A domino is a small rectangular wooden or plastic block, with one or more sides bearing markings resembling those on dice. Its value, often referred to as its rank or weight, is determined by the number of pips (or dots) on either end, with blank or empty ends having no values. Normally, a domino is twice as long as it is wide, but some games use larger or smaller sizes.
In addition to playing a game, the domino can be used to create art by arranging them into straight lines or curved ones, grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures such as towers or pyramids. It is also used in educational activities to teach children the principles of geometry and proportion, as well as to illustrate mathematical concepts.
Dominoes are often referred to as bones, cards, men or pieces and they can be played by two or more players. The game originated in the mid-18th century and was brought to England by French prisoners of war. Today, the game is one of the world’s most popular family pastimes and there are countless variations to choose from.
A large part of the fun of a domino game is the interaction between the players. This is achieved by laying dominoes side to side so that their exposed ends match (one’s touch one’s, two’s touch two’s etc). The player then scores points by adding up the total of all the pips on the exposed ends of his or her remaining dominoes. Normally play stops when one player chips out, but there are variants where the game continues until it reaches a point at which no one can play their last domino. Then the winner is declared by the player whose combined total of spots on all their remaining dominoes is lowest.
For some people, domino is not just a game but a metaphor for life. It is the way we handle setbacks and adversity that determines our success. This is why many business owners and executives use the Domino Effect as a leadership principle, and they encourage their employees to do the same.
When faced with a difficult situation, the leader of a company must look at it like a domino effect and decide what needs to be done to stop the chain reaction. This may include implementing new policies, hiring more staff or reorganizing existing ones.
It is important to prioritize tasks, as Schwab did at Bethlehem Steel. He ranked each task and then focused his attention on the highest priority item until it was completed. This allowed him to keep his momentum and move forward quickly. Similarly, you should treat each day as if it were a domino and work on your most important tasks first. Then, once they are done, you can focus on your next priorities. This will allow you to continue achieving your goals and reaching your full potential as an entrepreneur.