The Domino Effect
Did you know that a single domino is capable of bringing down another domino that is actually 50% larger? It is about a geometric progression. Watch The Domino Effect in action (video by Stephen Morris):
In this video the first domino is just about 0.196 inches (5 mm) tall, the last is more than 39.37 inches (1m) tall. Imagine what would happen if this kept going. The 29th domino would be as tall as The Empire State Building and at some point the 50th+ domino would practically bridge the distance between the earth and the moon! Wow!
How do you apply the Domino Effect to achieve extraordinary results in your life and business?
Getting extraordinary results
This is an excerpt from a chapter of “The One Thing” book by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.
When you think about success, shoot for the moon. The moon is reachable if you prioritize everything and put all of your energy into accomplishing the most important thing. Getting extraordinary results is all about creating a domino effect in your life.
Every great change starts like falling dominoes – BJ Thornton
Toppling dominoes is pretty straightforward. You line them up and tip over the first one. In the real world, though, it’s a bit more complicated. The challenge is that life does not line everything up for us and say, “Here’s where you should start.” Highly successful people know this. So every day they line up their priorities anew, find the lead domino, and work away at it until it falls.
Why does this approach works?
Because extraordinary success is sequential, not simultaneous. What starts out linear becomes geometric. You do the right thing and then you do the next right thing. Over time it adds up, and the geometric potential of success is unleashed. The domino effect applies to the big picture, like your work or your business, and it applies to the smallest moment in each day, when you’re trying to decide what to do next. Success builds on success, and as this happens, over and over, you move toward the highest success possible.
- When you see someone who has a lot of knowledge, they learned it over time.
- When you see someone who has a lot of skills, they developed them over time.
- When you see someone who has done a lot, they accomplished it over time.
- When you see someone who has a lot of money, they earned it over time.
The key is OVER TIME. Success is built sequentially. It’s one thing at a time.
Just like with the geometric progression, when you line up your dominoes correctly, it’s actually the smallest thing that does the most. So when you determine what your first domino is and knock it over, the impact of your action will create a higher level of success.
Apply the Domino Effect in your life and business
Take a look at an aspect of your business or life. What’s the first domino you need to topple for extraordinary results? In other words, what is the most important thing that will bring the best results in this particular area of life or business and make other things easier or unnecessary?
Define this one thing and focus on that until it is done. Incremental improvements each day will bring amazing results over time.
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