Two "philosophers" on leadership have had great influence on the author: Warren Bennis and John W. Gardner. She cannot speak or write about leadership without referring to one or both of them. She regards their perspectives as timeless. In this article, the author discusses her interpretation of Bennis's (1996) "guiding vision, passion, and integrity" and Gardner's (1961) "excellence" perspectives because they are essential ingredients for those who are regarded as leaders--or who wish to act as leaders--in higher education and elsewhere. These perspectives illustrate how leaders can plant and cultivate the seeds of success in an organization or society.