Thousands--if not tens of thousands--of books, monographs, and articles have been written on the subject of leadership. A Google search of the word returns nearly a half-billion Web sites. As a professional who has spent nearly 40 years in the higher education sector, the author has been blessed with opportunities to view and practice leadership from various perspectives: (1) as a staffer at an academic college; (2) as an information technology practitioner; (3) as registrar at a large public university; (4) as a university administrator; (5) as a classroom instructor; and most recently (6) as an executive of a for-profit company. While each of these assignments has had its unique roles and responsibilities, leadership has been a common thread. Each person has spheres of influence--opportunity to have an impact on the lives of others. In this article, the author discusses five characteristics--discipline, humility, accountability, perseverance, and vision--that leaders demonstrate as they work within their spheres of influence.