Dominoes are a favorite toy for kids and a popular game for adults. They can be used for various games or just set up in an interesting pattern. The word domino is also a term in the world of business, referring to an order of things that can be arranged so one small trigger causes a chain reaction with far-reaching effects.
The earliest dominoes were flat rectangular blocks made of wood or bone, about the size of a playing card. These early blocks were marked with an arrangement of numbered spots, or pips, on either side. Today’s dominoes are generally made of a sturdy plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. They are a little longer than a playing card and about half as wide. The most common domino sets contain 28 tiles, or dominoes, with two alternating color sides, each bearing six pips. The value of a domino on either side is determined by the number and location of its pips, with a full set of six pips denoting a double-six. Some larger dominoes use a system of Arabic numerals on the dominoes to make them easier to identify.
Like dominoes, stories need to have a balance of different elements in order to fall together correctly. One of the most important elements is pace. Stories need to move quickly toward the next scene’s goal, but they should also linger over scenes that advance character or plot development.
Another element is clear transitions. The best way to achieve this is through writing a good outline before starting the story. A well-written outline can help a writer keep the story on track and avoid having to backtrack.
Domino’s Pizza has long had a reputation for fast delivery. It was in fact the first company to deliver pizza to customers in less than an hour after they ordered it. This speedy service was a key factor in its early success. The company has stayed true to its core values, even when times have been tough. For example, when CEO David Brandon was fired by the board of directors, he listened to the complaints of employees and implemented new changes such as a relaxed dress code and new leadership training programs. When Don Doyle became CEO of Domino’s, he continued to listen to the concerns of workers and focused on developing more purpose-built delivery vehicles.
A well-written domino can be a model for how a business can overcome challenges and continue to grow. The concept of the domino effect was a political metaphor coined by journalist Joseph Alsop in 1949 to illustrate how one small event could lead to a series of events that eventually leads to the collapse of a nation. President Eisenhower used the same concept in a 1961 press conference to explain America’s decision to offer aid to South Vietnam. The idiom has since expanded beyond politics to encompass any situation in which one small trigger may set off a chain reaction with far-reaching consequences.