There is an old story about a village hidden beyond a mountain range.
The village was known throughout the kingdom for producing the finest builders, blacksmiths, craftsmen, and tradespeople in the land. The roads were sturdy. The bridges stood for generations. The homes weathered every storm. Naturally, people from all over the kingdom wanted to live there. The problem was getting there. The journey required crossing a massive mountain. Every spring, hopeful travelers would gather at the base of the mountain and announce their intentions.
“I want to be a master builder.” “I want to become wealthy.” “I want a better life.” “I want to prove myself.” And every year, many of them started the climb. But surprisingly few finished it. Some turned back when the trail became steep. Some turned back when they realized how heavy their packs were. Some turned back when the weather changed. Some spent so much time talking about reaching the village that they never actually started climbing.
The elders noticed something interesting.
The people who made it were rarely the strongest. Rarely the smartest. Rarely the most experienced. Instead, they shared two qualities They were teachable. And they were determined. When they became tired, they listened. When they became lost, they asked questions. When they stumbled, they adjusted. When the path changed, they adapted. And when doubt crept into their minds, they talked about it instead of carrying it alone.
One year, a traveler approached a Sherpa who had guided climbers for decades.
“What’s the secret?” he asked. “How do I know if someone will make it to the village?”
The Sherpa smiled. “I don’t watch how they start.” “I watch how they respond when the mountain stops cooperating.”
That answer stayed with me this week. Because recruiting feels a lot like that mountain. The trades feel a lot like that mountain. Leadership feels a lot like that mountain. Most people do not struggle when things are easy. They struggle when reality shows up. When the work is harder than expected. When growth requires humility. When feedback stings. When life and work stop aligning. When the excitement wears off and the climb remains.
That is why I believe conversations matter so much.
Not because conversations solve every problem. But because they often help people discover whether they are willing to keep climbing. This week, I kept thinking about future tradespeople. HVAC helpers. Plumbing apprentices. Welders. Sheet metal mechanics and so many more.
People who may not have all the skill yet, but may have something just as important at the beginning, A willingness to learn. And the determination to keep showing up long enough for that learning to turn into ability.
That is potential. Not polish. Not perfection. Potential.
Potential is teachability plus determination.
Because teachability without determination quits when the work gets hard. And determination without teachability eventually hits a ceiling. The people who grow are usually the ones willing to learn while refusing to quit. And honestly, that may be true in the trades, leadership, recruiting, business, and life. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is not the answer. It is helping them see the next step.
Goals are seasonal. Growth is the journey.
And the people who keep growing are usually the ones willing to learn, adapt, ask questions, and continue the climb when the mountain gets difficult.
The village beyond the mountain is still there.
The question is what character are you?