The keys I've found in BBQ are preparation, technique, and patience. HOw you prep your food and cooker is much more important than what you are seasoning the food with or what cooker you are using. Making sure you have a good cut of meat, trimming and seasoning properly, and cooking it to the right temp and feel are important. Managing your temperature in whatever you are cooking with is super important.

Patience is even bigger. The food will be done when it's done. SOmetimes the meat will cook faster, sometimes a little slower. You rush it, you'll have issues. Same with running the cooker. It takes some time to know what temps your cooker likes to run, and how much fuel or air it needs to get there; how to adjust the vents to keep the cooker from running away from you or dying out.

A lot of little things. Not huge secrets per se, and not super hard, but definitely need time to do it right