Every day we accomplish things. Most of them are trivial. A few are important, advancing us towards our goals.

If you want to accomplish more of the important things, there are two questions to ask yourself every single day.

The first question should be asked the night before, about the following day: “What are my three ‘most important tasks’ for today?” I’ve talked about the concept of “MITs” before. They are a key to effectiveness, making sure you’re not just getting things done but that you are getting the right things done.

You may have ten things you need to do today. Only some of them move you forward and bring you closer to your goals. Those are your MITs.

Most people let their circumstances dictate their actions. They do whatever shows up for the day. Successful people, people who know what they want to be, do, or have in the future, let their vision of that future pull them forward. Your day may be busy, filled with many tasks, but “busy” isn’t the same thing as “effective”. If you want your day to be effective, you must do your MITs.

The second question to ask yourself each day is a reality check: “What did I do today that brought me closer to my goals?” Did you do your MITs? Did you start something and not finish it? Did you do other things that weren’t on your list of MITs but which advanced you towards your goals?

Being honest with yourself about what you did today will help you choose your MITs for tomorrow.

Ask and answer these two questions every day. They will help you create your own future.