A domino is a small, flat, rectangular block with one to six pips (or dots) on each face. A complete set of dominoes consists of 28 such blocks. Often, dominoes are stacked on end in long lines, with the first domino being tipped over by the second, which then triggers the next and so on, leading to complex designs. This basic idea is the basis for a wide variety of games. It is also the origin of the phrase “domino effect,” which means that a single action can lead to much greater–and sometimes catastrophic–consequences.
The word domino is also used to describe any of the many gaming devices that use a set of small, flat, rectangular blocks arranged in lines and angular patterns to form a board or grid. These games are often called dominoes, bones, cards, men, or tiles and may be played by two or more players. There are a number of different rules for each game, but the common goal is to place the pieces in such a way that they can’t be moved without causing other pieces to fall over.
Domino’s, the world’s largest pizza chain, has become an icon of fast-food success with its slick advertising and inventive marketing. The company was founded in 1960 by Tom Monaghan, a college dropout who started the business after his father died and his mother could no longer care for him and his brother. Monaghan’s strategy was to open stores near colleges, where he believed students would be most likely to want pizza.
Monaghan grew the business by opening more and more stores, and by focusing on speed and quality. When he sold his share of the company in the 1970s, Domino’s had more than 200 locations.
In the mid-1980s, Domino’s began experimenting with new ways to deliver pizza. For example, it introduced a pizza-delivery vehicle that is like a small, cool-looking car and which can hold about 80 pizzas. It has also tried delivering pizzas using drones and by driving through parking lots.
Domino’s new CEO, Patrick Doyle, has continued to innovate and expand the company. For example, he has worked with crowd-sourced designers to create a purpose-built Domino’s delivery car. It is a modified Chevrolet Spark, and it has been described as “the cheese lover’s Batmobile.”
Domino’s success has demonstrated that even a well-established business can reinvent itself by paying attention to customers’ needs and keeping its brand fresh. This lesson applies to all businesses, and it is especially important in a highly competitive market such as the fast-food industry. Despite the many challenges that businesses must face, they can succeed with the help of a good coach who believes in them and keeps them on track to achieve their goals. The right coach can help a company grow, and it can also avoid pitfalls that might stifle innovation and slow down growth.