Do you have multiple career goals? Or can’t identify even one goal? Whether you have identified 50 career goals or none, you can be left paralyzed. It can be challenging to know the next steps to take or where to start. The sooner you can see your path forward, the sooner you will have control over your career. Leverage the opportunity to control your career before someone else controls it for you, report Forbes. 

To identify and prioritize your career goals, think about what you have to do, should do and want to do. To advance your career, ask yourself these three questions:

1. What do I have to do?

What must you do to advance your career? Do you have to meet sales metrics or manage a team of people to get that promotion? These are the non-negotiables – the “no-brainers.” You must do these to advance your career. Focus on them, or run the risk of not getting ahead.

2. What should I do?

This question captures the thoughts that have been in the back of your mind for some time or the ideas that may scare you. It could be moving to a larger geographic market with more opportunities or putting in the time and effort to get an article published about your research. These are the things you know will help you to advance but you have put off doing for one reason or another.

This question can be the most difficult to answer and execute because it relies on your judgment and there are no clear-cut answers. And if you keep delaying the projects you should do, it could hinder your productivity level. Ruminating or thinking about something over and over can make it difficult to focus on what is important, move forward and accomplish your other goals. If you find you are stuck thinking about what you should do, stop thinking and start doing. Do it so that you can move on.

3. What do I want to do?

Ask yourself what it is that you want to do with your career. What is it that excites you? What has been on your wish list for some time? Try not to think about resource and time constraints. Don’t get bogged down in logistics. This is your opportunity to dream.

As the saying goes, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” While doing what you have to and should be doing to advance your career, think about what you want and start taking the steps that will get you there.

It can be overwhelming or confusing if you lack an understanding of your goals. Use these three questions to help you know what you are after and go get it.

Tip: These three questions help me to also identify and prioritize daily tasks and even what I pack when I travel. I ask myself: “What must I pack? What should I pack? What do I want to pack?” It works every time.