An Unlikely Pair: CRM & the Art of Turkey Brining

Summary

At first glance, CRM and turkey brining seem completely unrelated, but both rely on the same underlying principles: preparation, customization, patience, and attention to detail. Through a Thanksgiving tradition and a well-tested turkey brine, this article explores how thoughtful planning, incremental improvements, and alignment with existing processes lead to better outcomes, whether you’re preparing a holiday meal or implementing a CRM system. The lesson is simple: when you focus on the fundamentals and build with intention, the results speak for themselves.

Are you stressed about your Thanksgiving prep?

If so, let me help you out... I've got Thanksgiving down pat, and my Brined Turkey is amazing!

Thanksgiving is My Favorite Holiday

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, better than Halloween, Easter, or even Christmas. It's the one time the whole family comes together each year, and I get to host the family for Thanksgiving every year. It's a ton of work, but it's a privilege that I'm excited to have.

It's a way that I can help bring everyone together and share our love of food and family.

What could be better?

Setting the mood is crucial. I get a kick out of creating a welcoming environment and setting a proper Thanksgiving table. Festive music is in the background, there are nice tablecloths on each table, pretty Thanksgiving centerpieces, real plates (not paper or plastic), silverware, stemware, and the works!

The Pressure Is On: Hosting Thanksgiving

Family, Family, and More Family - This year, we will have to be creative with our seating arrangement because we will be bursting at the seams with about 44 people. It will include my mom, siblings, kids, grandkids, and our extended family. It is such a great time to see the family, hear everyone's stories for the year, and kick off the holiday season.

Growing up with six kids, Mom always insisted that we all had a part to play and instilled a great sense of teamwork and responsibility in me and my siblings.

Maybe that is why Thanksgiving, giving thanks, is my favorite holiday.

The Two Dishes That Matter Most

Now, let's talk about how I do it. I'm responsible for the Turkey and the Mashed Potatoes.

In my opinion, everything else is optional. If these two dishes turn out great, Thanksgiving is a success, even if the rolls get burnt, or Aunt Edna's Jello salad is just a green gelatinous puddle of fruit cocktail.

Everyone has their "Famous" dish that they bring and share. Don't get me started on my sister's sweet potato pie - it is fabulous. However, our giant potluck is definitely centered around the Turkey and the Mashed Potatoes.

The Turkey Spa Treatment

So how do you get a perfect turkey?

Let’s talk about the Turkey Spa Treatment.

Over the years, I’ve refined a process that consistently delivers a turkey that’s juicy, flavorful, and anything but dry. It turns out great every time, and the secret is simple: a well-executed turkey brine.

What Turkey Brining Taught Me About CRM

Now, you might be wondering how CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and brining a turkey could possibly be related. At first glance, they seem worlds apart.

CRM is all about managing relationships and interactions with customers while brining is a culinary process to improve the flavor and moisture content of a turkey. But when you look at how modern CRM platforms like Microsoft Dynamics 365 are designed, the similarities start to emerge.

When you look a little closer, those differences start to fade, and some surprising similarities emerge:

• Preparation is Key: Just like a successful brine requires careful preparation of ingredients, implementing a CRM system requires thorough planning. This involves understanding the needs of your business, setting clear objectives, and ensuring you have all the necessary resources.

• Customization for Best Results: In brining, you tailor the mixture to suit the type of meat and desired flavor. Similarly, customizing a CRM system to fit the specific needs of a business ensures it effectively supports unique processes and goals.

• Time Investment for Long-term Benefits: Brining takes time, but the result is the star of the show – a flavorful, juicy Turkey. Implementing a CRM system also requires time and patience, but the long-term benefits include improved customer relationships, streamlined processes, and better data management.

• Regular Monitoring and Adjustment: Just as you might check and adjust your brine, a CRM system needs regular monitoring and tweaking to ensure it continues to meet the business's evolving needs.

• Impact on the End-Product: The ultimate goal of "brining" is to enhance the taste and texture of the turkey, much like the aim of a CRM system is to enhance the customer experience and improve business outcomes.

• Integration with Other Processes: Brining is one step in a more extensive cooking process. Similarly, a CRM system must integrate seamlessly with other business systems and processes for maximum effectiveness.

• Training and Adaptation: Just as cooking with brine might require some learning and adaptation, employees need proper training to use a CRM system and adapt to new workflows effectively.

In both cases, success requires attention to detail, customization, and understanding of the end goal.

If you would like my "secret" Turkey Brine recipe, please drop me a quick email. Thanksgiving is all about sharing, after all!

If this story resonated, the same mindset applies far beyond Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you’re refining a family recipe or modernizing your CRM, thoughtful preparation, incremental improvements, and alignment with existing processes tend to produce the best results.

If you’d like to explore how those principles show up in real-world CRM, automation, and AI scenarios, you’re welcome to join our Smarter Systems Start Here (SSBS) Webinar. It’s a practical, no-sales session designed to help business leaders think more clearly about systems, strategy, and sustainable growth.

About the Author

Ryan Redmond is the founder of Optrua, where he helps small and mid-sized businesses modernize CRM systems and improve business processes using Microsoft technologies. With decades of experience guiding organizations through CRM adoption, optimization, and expansion, Ryan focuses on practical solutions that deliver real value without unnecessary complexity.

Ryan’s appreciation for structure, preparation, and teamwork began early and was reinforced through his service in the U.S. Navy. Today, those same principles shape how he helps business leaders align people, processes, and systems so their organizations can grow with confidence.

When he’s not working with clients, Ryan enjoys hosting family gatherings, perfecting his Thanksgiving turkey, and finding unexpected ways to connect everyday experiences to better business outcomes.

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn.