Jesus did not give a direct answer, but did something far more significant. He made the answer personal. This is much more important than doing some arithmetic on those rescued from eternal loss. It was used originally of athletes competing for a prize. This does not mean human achievement merits salvation.
Salvation is only by grace.
It means to let nothing deter us from entering the door while it is open. We are to earnestly seek to enter the kingdom of God by true repentance. This is the opposite of indifference or carelessness. Jesus knew nothing about, and warns against, many ways of salvation. Here a different verb is used.