Domino (also called bones, cards, men, or pieces) are flat thumbsized rectangular blocks of wood or ivory with one side either blank or bearing from one to six pips or dots; 28 such dominoes form a complete set. Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide, which allows them to be stacked on end in long lines and create complex designs. When one domino is tipped over, it causes the next domino in the line to tip over, and so on until all the dominoes in the entire line have fallen. This phenomenon is what gives rise to the expression “domino effect,” meaning that one event can cause a series of greater-than-expected consequences.
When it comes to writing scenes, the analogy of the domino is a helpful one. When I provide book editing services for my clients, I encourage them to think of each plot beat in their novel as a single domino. Just like a line of dominoes, each scene in your story must connect with the one before it, or else you will lose readers along the way. If you don’t plan ahead, your scenes may be out of order and have little or no logical impact on the scene that precedes them. Then, when your reader gets to the final scene of your novel, they’ll feel as though there is a hole in the middle because it just doesn’t make sense.
During the Cold War, the Domino Theory was used to describe the potential of Soviet actions in a region to trigger a chain reaction in other countries that would lead to their collapse. This theory was widely accepted at the time, and it has since been proven to be a useful strategy in understanding international affairs.
While the Domino Theory is often applied to geopolitics, its principles can be applied to business as well. For example, when you’re planning to expand your company, it’s important to consider the effects of one location on future growth. This is why many successful companies have headquarters in large cities, or at least close to the major transportation hubs. This can help ensure that your company is poised for growth in the future and that your products are easily accessible to customers.
In the case of Domino’s, the company started in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and grew quickly because of the decision to locate stores near college campuses. This helped the company reach its core audience while also reducing delivery times.
When David Brandon took over as CEO of Domino’s, he knew that the first step to addressing the company’s problems was listening to its employees. He instituted new policies to improve employee satisfaction, including a relaxed dress code and leadership training programs. He also spoke directly to employees and made sure that he understood their concerns. As a result, Domino’s saw a dramatic improvement in turnover and customer satisfaction shortly after the change was implemented. This is the same approach that should be taken by any company looking to succeed.