Domino is a word that suggests a master who thinks two moves ahead. It is also a name that encourages the hero of a story to be cautious—to know that their every action could have dramatic consequences. A good hero is wise enough to follow this rule and avoid going off on a wild tangent that will ultimately cause them to crash into the wall of opposition.
The term domino can be used literally (a series of actual dominoes hitting one another) or metaphorically (causal linkages within systems such as global finance or politics). The mechanical domino effect is exploited in Rube Goldberg machines, for example. But a more common use is to refer to a chain reaction, or cascade, that occurs when you tip the first domino ever-so-slightly. As the next domino falls, it converts its potential energy into kinetic energy that provides the push for the next piece to fall, and so on—until the last domino collapses.
Hevesh designs her mind-blowing domino installations by thinking of a theme or purpose and brainstorming images or words that might fit. She then calculates how many dominoes she’ll need to complete her design. Then she begins building. She builds the biggest 3-D sections first, then she adds flat arrangements and finally lines that connect all of the pieces together.
She also tries to create her pieces with a certain balance of speed and precision. She tests each section before putting it all together, so she can make precise corrections if needed. Then, she films her creations in slow motion so she can watch them carefully for any problems.
As for the rest of her life, Hevesh is happy with her career. But she does want to do more for her community, which is why she volunteers to host domino parties to raise money for local charities. And she’s also involved with a nonprofit organization that helps rehabilitate drug addicts.
In the world of business, Domino’s CEO Don Meij has a strong sense of responsibility for his employees and customers. He recently appeared in a Domino’s episode of Undercover Boss and visited several stores to see how the employees handle their busy workloads and to learn more about the customer service challenges that Domino’s faces.
Meij’s focus on employee development has helped him create a culture of consistency at Domino’s. This allows for a consistent product to be delivered to each customer and is important for maintaining a loyal customer base. It also promotes a sense of community among Domino’s employees and gives them a reason to be proud of their work. And that’s a big part of the brand’s success.