Sun Tzu's Art of War
Cleaning Up After Your Parrot

There's a war on everything these days (drugs, terrorism, etc etc)! Well, I'm jumping on the bandwagon and declaring a war on cleaning up after my parrot! So for some guidance, I dug out an ancient book and blew the dust off of it.

The Art of War is a Chinese military treatise that was written during the 6th century BC by Sun Tzu (pronounced Sun Sue). The Art of War has been used by military theorists, political leaders and business managers as a strategy guide to attack a wide range of problems large and small. Now you too can benefit from this ancient yet timeless text as a strategy guide for your war on cleanliness.

Pet birds can be M-E-S-S-Y and sometimes it feels like an uphill battle to keep everything clean. While there's no proof that Sun Tzu owned a parrot, if he did, here's how he would have used his strategies from the The Art of War to win the battle of cleanliness.

1. Section I.1 Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
   
   Cleanliness is of vital importance. It is necessary for your health and your parrot's health. And unless you attack it with military style discipline, it WILL get the best of you and you WILL lose your battle with cleanliness.
2. Section I.17 Sun Tzu said: According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one's plans.
   
   Spending a few minutes when convenient to do a quick cleanup can save you time in the long run. So be flexible and take advantage of the moments when you have a couple minutes to spare.
3. Section II.3 Sun Tzu said: Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain.
   
   Small cleaning steps are better than one big one - keep it cleaned daily or more frequently if possible and necessary.
4. Section III.18 Sun Tzu said: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
   
   Understanding your task at hand is critical to putting together a good cleaning routine. Your routine should take into consideration cleaning toys, the cage, the play stand and any other areas that require cleaning.
5. Section IV.4 Sun Tzu said: Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.
   
   Merely thinking about cleaning or putting a cleaning plan together won't get the job done. In addition to knowing what to do, you have to implement the plan and execute the plan. In more modern words, you can't just think about doing it, you have to "Just Do It!" or "Get'er Done!"
6. Section V.10 Sun Tzu said: In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack - the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
   
   Take indirect steps to make cleaning easier. An example would be to put paper down or other coverings where dropping might fall. Another example is to position toys so that they are not under perches to minimize potential problems. These and other indirect tactics can save you time and effort in the long run.
7. Section VI.19 Sun Tzu said: Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.
   
   Create a routine that works for you and stick to it.
8. Section X.22 Sun Tzu said: He who knows these things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.
   
   Knowing what to do isn't enough. You must actually know what you need to do and actually DO the cleaning.
9. Section X.31 Sun Tzu said: Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt;
   
   After creating a cleaning process and executing it regularly, you'll become more efficient and be able to quickly and confidently finish the task. While you may not look forward to it, knowing that your cleaning routine works will leave no doubt in your mind that victory is at hand!
10. Section XI.19 Sun Tzu said: Rapidity is the essence of war.
    
    Having a long cleaning time set aside is fraught with problems. Not only will you dred the process but you're more likely to procrastinate. Doing several quick cleaning steps is preferred to one large process. For example, scrub the toys during one process and clean the cage in another process. Minimized the time spent cleaning is critical to winning the war on cleanliness.

Sometimes all you need is another perspective to spark new ideas or reinvigorate you. Maybe the ancient text, The Art of War, will be that spark that you need.

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This article was originally published on www.InfoSuperFlyway.com. The InfoSuperFlyway website is dedicated to Kibibi the talking African Grey Parrot (Congo African Grey) with sights, sounds, audio, videos, articles, top ten lists, parrot jokes, parrot humor, and Clicker training info! Original Article Source: Sun Tzu's Art of War and Cleanliness

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