A domino is a small, flat rectangular block with one or more pips (small dots) and can be used to play games of chance or skill. Its surface may be engraved, inlaid with plastic or ivory, painted, or made of a hard material such as bone. Some dominoes are molded into shape; others have a pressed-in, raised design. A full set of dominoes consists of 28 pieces and can be arranged in lines or angular patterns. The term is also applied to a game played with such blocks, in which the players try to position their dominoes so that when they fall the ones beside them will be in the desired positions for scoring.

The most important factor in building a line of dominoes is timing: each piece must hit the next one at exactly the right moment. Similarly, a story’s scenes must be spaced correctly so that they flow naturally toward the end goal of the story. This requires careful planning and attention to detail.

Hevesh, a young artist who works with dominoes as her primary medium, makes incredible domino creations that have been featured in films, TV shows, and concerts. Her YouTube channel has more than 2 million subscribers, and she’s worked on projects involving 300,000 dominoes. She builds test versions of each section of her displays before putting them together. Each domino has to work just right, and even the biggest sets take several nail-biting minutes to tumble down.

While the saga of Domino’s has many elements that make it interesting, there are some key points that every business can learn from this example. First and foremost, Domino’s understands that listening to its customers is critical. This means not only hearing their complaints but also embracing changes that they feel are necessary. For example, in the early years of his tenure as CEO, Dominic Doyle shook things up at the company by relaxing the dress code and adding new leadership training programs.

Domino’s also embraces new technology, especially when it can improve the customer experience. In the past few months alone, they’ve introduced an app that lets customers order pizza through their smartwatches and a custom-designed, purpose-built Domino’s delivery vehicle that looks more like a cheese lover’s batmobile than a regular car. And the company is always looking for ways to innovate, including experimenting with drones and robot-based deliveries. This kind of thinking can help your business keep up with changing consumer demands and maintain a competitive edge.