Domino, or dominoes, are a set of flat rectangular blocks with one side bearing from one to six pips or dots. A complete set consists of 28 pieces. Dominoes are cousins of playing cards and dice and can be used to play a variety of games. In addition to the classic game of knocking over a string of dominoes, they can be lined up in rows and angled arrangements to make shapes. They’re also popular with artists who create mind-boggling displays of dominoes that are awe-inspiring to watch.
When we think of domino, most of us picture the sort of chain reaction that occurs when you tip a single domino ever-so-slightly over and all the rest tumble in beautiful, rhythmic succession. Physicists call this type of cascade the “domino effect” and it can be much more powerful than you might expect.
For example, a single domino can cause something that is ten times its size to topple over. This is because the domino has a lot of potential energy, or energy that it can convert into motion, but it hasn’t yet. When you push the first domino over, it releases that energy and it goes to work pushing the next domino over. And so on, until the last domino falls.
The same principle applies in the workplace. The actions of a single employee can have ripple effects that influence many other people, from customers to coworkers. That’s why it’s important to choose your domino actions carefully. The key is to do something that will lead to the desired result, but not something that might have an unintended consequence.
Domino’s CEO, Patrick Doyle, has embraced the domino effect to build his company’s reputation as a leader in quick delivery pizza. He’s focused on building a network of locations in densely populated areas, mainly near college campuses. He believes this strategy will enable his company to offer pizza faster and more conveniently than competitors that don’t have the same geographic reach.
Doyle has also encouraged his employees to take initiative and find ways to make the company better. This has led to innovations such as the Domino’s Delivery Truck, which is designed to quickly and easily navigate busy urban streets. The truck is just one example of how Domino’s has put its customers at the forefront of their business strategy.
In fiction, the domino effect can help you develop your story’s plot. Each scene you write should logically lead to the next. For example, if a character begins an emotional shift in one scene, you should be sure that the next scene reflects that change. If you want your novel to flow smoothly and be compelling, the domino effect is an excellent tool to use.