Dominoes are small rectangular wood or plastic blocks, each with a face divided into halves and either blank or marked by dots resembling those on dice. They are typically 28 in number, although sets may have fewer or more. A game played with a set of these small blocks, in which each tile has a value based on its position in a row or column. It is possible to play many different games with dominoes, from the simple to the complex, and they can be used for a variety of purposes, such as training people in teamwork or organizational skills, developing math skills, or simply as a recreational activity. The word domino also refers to a type of political theory, wherein events expected to occur in one country are predicted to affect other countries in a similar way.
When a writer is working on an editing project, I often use the analogy of domino to describe the impact of one scene on the next. For example, if a character goes through an emotional shift, it’s important to make sure that the scene leading up to that change logically connects with the scene that follows it. If not, the result can be disastrous, just like when a single domino falls and impacts the whole line before it.
A domino is also a name, often used as a first name, that carries with it a sense of authority and expertise. The Latin root, dominus, means “lord,” and the word has been used by businesses and organizations to convey a sense of leadership.
As a business, Domino’s has always been committed to listening to its customers and responding accordingly. When David Brandon was CEO of the company, he instituted new values that emphasized employee satisfaction, such as a relaxed dress code and a new leadership training program. When John Doyle took over the company, he continued to focus on the importance of listening to employees and customers.
Domino’s commitment to customer service is so strong that the company has a dedicated team of call center workers, who are trained to respond to any complaint or question in an efficient manner. This approach has helped the company become one of the most popular pizza chains in the United States.
Hevesh, a domino artist who has a YouTube channel with more than 2 million subscribers, creates amazing domino displays for movies, TV shows, and even pop star Katy Perry. Her biggest creations take several nail-biting minutes to fall, as each domino must be positioned just right before it gets its moment in the spotlight. The key, she says, is to have the first domino “inertially resisting motion,” then just a little bit of a nudge is needed to start the chain reaction that leads to its downfall. Likewise, when it comes to writing a story, all the plot beats should be in place and ready to fall in just the right order. The result will be a captivating chain reaction that keeps readers turning the pages.