Contestants always wonder if there's a secret to winning the final $1 million prize on CBS' The Amazing Race, and now, one of the show's executive producers is revealing just what that big secret is.

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In an interview with The Huffington Post, Elise Doganieri revealed that teams that are usually nicer to people from the countries the show visits are the ones who tend to get ahead the most.

In fact, she told the website she encourages teams to take time to smile at the locals, ask for help in a polite manner, and show respect for the culture of whichever countries they're racing through.

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"If you give just a little respect, you will get it back tenfold," she revealed.

For the first time in the show's 25 seasons, Doganieri has also revealed other elements of how the race is often planned out-proving just how much of a process it really is for herself and husband Bertram Von Munster.

"It's kind of like a military operation," she said about the process, which includes using a massive map on the wall to plan a route, visiting everywhere ahead of time, and staking out crews in each country before arrival.

However, she revealed, the credit for getting everything they manage to before airing the show, Doganieri says the credit needs to go to the cameramen.

"They don't get enough credit," she said. "They're running with a camera. They're the best at what they do. "

The Amazing Race airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Tags: The Amazing Race CBS Reality TV