Three More Insights From Gangnam Style

Psy teaches a lot about the psychology of successful fitness transformation. Here are three more insights into fitness from Gangnam Style.

3. Practice strategic attention.

In the Gangnam Style video, Psy starts off sunning while holding a cold beverage. Then he is seen walking through a stable and the video cuts back to the umbrella scene with a young boy doing the Gangnam dance.

As the video progresses, Psy dances with two women in a windstorm of confetti, dances by himself, dances with two women in what appears to be snowstorm, and leans on the shoulder of a less-than-fanatically-fit young man in a sauna.

Not once in the video does Gangnam update his Facebook status. He doesn't answer his smart phone. He doesn't wait for comments in an Internet forum before continues to dance, dance, dance.

British fitness guru Christian Finn advises his clients to follow a program of "strategic ignorance." If you don't use information, stop trying to acquire more. The key to success isn't knowing more about fitness and diet, it is doing more to move in the direction of fitness goals.

4. Make your main thing your main thing.

In Gangnam style, we see Psy resting, or dancing. He's either having a good time or recuperating from having a good time. We don't see Psy taking up ballet, or knitting, or making batch of kimchi to go with his bulgogi and rice. Psy sticks to main thing.

The same principle applies to fitness transformations. Most of us are plugged into a constant steam of information through email, Facebook, Twitter, newsletters, forums, classes, and meet-ups. Constant contact is distracting.

Don't try to do a little interval training here and a little yoga there and a high-protein diet on days you aren't carb loading to get ready for your cheat days. Stop. Pick one routine and settle in for at least 90 days. If after three months you can't see any desirable changes, then try something else, but choose one important goal. Then ask yourself, is what I'm doing now helping me reach my goal, or pushing me away from it.

5. Practice the Pareto Principle

Chances are that you have heard of the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80-20 rule. The Pareto Principle states that 80% of outcomes derive from 20% of efforts. For salespeople, 80% of sales are made with 20% of customers. Or 80% of weight loss occurs on 20% of diet days. Or 80% of muscle gain occurs after 20% of workouts. For Psy, 20% of dance routines seem to have resulted in 80% of his rejuvenating breaks.

But the principle is that you do some things on a routine basis without expecting immediate results. The way you reach your goals is not necessarily precisely predictable. There will always be a few simple things you have to get right and get right consistently to achieve good results. The thing is, you may not know what they are.

So be like Psy. Keep dancing. Take an occasional break, but then dance some more. Enjoy your company along the way, and achieve your goals the Gangnam way.