Domino’s pizza has become one of the most popular ways for people to eat out in recent years. Many restaurants that offered dine-in services struggled to compete with Domino’s, especially in terms of delivery and takeout options. Domino’s CEO Don Meij understands that the company must evolve to meet customers’ needs. He has taken the reigns and has worked side by side with employees to see how they can improve the experience for everyone.
The word domino comes from the Italian ‘dominato,’ meaning “fate” or “destiny.” This is because of the way that Dominoes fall when placed in a row – with one small nudge causing all the pieces to come crashing down. It’s a great metaphor for how things can be in our lives.
There are many different types of dominoes, from a simple set of straight lines to elaborate displays where each piece is placed carefully and then falls in a precisely planned sequence. The best builders are able to create these incredible displays with thousands of dominoes, and they often put them on display for a live audience. They plan out the layout of their designs on paper, and then build each section individually before putting them all together. They test each section in slow motion, and then make adjustments if needed.
In addition to being used for games, dominoes can also be used in a variety of art projects. They can be arranged into squares that form pictures, grids that look like windows or doors, stacked walls, and even 3D structures like pyramids and towers. In fact, domino shows are a common spectacle, where builders compete to create the most spectacular domino effects and reactions.
Some learning challenges impact students the same way that dominoes impact each other. The domino effect starts when a student tries to compensate for an underlying weakness by using tricks or quick fixes instead of taking the time to learn the basic skills. This leads to an accumulation of knowledge that eventually overloads the student.
An effective story is much like a row of dominoes in that it flows smoothly from scene to scene with no hiccups in logic. It’s important to ensure that each scene logically follows the one before it and that all the characters’ emotional beats shift in line with how their actions should change. For example, if your hero does something immoral in one scene, you need to provide enough motivation or logic for readers to give them permission to continue liking him despite his behavior going against societal norms. Otherwise, they’ll stop reading. The good news is that with a little work, you can get your story dominoes in a row so they’ll all fall into place at the right time. Just don’t forget to check the backs of your scenes! Then your readers will love the smooth flow of your story. Good luck! —Nancy K., Ed.D., is a former classroom teacher and current school administrator who writes for Education Week and Edutopia.