What is a Domino?
A domino is a rectangular tile marked with an arrangement of dots or spots (called pips) on one face and blank or identically patterned on the other. It is typically twice as long as it is wide, which makes it easier to stack the pieces vertically. The most common domino set has 28 tiles, although extended sets increase the number of unique combinations of ends. Each domino has a value that is indicated on one of its faces; the value of a domino is called its rank or weight. The higher the rank, the more powerful the domino.
Dominoes are used to play a variety of games, mostly blocking and scoring games. The rules vary according to the game and the set. For example, in the simple game of a double-six set, two players draw tiles from a stack or pile (known as the stock) and place them on a line or table. Each domino must touch the end of a previous tile before the player may place another one on top of it. The first domino to fall is referred to as the kicker. The remaining dominoes are then placed in a row. A player wins the game if he or she has all the dominoes in a row touching the kicker.
In addition to playing domino, people use them to create mind-blowing displays of artistic and mathematical beauty. These are often performed for an audience in domino shows, where builders compete to see who can create the most impressive and imaginative reaction or effect using only a single domino.
The success of Domino’s Pizza can be traced to a single decision made by its founder, Fred Monaghan, in 1967. He decided to put his chain’s pizzerias near college campuses, which would help him reach a young adult audience that was interested in buying fast food. This move was a domino that led to the company’s rapid growth.
A domino action is a high leverage action that triggers a series of follow-up actions. These are similar to the scripts in computer programming, where a single command can cause a chain of commands to execute.
In business, a domino action is a small victory that drastically increases your chances of making more wins in the future. These small victories can help you stay motivated and excited about what the day might bring.
In his book “The Domino Theory,” Victor Cha describes the United States’ approach to forging alliances in East Asia as a “domino theory.” He argues that the United States fashioned a series of tight bilateral alliances with countries in Asia to control their ability to deploy force and to foster their material dependency on the United States. As the alliances grew stronger, the United States gained more leverage in its dealings with these nations. This, in turn, led to a more favorable political climate for its own engagement with the world.
