We've all heard the adage "You make your own luck." But how is it done? (Hint: There’s more to it than hanging a horseshoe and staying away from black cats and ladders!) "A lot of luck is about the doing, not the dreaming," says Susan RoAne, author of How to Create Your Own Luck. Here, she and other experts explain how to be your own lucky charm!

Listen Up

"One of the traits of lucky people is that they listen, and listen well," says RoAne. Engage in some harmless eavesdropping in the elevator — it could result in a great break. "You might hear someone say, 'We're looking to hire people,' or 'I can't believe they extended that sale at Target!'" says RoAne.

Break Your Routine

Psychologist Richard Wiseman studied more than 400 lucky and unlucky people for his book The Luck Factor. He found that the "lucky" ones were willing to shake up their routines.

For example, one man, noticing that he always socialized with the same types of people, randomly picked a color before a party, then talked to everyone in the room wearing that color. Trying something different — even if it's just driving a different route to work — can expose you to new opportunities.

RSVP Yes

Lucky people look at invitations as opportunities. As a result, they have broader social networks and more chances for "lucky" encounters. In an experiment, Wiseman gave hundreds of people a list of 15 common surnames. The people were asked to indicate whether they were on a first-name basis with at least one person with each last name. About 50 percent of lucky people checked off eight or more of the surnames, compared with just 25 percent of unlucky folks. So, go out! "You never know who will be there or what you'll learn," says RoAne. "Serendipity will happen!"

Focus on the Big Picture

In an experiment, Wiseman asked people to count all the photographs in a newspaper. The lucky people took just two seconds to tally the photos. Why? They were paying attention. On the second page of the paper, a huge notice read, "Stop counting! There are 43 photographs in this newspaper." The unlucky people, so focused on the task at hand, tended to miss what was right in front of them.

So look around — a piece of good luck could be staring you in the face! Look on the Bright Side How do lucky people deal with occasional bad luck? By looking at the upside of misfortune, says Wiseman. Put in the same situation — say, an accident that totaled their car, but caused no serious injuries — unlucky people bemoaned the loss of the car, while lucky people considered themselves fortunate to have escaped harm. Thinking about how things might have been worse helps you feel lucky — and grateful!