When a domino is tipped over, it transfers potential energy into kinetic energy that causes other dominoes to fall. The chain reaction continues until all the dominoes have fallen. The same principle applies to changing human behavior. When one person makes a positive change in their life, it can trigger a series of beneficial changes, similar to a domino effect. This is called the Law of Attraction, and it is a key concept in personal development, leadership, and marketing.
Domino is a small rectangular block used as a gaming device that can be played with various rules to create games of chance or skill. Its surface is usually marked with pips resembling those on dice or the spots on a horseshoe, and it may be colored white, black, or any number of colors. A domino set consists of a number of these blocks that are arranged in a specific way for a particular game. A popular game is “sevens,” in which players place the dominoes edge to edge on top of each other until they form a seven-digit number. Other games use the dominoes to form a pattern or make certain totals (such as nines, fifties, and hundreds).
The modern game of dominoes dates back to the mid-18th century. The first domino sets were made of wood, but now many are plastic. Most dominoes have a standard set of 28 square ends, but larger sets can be built by combining the pieces to form longer runs. Some dominoes are also designed with special shapes to accommodate different types of games.
One of the keys to a successful domino project is ensuring that all the pieces fit together properly. This requires planning, trial and error, and the help of a knowledgeable partner. A skilled domino artist can design a mind-blowing setup that takes several nail-biting minutes to fall completely. Hevesh has created projects that involve as few as 300,000 dominoes and even helped set a Guinness record for the largest circular domino arrangement ever: 76,017 dominoes. Hevesh’s complex creations rely on many physical phenomena, but she cites gravity as the most important one. This force pulls each knocked-over domino toward Earth, causing it to hit and topple the next in the chain.
In business, the domino effect is a strategy that can be used to achieve a specific goal by encouraging positive behaviors and discouraging negative ones. For example, a company that emphasizes customer service can encourage employees to treat each other with respect and dignity. This can improve morale and ultimately improve sales.
When composing your novel, consider the role of each plot element as a domino. If you have a clear idea of what needs to happen in your story, then you can construct it in such a way that the actions of one character will cause the reactions of others—similar to the way a domino falls over each time you push its edge. This is why it’s so important to plan carefully before writing your manuscript.