My favourite BNI story is not about receiving a phone number. It is about a member understanding another member's work deeply enough to recognise the right moment for an introduction.
A valuable referral carries context. The member understands what the client is planning, why the project matters, when the work is expected to begin and who will make the decision.
BNI has taught me that trust grows when members take time to understand the complete business behind the registered category. My aim is to become the person members confidently remember whenever they hear that a new office, showroom, clinic or professional space needs interior planning—and the person they choose to understand more deeply during a One-to-One.