The Luck Project  (site is http://www.luckfactor.co.uk/ - lest i get accused of plagerism here!!) was originally conceived to scientifically explore psychological differences between people who considered themselves exceptionally lucky and unlucky. This initial work was funded by The Leverhulme Trust and undertaken by Dr. Richard Wiseman in collaboration with Dr. Matthew Smith and Dr. Peter Harris.

             Dr. Wiseman has since built upon this initial work by identifying the four basic principles used by lucky people to create good fortune in their lives, and developing techniques that enable individuals to enhance their own good luck.

             This research has involved working with hundreds of exceptionally lucky and unlucky people, and has employed various methods - including psychometric questionnaires, laboratory experiments and extensive interviewing ­ to better understand the psychology of luck.

             The results of this work reveal that people are not born lucky. Instead, lucky people are,  without realising it, using four basic principles to create good fortune in their lives.

             Principle One: Maximise Chance Opportunities
             Lucky people are skilled at creating, noticing and acting upon chance opportunities. They do this in various ways, including networking, adopting a relaxed attitude to life and by being open to new experiences.

             Principle Two: Listening to Lucky Hunches
             Lucky people make effective decisions by listening to their intuition and gut feelings.  In addition, they take steps to actively boost their intuitive abilities by, for example, meditating and clearing their mind of other thoughts.

             Principle Three: Expect Good Fortune
             Lucky people are certain that the future is going to be full of good fortune. These expectations become self-fulfilling prophecies by helping lucky people persist in the face of failure, and shape their interactions with others in a positive way.

             Principle Four: Turn Bad Luck to Good
             Lucky people employ various psychological techniques to cope with, and often even thrive upon, the ill fortune that comes their way. For example, they spontaneously imagine how things could have been worse, do not dwell on the ill fortune, and take control of the situation.

             Our most recent research has shown that these four principles can be used to enhance the amount of good fortune that people experience in their lives. click here to find out more.