Adopting a difficult goal means trying to achieve something very specific and very challenging. It’s the kind of goal you could reasonably expect to fail at, even if you try your best.

Adopting a do-your-best goal means putting forth your best forth, without concern for the results. You generally hope to do well, but you have no specific expectations for what you might achieve.

Adopting a strategy goal, on the other hand, means being determined to discover and master strategies that will help you be successful,. Instead of focusing on a specific outcome (as with a difficult goal) or a general effort level ( as with a do-your-best goal), you put your attention on learning and improving concrete skills and strategies that will help you do better in the future.