Mindset story: What's more dangerous than the words it just can't be done?

Once there were two hunters who had rented an airplane to get to a distant hunting zone covered with miles and miles of trees and wildlife to hunt. The pilot was very surprised by the two hunters. He had never seen anyone go so far for so long without any supplies. Almost halfway there the pilot finally summoned the courage to ask the two hunters why are they doing this? One of the hunters was more than happy to explain. “It all started years ago when some other hunters said that two of us can’t survive here for a couple of weeks. They said it just can’t be done. So that year we rented a plane, packed some clothes and our guns and we did what others said we couldn’t. And that year my dear pilot I discovered something that changed my life forever.”

“What is that?” asked the pilot. “Well, my dear friend… I learned that no one knows more than you what you can do or can’t. For example, you are the most experienced pilot on this plane, and not me or my friend can or can’t tell you what you can or can’t do. Am I right?” The pilot smiled and said “Right.” Soon after they landed and the two hunters went on their adventure, and the pilot went back.

After a couple of weeks, the pilot returned to take them back. When looking at their hunting trophies he said “The plane won’t be able to carry all of your trophies, you will have to leave one of them behind.” One of the hunters protested “But last year the pilot agreed to take on board all of the trophies that were the same size as these. Are you sure you can’t handle what the other one could?” The pilot looked worried and responded, “I’m sorry it just can’t be done”. Then the second hunter approached the pilot and reminded him of the story he told him on the way here.

The pilot thought about it and said “Ok. If it worked last year, it should work this time too.” The plane barely got off the ground and after a short period of time, it crashed into the nearest hill. After getting out the plane wreck, the two hunters looked around. One of them said to another “Where do you think we are?” His friend examined the surroundings and answered “I think we are two miles south from the place that we crashed last year.”