Dominoes are small, flat tiles that can be arranged in long lines. When the first domino is tipped over, it triggers a chain reaction that causes the rest of the line to topple, one after the other. Some people use them to make intricate designs, such as curved lines or grids that form pictures when the dominoes fall. Other artists use them to create structures such as towers and pyramids. Many dominoes feature an arrangement of spots, called pips, on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other.
Lily Hevesh grew up with dominoes and was fascinated by how the simple action of flicking the first domino could lead to such a dramatic effect. She began posting videos of her own domino art online, and now has more than 2 million YouTube subscribers who watch her set up incredible structures. Her art has become so popular that she has been hired to do similar work for movies and television shows, as well as events for celebrities including Katy Perry.
Hevesh also uses her dominoes to teach children the importance of planning and problem-solving, as she guides them through creating their own domino art and shows them how to predict what will happen when they flick a certain domino. As a result, they learn how to think critically about what is happening in their world and how they can change it for the better.
Another lesson from the domino is the importance of communication. In the case of Domino’s, the chain was facing a lot of criticism for its slow service and long wait times. The company’s previous CEO, David Brandon, listened to employees and made changes to address the problems. He lowered the dress code, added leadership training programs, and revamped the college recruiting system. When he stepped down and Doyle became CEO, he continued these new policies and focused on the importance of communicating with employees.
In the same way, when you’re writing a story, you need to communicate with your readers. It is essential to understand what they want to see next in the scene and what will be their reaction to that scene. It is also important to consider the pace of your scenes, as you don’t want them to be too slow (which can cause a reader to lose interest) or too fast (which can feel shallow at key plot points).
In the same way that a domino has potential energy based on its position, a domino story has potential to impact others and inspire change. This is why it is so important to keep communication channels open with your readers and with other writers in the industry. Whether you’re working on your debut novel or have been writing professionally for years, learning the lessons of the domino can help you achieve success in any genre.