Dominoes are small, rectangular blocks made from rigid material such as wood, bone or plastic. They are referred to as bones, cards, men, pieces or tiles and are used in many games.
Like playing cards, dominoes have identifying marks on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other. The identity-bearing sides are divided, visually, by a line or ridge into two squares, each of which is marked with pips (or spots) to indicate its value. The most common type of domino is the double-six set, with six pips on each end; other variants have zero to eight pips, or no spots, and some have none at all.
When playing dominos, players stack them on end in long lines and then attempt to tip them off so that they fall down, creating intricate designs. In some cases, children use dominos to play simple games like tic-tac-toe or solitaire.
In these games, each player tries to arrange the dominoes in a way that they can hit a designated number of opponents. In the game of Concentration, for example, a double-six set is arranged as six rows of seven tiles; two tiles are considered to match if their total pip count is 12.
There are many variations on this theme, including the classic version played in Europe, where the number of pips is marked by numbers instead of ridges or lines. In some cases, the pips are printed with a different color, or they may be shaped differently from traditional dominoes.
Despite their low popularity among adults, dominoes have a long history as an engaging toy and can be a fun family activity. Often, children will stack them on end in long lines and then try to tip them off so that they fall down, which can create intricate designs.
The “domino effect” is a mental model that helps us understand that even small changes can have dramatic effects on our lives. For example, if we make a commitment to eat healthier food, it can trigger a cascade of new behaviors, and sometimes a shift in our self-image as well.
By thinking about a change in our habits as a series of tiny dominoes, we can build a new habit with each small victory, which then leads to a stronger leverage for the next change, allowing us to knock down even larger dominoes over time.
In business, this same mindset can help us avoid the “flash in the pan” syndrome that often leads to the early demise of initiatives. By building a strong foundation with the first few smaller dominoes, we can then continue to build upon those successes as we grow into bigger and better businesses.
Data + Code = Results
To run a successful business, you need to collect and manage the right data, and then write the right code. To do this, you need an efficient platform that can store, execute and track your data and code. That’s why we built Domino, a comprehensive data science and analytics platform that connects to the popular version control systems like Bitbucket, enables seamless collaboration, and allows teams to quickly prototype, scale and deploy solutions on the go.