Mutant Leadership

On some level, we all like to feel part of a tribe.

We hate Trump or love Trump.

We “get” the joke.

We know the inside story behind the remark.

Have you ever heard of 143?

Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers fame is the hold-up signs to children with that number. They understood the joke, even if you don’t, because they were insiders. Even today, the Fred Rogers Center maintains a 143 Club.

What is 143?

According to the Fred Rogers Center, “Fred Rogers considered the number “143” to be a very special number. He once said, “It takes one letter to say I and four letters to say love and three letters to say you. One hundred and forty-three.” In fact, he liked the number so much that he maintained the weight of 143 pounds for the last 30 years of his life.

Even today, when people text, they may sometimes text the message, “143,” to tell someone they love them.

Trekies, Seinfeld fans, sneaker aficionados, Deadheads . . . They all get it.

Being an outsider means you don’t get the joke.

Being an outsider means you don’t understand the reference.

It wasn’t for you.