Profiles in Customers: James and the Giant Yak

Have you ever heard of the term "shaving a yak"? It's a proverbial condition that refers to the situation where you have to complete a series of tasks, but in order to accomplish the first task, you need to complete another task, and to complete that task, you need to complete yet another task, and so on until you find yourself in the absurdly tangential position of shaving a yak! This expression has been used to describe the frustration of facing unexpected low value-add obstacles blocking the work that really matters.  Fortunately, Navgar, the work management platform, is here with shears to clip that beast.  With its powerful features, it can help you organize, track and manage all your tasks, and ensure you don't fall into the proverbial yak-shaving trap.

Let's take a look at a case study to illustrate how Navgar’s task automation software can help solve the problem of shaving a yak: James is a property manager who is tasked with finding a new tenant for his company’s property. To do this, he would need to advertise the property, show it to potential tenants, and screen applications. However, before he can do that, he needs to identify and ensure necessary repairs to the property are made, as well as upgrades to ensure its appearance is competitive with others at similar prices in the area. Before James can do any of those things, he has to gather quotes from contractors, negotiate with vendors, or obtain permits. This process can continue, with each step leading to another until he has spent far more time than expected completing the task. But with the help of Navgar, James is able to alter the cycle of rapid roadblocks. He creates a Flow in the Navgar application, and breaks down the project into smaller, sequential and manageable tasks, each with realistic deadlines. He can compare due dates and prioritize and delegate.  For example, he often handles painting units himself but if his time is otherwise booked doing a showing elsewhere, he can arrange a painter to handle the job and increase his own value.  Navgar’s task management functions allow him to keep track of his Flow tasks and optimize their time for completion for future runs, allowing for seamless time budgeting.  Above all, he likes the process of writing out his sequence as a meditation and ability to see all the tasks that need to be completed in one place. The end result: He doesn't have to worry about forgetting anything. Now, instead of optimistically over-committing himself, James has a realistic vision of what he needs to do and can operate on his priorities.

Shaving a yak is a common frustration when it comes to our work lives but it can be avoided with the help of Navgar. By breaking down complex work into smaller, manageable tasks, setting deadlines, and farming out work that can be done by others, you can avoid getting stuck in the proverbial yak-shaving trap. So, the next time you find yourself facing a complex project, consider using Navgar’s task management and tracking software to make your life easier.