Answer
You should always strive to give your very best effort.
However, you should never become proud by concluding, "I have given my best."
Your attitude should be:
"My goal in life is to give my best effort."
At the same time, remain humble enough to acknowledge:
"Whether I have actually given my absolute best, I do not know. Perhaps I have still held something back."
This humble mentality protects a devotee from pride.
Whether a service appears successful or unsuccessful, maintain the same mood.
If something does not succeed, think:
"I could have served better. I have not yet offered my very best."
If the service succeeds, do not think:
"I succeeded because I gave my best."
Instead think:
"Whatever was lacking in my effort was completed by the mercy of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. Whatever success has come is due to Their mercy."
This attitude keeps a devotee humble, grateful, and continuously inspired to improve while remaining fully dependent upon the mercy of Krishna and the spiritual master.
