In this insightful BNI Education Slot, Gail Biddulph takes members on a journey through the art, and science, of achieving goals. With warmth, humour, and the authority that comes from years of success, Gail shares a system she’s used to help her clients generate over £500 million in business. Her message is clear: setting goals isn’t enough, you need to get them.

https://youtu.be/m8InjFQ0QLY

Bridging the Gap Between “Now” and “Next”

Gail begins by highlighting a universal truth: there’s often a wide gap between where we are and where we want to be. That gap, which can feel like a chasm, is where so many people lose momentum. We set bold goals, feel inspired for a moment, and then the enormity of the distance sets in. Doubt creeps in, fear takes hold, and before long, we’re back where we started, sometimes even changing our goals to something “more realistic.”

It’s a pattern Gail has seen time and again in business, networking, and personal development. But her proven system turns that gap into a guided path, one that’s not only achievable but motivating at every step.

The Power of Reverse Engineering

The secret, Gail explains, lies in reverse engineering, a process that starts from the end rather than the beginning. Instead of asking “What should I do next?”, she encourages us to visualize our goal as already achieved and then ask a simple but powerful question:

“What has to happen before that?”

By repeatedly asking this question, we trace a clear and logical path backward, from the big end goal to the very next small, doable action. These steps become milestones, or as Gail affectionately calls them, “lily pads” across the pond. Each one brings us closer to our goal, giving us something tangible to aim for instead of being overwhelmed by the distance.

Rewarding Progress and Reinforcing Success

But Gail doesn’t stop at structure – she talks about psychology. Every small step, she says, deserves a reward. Whether it’s a pause to celebrate, a small treat, or simply recognition of progress, those rewards signal to our brain that movement feels good. It’s this positive reinforcement that builds momentum and keeps us motivated long after the initial excitement fades.

In business and life, sustainable progress comes not from giant leaps but from consistent, celebrated steps.

Mindset at Every Milestone

A recurring theme in Gail’s talk is mindset, the internal state that determines how we interpret our progress. She reminds the audience that the right mindset is essential for taking any meaningful step forward.

In a BNI context, she connects this idea to the art of arranging “dream one-to-ones.” If you don’t believe you can reach out to that ideal connection, you won’t take the first step to make it happen. And that, in turn, limits your referrals, opportunities, and results.

By cultivating a strong, confident mindset, members can transform hesitation into action and uncertainty into clarity.

Shrink the Gap When You Feel Stuck

Gail closes her session with a simple yet profound piece of advice: if you get stuck, make the gap smaller. Sometimes, she explains, our goals feel unreachable not because they are too big, but because our minds can’t yet comprehend the leap we’re trying to take. By bringing the milestones closer together, breaking them into smaller, more manageable steps, we regain momentum and confidence.

The brilliance of Gail’s message lies in its practicality. It’s not about lofty motivational quotes or vague inspiration; it’s a concrete, repeatable system that anyone can use. Whether you’re aiming to grow your business, improve your performance in BNI, or achieve personal ambitions, the “Mind the GAP” framework gives you the tools to turn possibility into progress.

From Setting Goals to Getting Goals

As Gail reminds her audience, “Anyone can set goals — the real skill is getting them.”
Through clarity, structure, and mindset, she offers a simple formula for success:

• Start at the end.
• Work backward to define your lily pads.
• Reward every step.
• Adjust your mindset, and your milestones, whenever needed.

This approach transforms goal-setting from an abstract idea into a lived experience. In true BNI spirit, it’s about taking consistent, purposeful action, together with accountability and support.

Full Transcript

(00:00)
Putting the system in place to reverse-engineer it on every single level of your being — how you feel, how you think, and what actions you actually take at each step of the way.

You’ve got some goals. We’ve set some goals, yes? Thank you. So, we have your goal. Let’s pretend that this little piece of paper that’s got “goal” written on it is your goal.

(00:38)
At some point in the future, that’s where you want to be. And here we are today, now. That’s quite a gap! How are we going to reach our goals when there’s this huge gap — this chasm?

What typically happens is — and by the way, this is a system I’ve used that’s generated over £500 million worth of business for clients — this works. People say, “I’m going to do the next step,” and then they hesitate: “Oh, I’m not too certain about that step. Maybe I’ll just take a tiny, weeny little one.”

Then they think, “How on earth am I going to get to my goal? I can’t do this!” And so, they go back and maybe even change their goal.

(01:54)
But the fast track to success is through what we all know as reverse engineering.

Go to the point of your goal — imagine yourself already there — and ask, “What has to happen before that?” That’s the phrase you need: before that. Then put yourself in that position and keep asking, “What has to happen before that?” until you’ve come all the way back to where you are now.

This gives you milestones — or as I like to call them, lily pads across a pond — that guide you towards your goal.

(02:54)
Reward yourself at every step of the way. Even tiny steps deserve recognition, because that keeps your brain happy and motivated to keep moving forward.

(03:32)
Mindset is key at every single point along your goal path. Think about one-to-ones — how do you get your dream one-to-one? If you don’t have the right mindset, you won’t take the first step to get that meeting, that referral, or that opportunity that leads to your goal.

(04:01)
So, goal-getting — not just goal-setting — is about putting a system in place to reverse-engineer success at every level: how you feel, how you think, and what you do.

If you ever get stuck, make the gap smaller. Sometimes, the gap is just too big for your mind to cope with in that moment. Keep bringing your goals closer, and you’ll make faster progress.

If you’ve got any questions about goal-getting — not goal-setting, because we can all set goals — come and have a chat with me. Hope that helps!