The Sure-Fire Way To Be Luckier In Life - Advice From Psychology Professor Richard Wiseman

258 snips

Jul 22, 2022

This week, Richard Wiseman, a psychology professor and author renowned for his work on luck and magic, shares intriguing insights into how we can create our own luck. They discuss his decade-long research on luck, the transformative power of 'lucky journals', and the psychological principles that mold our perceptions of chance. Wiseman emphasizes the significance of curiosity and self-perception, revealing how a positive mindset can attract opportunities. He also reflects on career paths shaped by serendipity and the joy of community engagement in creative pursuits.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

From Magic to Psychology

Richard Wiseman's career began with magic, sparked by his grandfather's trick and a library visit.
This led him to psychology, parapsychology, and eventually to his current work.

INSIGHT

A Lucky Break

Richard Wiseman's research on luck began unexpectedly while interviewing someone who considered themselves lucky.
This chance encounter led to newspaper articles, media interest, and his first book.

INSIGHT

Principles of Luck

Lucky people are open to opportunities, trust intuition, are optimistic, and resilient.
Wiseman's interventions, like keeping a luck diary, aim to shift self-perception and create positive feedback loops.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Pure Effect

Direct Mind-Reading and Magical Artistry

Derren Brown

Pure Effect by Derren Brown explores mentalism effects and the artistry of magical performance. It emphasizes understanding the underlying principles and presentation of magic rather than just the techniques. The book includes practical routines and theoretical insights into creating impactful performances.

Absolute Magic

A Model for Powerful Close-Up Performance

Derren Brown

Derren Brown's 'Absolute Magic' is a thought-provoking guide to elevating magic performances by making them feel authentic and impactful. It emphasizes the importance of integrating drama and character into magic, rather than just presenting tricks. The book challenges magicians to rethink their approach to magic, encouraging them to create experiences that transcend mere trickery and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

The Minimalist Entrepreneur

How Great Founders Do More with Less

Sahil Lavingia

The Minimalist Entrepreneur offers a roadmap for building startups that prioritize profitability and positive impact over rapid growth. Sahil Lavingia shares lessons from his journey with Gumroad, emphasizing the importance of community, minimalism, and sustainability in entrepreneurship. The book provides practical advice on starting small, focusing on direct value exchange, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Rip it up

Richard Wiseman

Rip It Up presents a radical approach to self-help, focusing on the 'As If' principle, which suggests that simple physical actions can instantly change how you think and feel. Drawing on scientific evidence, Richard Wiseman offers practical techniques for making significant life changes, such as losing weight or stopping smoking, by altering behavior rather than just thinking differently.

Psychology

John Dewey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R Covey

This book, first published in 1989, outlines seven habits that are designed to help individuals become more effective in their personal and professional lives. The habits are grouped into three categories: Private Victory (habits 1-3), Public Victory (habits 4-6), and Renewal (habit 7). The habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand and then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. Covey emphasizes the importance of personal integrity, effective time management, empathetic communication, and continuous self-improvement[2][5][4].

Die with Zero

Bill Perkins

Die with Zero presents a provocative philosophy and practical guide on how to get the most out of your money and your life. Bill Perkins argues against over-saving and under-living, advocating for investing in experiences early and maximizing positive life experiences. The book introduces concepts like 'time-bucketing,' 'net worth curve,' and 'fulfillment curve' to help readers optimize their life stages and make the most of their resources. Drawing from his own life experiences and insights from psychological science and behavioral finance, Perkins makes a compelling case for living large and accumulating memorable experiences rather than wealth.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Dale Carnegie

First published in 1936, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie is a timeless guide to improving interpersonal skills. The book is divided into four main sections: Six Ways to Make People Like You, Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking, and Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment. Carnegie's principles emphasize the importance of genuine interest in others, active listening, and avoiding criticism and argument. The book offers practical advice on how to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and influence others by aligning their self-interest with yours. It has been a cornerstone of personal development and business success for generations[2][3][5].

The luck factor

Richard Wiseman

In 'The Luck Factor,' Richard Wiseman presents the results of his extensive research on why some people are consistently lucky while others are not. The book is based on interviews and experiments involving over 1,000 people who self-identify as lucky or unlucky. Wiseman identifies four key principles that distinguish lucky people: they are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make decisions based on intuition, have positive expectations about the future, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good. The book provides practical tips and scientific evidence to support the idea that luck is not random but can be influenced by one's behavior and mindset.

Atomic Habits

James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth[2][4][5].