎶 Just stay focused on the task, and don’t go off and shave a yak! 🎶

The Ancient Truth About Manifestation and Magical Thinking

Article | by The Daily Stoic

“Your thoughts create your reality.”

“You can manifest anything you desire.”

“See yourself living in abundance and it’ll come.”

The idea that you can “think” your way into a prosperous, successful life seems silly, yet the Law of Attraction (LoA) has a huge cult following online. Popularized by Rhonda Byrne in her book The Secret, the LoA states you can “manifest” your happiness.

But can you really control your destiny with your thoughts?

This article by The Daily Stoic breaks down if the LoA actually works. Turns out that while it’s mostly a bunch of hoopla, there is a valuable distinction to make between the LoA and the power of positive thinking.

Read the article →

10 Thoughts on Predicting Future Trends

Twitter Essay | by George Mack

Don’t you wish you’d invested in Tesla before it took off, started blogging back in the day, or created a YouTube Channel in ‘09? (Just kidding, it’s never too late to start).

Staying ahead of the curve has its advantages. And lucky for us, George Mack created a pithy ten-bullet list of tactics you can use to always be one step ahead.

Our favorite tip?

“If it’s a talking point on Reddit, you’re probably early. If it’s a talking point on LinkedIn, you’re definitely late.”

Read the essay →

Reddit Map

Tool | by Anvaka

Speaking of browsing Reddit to get a clue into the future…C

heck out this incredible tool created by Anvaka, a talented software designer. It’s called, “Reddit Map” and you can look up any subreddit to see a map of all related topics.

For example, check out the result with the subreddit r/digitalnomad:

If you’re a creator or entrepreneur, this is one of the best ways to find unique new ideas related to your content or business.

Try it out →

Written by Alice Lemée

Edited by Matt D'Avella & Ashley Martin