A small rectangular wood or plastic block, the face of which is either blank or marked by dots resembling those on dice. A domino set consists of 28 such blocks. Dominoes are used as gaming pieces in games such as a variation of Concentration, or for creating a chain reaction whereby the top of one piece triggers the fall of other pieces, following a pattern of increasing numbers of sides with equal number of dots.
Like many of us, Lily Hevesh was a kid who loved setting up dominoes in straight or curved lines, flicking the first domino over and then watching all the other dominoes fall, one by one. Her passion for dominoes eventually turned into a career, as she now spends her time creating spectacular domino art. Her YouTube channel, Hevesh5, has more than 2 million subscribers.
Hevesh explains that good dominoes are tasks that contribute to a larger goal and, when knocked down, will have a positive impact on the whole project or process. She recommends breaking down complex goals into smaller ones, and then picking the most important task to knock over first. This will set a momentum that will help you achieve the rest of your goals.
When writing a novel, Hevesh suggests thinking of each plot beat as a domino. Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or follow a meticulous outline, every single element that happens in your story is an opportunity to trigger a chain reaction. This domino effect can be used to create an exciting narrative that keeps readers engaged.
As a writer, I know that it’s tempting to focus on the big events in your story and ignore all of the small details that lead up to them. But when it comes to the domino effect, these little details are just as important as the big events. If you neglect any of them, your reader will have a difficult time connecting with your story and feeling invested in its outcome.
In the same way, if you neglect to attend to all of your responsibilities, they may start to pile up and overwhelm you. Managing your schedule and keeping up with your to-do list is essential to a productive life. But sometimes, it’s necessary to let go of some responsibilities and allow them to take care of themselves. Think of these good dominoes as things that are essential to your well-being, but don’t require your immediate attention.
Stephen Morris, a University of Toronto physicist, says that when you place a domino upright, it resists gravity and stores energy. Then, when you nudge it, it releases that energy in the form of friction and sound. The energy that was stored in the domino becomes available to push on the next domino and cause it to fall.
The name Domino’s is actually an acronym of the founders’ names—Tom Monaghan, James DeVarti, and Tom Gifford—and not, as the company often claims, a tribute to the famous musical by the same name. But that’s not the only thing the pizza chain has in common with a musical: Domino’s is always on the lookout for new ways to improve their products and services.