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Domino Theory
What raises the odds that one act leads to another?
What it is
Domino Theory is our working answer to a simple question: what raises the odds that one act leads to another?
Our starting point is that one thing leads to another all the time. It's the nature of things. Domino Theory is a set of principles, drawn from research and real stories, about what helps the next domino fall. People are more likely to act when the ask is plain and specific, when the reason is one they care about, and when they can see what their help did.
It is a work in progress, and we'll say so as we go.
Why it matters
A lot of good work stalls. A project never gets started, or it starts and runs out of people to help. Usually it isn't because nobody cares. The next step wasn't clear, nobody asked, or the ask never reached the right person.
When we understand why some acts carry on and others stop, we can help more of them carry on. It shapes how we coach Domino Award recipients, and it guides how Topplers does its work.
Who it's for
Anyone who has asked others for help, or would like to get better at it.
- People with a project of their own they'd like to get moving
- Coaches, mentors and volunteers who help others succeed
- Nonprofit leaders, organizers and teams who depend on others stepping in
- Researchers and curious readers who want to see what holds up
How you can help
Domino Theory gets better when people try it and tell us what happened.
- Join the Topplers Community and follow along
- Share what you've seen work, or fall short, when you've asked people for help
- Try the principles the next time you make an ask, and tell us how it went
- Pass this page to someone who would find it useful
What's next
We're working on a Substack to share our theory and research findings as they develop. We're also planning a Domino Theory podcast.
Neither is live yet. Members of the Topplers Community will hear first.
Join the Topplers Community
Get announcements as they happen, and help shape Domino Theory along the way.
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