Digital Byte #70: Have you heard of the Domino Effect?

January 6th, 2026

How many dominos do you think it would take to knock over the Empire State Building?

Pause for a second and pick a number. Don’t scroll until you have a number in mind. I promise this makes the exercise so much more rewarding.

I’ve been in two situations where people have been asked this. Some said thousands, millions, others said zero as if it was not possible.

.

29 dominos.

If each domino is just a little bigger than the one before it, it would theoretically take only 29 dominos. This exercise made me think. If something so massive can be impacted by something that starts so small, how else does this show up in our lives?

We often look at the challenges in front of us as huge, immoveable things.

Struggling to lose the 20 pounds? Because 20 feels like a lot.

Struggling to get to your first million? Because $1 Million feels overwhelming.

But broken down, it becomes more approachable. Making $1.5M is much easier once you’ve already made it to $1M. That’s the compounding effect at work. Progress builds on progress.

By January 6th, the excitement of New Year’s resolutions has usually settled into real-life habits. Calendars are filling back up. The inbox is busy again. And whatever habits we’re actually practicing, not the ones we planned to practice, are starting to take shape.

This is where compounding really shows up.

Small, repeatable habits don’t feel impressive in the moment. Going to bed a little earlier. Blocking time for focused work. Closing loops instead of carrying them around mentally. Taking a walk instead of scrolling. Writing things down instead of relying on memory.

On their own, these choices feel almost too small to matter.

But good habits compound.

A bit more rest leads to clearer thinking. Clearer thinking leads to better decisions. Better decisions lead to smoother days. Smoother days free up energy you didn’t realize you were spending just to keep up.

The opposite compounds too.

Letting distractions creep in. Pushing things off until they pile up. Saying yes automatically. Living in reactive mode. These habits don’t break things immediately, but over time they make everything feel heavier.

So instead of asking, “What do I want to accomplish this year?” try:

What’s one habit that, if repeated consistently, would quietly improve my days?

Think of it as one small domino that’s just slightly bigger than the last.

Because when the habits you practice are good, they don’t just help you today. They make tomorrow easier. And the day after that. And the week after that.

That’s how real progress happens. Not in one big moment, but through small choices that compound in the background.

The year is already moving. Which dominos you’re setting in motion?

Stay Inspired,

Sydney