Leadership has been talked and written about for millenia, but what is it really? If we really understand what it is, why don't we have more real leaders? The answer lies in the nature of leadership itself: It is not just something that we know about; it is something we live. This paper will explore some examples of people who truly lived leadership, and were "real leaders." It will examine some of the characteristics that these leaders exhibited. It will present the author's research into what makes up a leader. Finally, the paper will present specific, real-life suggestions for developing and expanding leadership in one's personal and interpersonal life.