You’ve probably seen a domino show, perhaps on YouTube, where hundreds or even thousands of dominoes are set up in careful sequence and then toppled with the nudge of just one. It’s a mesmerizing sight to watch. And, in many ways, it’s an example of how narrative works.

Dominoes (also known as bones, men, pieces or tiles) are rectangular blocks that feature a line down the middle splitting them visually into two squared ends, each of which may be blank or have a number of spots, called pips, ranging from one to six. The values of the pips on either end determine their rank or weight, which can be used to play games.

For example, the higher the rank of a domino, the more force it will exert when knocked over. That’s why some people use dominoes to teach kids counting and number recognition, while others use them for blocking games such as muggins or bergen, where the players try to empty their opponents’ hands before the losing player gets a certain amount of points.

Other types of domino art include straight lines, curved lines that form pictures when they fall, 3D structures such as towers and pyramids, grids that create patterns, and even murals or landscapes. Hevesh begins her mind-blowing designs by considering the theme of what she wants to build and brainstorming images. From there, she follows a version of the engineering-design process, testing each section of the layout to make sure it will work before moving on to larger arrangements.

Hevesh says that, in addition to careful planning and design, the laws of physics are vital for her to achieve her goals. Gravity, she explains, is the key to her most elaborate setups, as it pulls a fallen domino toward Earth and gives it the push it needs to launch the next domino into its place. Energy then flows from domino to domino, creating an endless chain reaction.

Ultimately, the story of Domino’s is one of perseverance and leadership. The company faced a huge uphill battle in the mid-1990s, but with effective management and a renewed emphasis on its core values, Domino’s was able to turn things around in a short period of time. In fact, the company’s turnaround is widely regarded as one of the fastest corporate comebacks ever. This is largely due to the fact that Domino’s leadership was able to listen to what its customers were telling them. In addition to making a few tweaks to its menu and increasing the emphasis on college recruiting, Domino’s leadership also paid close attention to what customers were complaining about and worked hard to address those complaints. By taking these steps, Domino’s was able to regain its popularity among pizza lovers nationwide. In just a few years, the company had more than 200 stores nationwide. And, in 2004, Domino’s was named a top workplace in the Detroit Free Press’ annual survey of the area’s best places to work.