Want to be more effective this year? Start by considering these tips:

想今年的效率更高吗？那么，请在新的一年来临之际，考虑使用以下技巧：

(success principle number 1: How you think is everything: Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of negative environment.)

(参照成功准则第1条：你的思维方式决定一切：保持积极的思维方式，多思考如何成功，而不是失败,当心消极的外界环境。）

--Use interteam competition to boost morale¹ and results.

利用团队内部的竞争来鼓舞士气，提高成效。

It worked for Eddie Rickenbacker, commander of the 94th Aero Squadron in France, during World War I.

Known as the “ace² of aces³” for shooting down dozens of German enemy planes, Rickenbacker took command of the squadron soon after morale hit its lowest ebb⁴.

第一次世界大战时，美军驻扎在法国的第94飞行中队队长艾迪·瑞肯波克Eddie Rickenbacke用此技巧，收到了良好的效果。

瑞肯波克在战斗中击落了许多的德军飞机，被认为是“王牌飞行员中的王牌”，他在飞行中队士气最低落的时候出任队长。

The squadron's former commander had been killed in action. Combat losses were mounting and pilots were being killed in noncombat crashes due to poor maintenance of planes.

此时，中队的前任队长在执行任务中牺牲。战斗造成的损失在不断攀升，而且由于糟糕的飞机维护情况，在非战斗状态中，还有飞行员坠机身亡。

“The squadron was dependent on equipment provided by the French, as American airplanes weren't available,” then Major General William Cohen recalls. “ Pilots felt they weren't getting the best equipment.”

“当时我们没有美国飞机，飞行中队用的是法国人提供的飞机，”，少将威廉·科恩后来回忆道。“飞行员们认为他们没有得到最好的装备。”

Upon taking command, Rickenbacker threw down a challenge.“First I called the pilots together. I pointed⁵ out that our airplanes were the same as other squadrons at the front, including the French,”

刚一就任，瑞肯波克就使用了激将法。“首先，我召集所有的飞行员，并指出我们用的飞机与前线其它飞行中队的飞机是一样，包括法国人自己的中队。”

Rickenbacker said later. “ I asked them whether they felt that the French were pilots. When they indicated they felt the 94th Aero Squadron had the best pilots at the front, I challenged them to prove it through competition with the other squadrons. It was simple to keep score. Whichever squadron shot the most planes down was the winner.”

瑞肯波克后来说。“我问他们是否觉得只有法国人才是飞行员。当他们表示，他们认为第94中队拥有前线最好的飞行员时，我用激将法，让他们和其它中队的飞行员比赛来证明这一点。记分方法非常简单：不论哪个中队，击落最多敌军飞机的最算赢。”

He then met with his ground crew and emphasized their importance in battle. “I said that without them, the pilots might as well stay on the ground,” Richenbacker recalled. He explained that his pilots were competing with Allied⁶ squadrons, and challenged his men on the ground to face off against Allied maintenance crews.

随后，他与地面后勤人员见面，强调他们在战斗中的最要性。 “我说，没有他们，飞行员就只能待在地面，” 瑞肯波克回忆道。他解释说飞行员们正在与盟军的其它飞行中队比赛，并让地面支持人员也同盟军的地面维护队员进行比赛，看谁的维护工作做得更好。

The outcome hinged on the “number of aircraft fit for flight and the number of accidents due to maintenance. I knew from my racing⁷ days that competition works,” Rickenbacker said.

The 94th squadron became an airborne juggernaut, one of the most successful fighting units in history.

比赛结果以“适于作战的飞机数量和由于维修不利造成事故的飞机的统计数量来评判。“我从我自己原来参加比赛的经验中知道，这种竞争方法很有效。” 瑞肯波克说。

后来第94飞行中队成为了当时让人传颂的“空战精英”,，这是历史上最成功的战斗部队之一。