Domino is a small rectangular game piece that’s used to play a number of different games. Each domino has one side that’s blank or identically patterned on both sides and another that’s marked with an arrangement of dots, like those on a die. In Western dominoes, each dot is called a “pip.” A typical set of dominoes has 28 pieces, although some sets have more or less than this number. The first domino to fall starts a chain reaction that can lead to the end of the game. Some sets also have additional rules that can add to the fun and challenge of playing the game.
In the game of domino, players build long lines of dominoes on the ground or on a table. Then, they match the ends of the dominoes to each other so that their total is divisible by five or three. One point is scored for each of these combinations. Dominoes can also be stacked on top of each other in many interesting ways to create more complex patterns that can look impressive when they’re tipped over. In fact, this use of dominoes inspired the phrase, “domino effect,” which refers to a series of events that starts with a single action that causes others to occur.
For Domino’s, the first domino to fall was a leadership change in 2004. After years of declining sales and a loss of market share, the company was in trouble. David Brandon, who had been the CEO at that time, knew he needed to take action. So, he implemented a new strategy for the company that focused on making improvements to delivery, service and product quality.
The results of this turnaround were dramatic. In less than a year, Domino’s stock price doubled and same-store sales increased by almost 10 percent. The company’s stock price has continued to increase as the business continues to do well under Doyle’s leadership.
A major factor in Domino’s success was the company’s focus on delivering pizza quickly. To make this happen, the company worked to improve their delivery system by adding more drivers and building more stores in densely populated areas, especially near colleges. This helped the company reach customers who wanted their pizza fast and reliably.
The same idea of domino actions can be applied to other aspects of life. For example, when you start your day off by making your bed every morning, you’re gaining a small victory that can give you the motivation and energy to get through the rest of your day successfully. Think of domino actions as high leverage actions that can lead to larger, more impactful results. Just as a single domino can tip over hundreds or even thousands of other dominoes, these small victories can have a big impact on your daily successes.
