Wok, Ribs, Brisket: Train Sales Like the Motion It’s Meant to Be

Sales isn’t one recipe. It's stir-fry, ribs, or brisket. Same core skills, different heat, different timing.

Don't microwave your brisket.

Don't smoke your vegetables for 8 hours.

Don't ask your pitmaster to make fried rice.

Different dishes, wrong method, terrible outcomes.

Who doesn't know this in a kitchen?

Let's try another one.

Your inside rep is a wok chef: speed and volume with precision, done in 15 minutes.

Your field seller? They're working ribs: 4 to 6 hours of rhythm, patience, and perfect timing.

Your corporate account manager? Pure brisket: 16 hours where one mistake ruins everything.

Do you really think they should all be trained the same way?

Every sales conversation follows the same pattern: learn what they need, show how you solve it, move things forward.

But the technique? Wildly different.

Inside Sales = Stir-Fry Technique

  • Prep everything first. Scripts tight, CRM ready, next three calls queued.
  • Get hot fast with 60-second rapport and 2-minute discovery.
  • Hit hard with immediate value props, speed-round objections.
  • Close fast and move on. Fifty calls a day with high heat and high volume.

Field Sales = Ribs Technique

  • Slow heat with discovery calls that take 30-60 minutes.
  • Baste regularly with light touches, value check-ins, and thoughtful follow-ups.
  • Adjust seasoning by listening, adapting, and never rushing the process.
  • 4-6 week cook time where the pull has to be perfect.

Enterprise Sales = Brisket Technique

  • Rub overnight with custom prep, stakeholder research, and tailored entry points.
  • Low and slow with multi-threaded discovery and careful deal architecture.
  • Don't flinch at the stall. Ghosting, procurement delays, and budget freezes are normal.
  • Sixteen hours of smoke where one rushed move ruins the whole thing.

Here's what it looks like when you get it wrong:

  • Your inside rep running a 16-question discovery to close a $3K deal.
  • Your field seller calling the day after discovery to say "Just checking in."
  • Your enterprise rep sending a quote after one call and asking the CFO to sign by Friday.

Bottom line: Same core skills, but wildly different applications. Train for your actual sales motion, not some universal fantasy.

You wouldn't do this in a kitchen. Why do it in your sales org?