Which action is NOT identified by Dale Carnegie as a key to success?

• A. Listen to Others
• B. Have Accurate Information Ready to Back Up Your Position
• C. Be Genuinely Interested in Other People
• D. Smile

Answer: (B)

Carnegie’s approach to success centers on how you relate to people: making others feel valued, showing genuine interest, and creating a warm, cooperative interaction. Smiling helps create a friendly impression, and being genuinely interested in others invites openness and trust. Listening to others is crucial because it shows respect for their perspective and helps you understand what motivates them, which in turn makes them more receptive to your ideas.

Having accurate information ready to back up your position, while valuable in many contexts, isn’t presented by Carnegie as a main lever for success in personal or professional influence. His emphasis is on the interpersonal dynamics—the tone of the exchange, empathy, and rapport—rather than on deploying data to defend your stance. So this action is not identified as one of his key, influence-building practices, which is why it’s the best choice for what’s NOT a Dale Carnegie key to success.