The 5 points listed are actually an excellent 'Qi-gathering and nurturing layout' in Feng Shui, but the post's biggest flaw is using the word 'Beat.'
In Feng Shui, 'wanting to beat others' is an outward, attacking 'Sha (affliction) energy,' while 'saying thank you, remembering names, and listening first' are essentially soft methods of 'gathering wind, accumulating Qi, and widening the Bright Hall.' If you do these things with the calculating mind of 'I want to defeat you,' your Qi field will be tense and prickly. Others will subconsciously sense the dissonance of a 'knife hidden in a smile' (form and logic contradicting).
True Feng Shui masters do these 5 things not to 'beat' anyone, but to 'nurture their own layout':
Thank you/names = Widening the 'Bright Hall' of connections, letting living water (benefactors) flow in.
Looking them up = Mapping their 'direction' to avoid Qi 'clashes.'
Listening first = 'Locking the water exit,' not easily leaking your own vital energy (trump cards).
Sucking at new things = Maintaining a 'valley-like humility' to let new 'Sheng Qi' enter.
Remember: When you stop trying to 'beat 99% of people' and focus on 'nourishing your own Feng Shui,' that 99% will naturally become the 'guest mountains' supporting your Bright Hall.
you can beat 99% of people by:
1. saying thank you
2. looking people up before you meet them
3. remembering people's name
4. listening before you talk
5. be willing to suck at something new
most successful people aren't smarter, they just do the basic stuff much, much better