The Domino Effect
Domino is a game of small, flat blocks (also called tiles) that are used to form lines of play. The games are generally played by two players. A domino is divided into parts, with each part bearing a number of spots or pips that match those on the ends of other pieces in the set. A domino has 28 such identifying marks; the remainder of the face is blank or identically patterned. The word “domino” is also used for a system of cards or dice whose value is determined by matching the values on the ends of a domino.
The game of domino is also used as a learning tool in classrooms to teach children counting and sequencing. It can also help develop problem-solving skills. The game has many variants, but all are based on the same principle – that a domino can be knocked over only by another one that is bigger or equal in size. Dominoes can be made from many different materials, but most are manufactured from polymer clay. Some sets are made from natural materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory or a dark hardwood such as ebony. The pips are often painted in black or white, but some sets have the top half thickness of MOP, ivory or ebony with contrasting black pips.
Some of the most amazing domino setups are those that create images when they fall, such as a train or a castle. Hevesh uses a variation of the engineering-design process to create her mind-blowing domino structures. She begins by considering the theme or purpose of an installation and brainstorms images that might work. She then considers the sizes of the dominoes she will use and tries to figure out what pattern she wants to make, such as straight lines or curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall or stacked walls.
One of the key lessons I try to convey in my book editing services is that plotting a novel comes down to one question: What will happen next? When you think of your story in terms of the domino effect, it can help you answer that question in a way that will keep readers engaged.
Domino’s Pizza CEO Don Meij recently participated in an episode of Undercover Boss where he went undercover to see how well his company is doing at meeting its customers’ needs. He was surprised to find that they had a lot of issues, but the most important one was that their employees didn’t feel heard by the company. He took steps to address that issue quickly, such as implementing a new employee training program and speaking directly with workers. It was a great example of how to champion your customers. By listening to their complaints and addressing them immediately, Domino’s was able to turn things around fast. It’s a lesson we can all learn from.