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by kolpa 2897 days ago
"Yak shaving" is for things that seem ridiculous at first glance but turn out to be necessary or optimal due to unexpected constraints and requirement -- washing your car requires you to shave a yak to get the wool to build a sponge.

"Tying your shoes" is for mundane but necessary tasks. "Sharpening your saw" is for tangential work that indirectly makes your output better.