Professor Richard Wiseman

Richard Wiseman is based at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK, and has gained an international reputation for research into quirky areas of psychology, including deception, humour, luck and the paranormal. Wiseman started his professional life as a magician, before graduating in Psychology from University College London and obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh.
I have read more about his researches in Psychology of luck. This aspect of Wiseman's research explores why some people live charmed lives and develops techniques that enable others to enhance their good fortune. The project began in 1994 and has involved hundreds of exceptionally lucky and unlucky people.
Professor decided to search for the elusive luck factor by investigating the actual beliefs and experiences of lucky and unlucky people. From the result, Wiseman was able to identify four main factors which explained living lucky life. Here they are:
1. Maximise chance opportunities
2. Listen to intuition
3. Expect good fortune
4. Turn bad luck to good
Then he was able to show a group of people that considered themselves unlucky, how to think and behave like lucky people.

The results were astounding with almost all participants reporting significant life changes: including increased levels of luck, self-esteem, physical well-being, confidence and success.

The results of this research were published in the self-help book "The Luck Factor", that became a best-seller in the United Kingdom.

References:
http://www.richardwiseman.com/biography/biog.html

http://www.amazon.ca/Luck-Factor-Scientific-Study-Lucky/dp/0099443244 (picture)