When you think of domino, you may picture the game of laying down tiles in a straight or curved line and flicking them so they all fall. You may also think of a system of laws or policies that creates an effect much like ripples in a pond. Domino is actually a Latin word meaning “fall together.” The word also refers to the effect that one behavior can have on others, or more generally to the way a small change in one aspect of your life can cascade into other changes.
The Domino Effect
In business, the domino effect occurs when one positive action has a chain reaction that creates a positive outcome. This can be a simple change in your diet or exercise that leads to a healthier lifestyle overall, or it could be a new habit you pick up, like making your bed every day. As you make a commitment to this new habit, it becomes easier to maintain and eventually you start to see other aspects of your life improve as well.
Domino’s, a company that sells pizza and other fast food, was having trouble attracting customers when CEO David Brandon took over in 2001. In order to turn things around, he emphasized Domino’s values and focused on listening to employees. He started a program in which managers talked to employees and addressed their concerns directly. Then he put in place a number of initiatives, including a revamped pizza recipe and a new delivery car.
This approach paid off and the company began to grow again. In fact, Domino’s is now one of the world’s largest pizza chains.
The Domino Theory
In international politics, the domino theory posits that events in one part of the world can influence events in another. This belief led the United States to commit vast resources in support of the Ngo Dinh Diem regime in South Vietnam and of non-communist forces fighting a civil war in Laos in 1961-62. The strategy was intended to prevent Communism from spreading in Southeast Asia. However, it ultimately led to the Vietnam War, and the U.S. was unable to contain the conflict.
Domino Art
Hevesh has a special knack for creating mind-blowing domino installations. She follows a version of an engineering-design process to plan out each element of her creations before she begins building. She tests each section to ensure it works before moving on to the next phase.
She starts with a theme or purpose for the installation and brainstorms images or words that might work. She then draws a diagram to create the track for the dominoes to follow and calculates how many pieces she will need. Once she has her design, she begins putting it together by starting with the biggest 3-D sections and working her way down to the smaller ones. She often films each step of the process in slow motion, which allows her to make precise corrections as needed.