Domino is a small rectangular block with blank or marked faces resembling those of dice. It can be stacked on end in long lines and tipped over by lightly touching the first domino, thus causing the entire line to fall. Many people enjoy playing domino games, and some even create elaborate setups. Such domino art is sometimes featured in movies and on TV shows. Dominoes can also be used to teach kids about the principles of probability and statistics.

As an author, I’m familiar with the importance of understanding the “domino effect.” This is a principle that states that one small action can have far-reaching consequences. When writing a story, it’s essential to consider every plot point as a single domino that can tip over an entire chain reaction. This is why I encourage my clients to think of every plot beat as a single domino in their book. It helps them to see how a change to one part of the story can ripple outwards, impacting other parts of the story in subtle and unintended ways.

This type of domino effect can be seen in real life as well. For example, one study found that when people decreased their sedentary leisure time, they started eating less fat. While this wasn’t the main reason they changed their habits, it was a side effect that helped them reach their goal. The same idea can be applied to business and personal goals. One domino can trigger a series of changes, some positive and some negative, that can impact the rest of an organization or person’s life.

In the early days of Domino’s, the company’s CEO David Brandon and founder Tom Monaghan took a few bold risks. They were willing to break from tradition and speak directly to their employees about what was going wrong. They implemented a relaxed dress code and new leadership training programs. They also redirected their college recruiting system and opened Domino’s locations near colleges to appeal to students.

Today, Domino’s invests heavily in software analytics and has a team dedicated to innovation. The company has come up with innovative ways for customers to order pizzas, including ordering by texting an emoji and using devices like Amazon Echo. Domino’s core values include championing its customers and listening to feedback. This has paid off for the company, as it continues to be ranked as one of the top workplaces in Michigan and nationally.

A figurative use of the word domino dates back to 1750, although it had an even earlier meaning as a cape worn by a priest over his surplice at a masquerade. The term came into common usage around the same time as the game, which was invented in Italy and France toward the end of the 18th century. A traditional 32-piece domino set is made to represent each of the 21 results of throwing two six-sided dice (d6). A set is complete when all the dominoes have a number of pips equal to the total of the numbers on both of the dice.