So, the reason each man is there is not to win the battle.  It is not to emerge triumphant.  It is not to beat the French.  Henry never even mentions the French.  The reason is to share in something so special that the life of each man will never be the same after.  It will literally be a life changing experience.  They will each, as individuals, have the chance to participate in an almost sacred event.  An event that will alter their perception of who they are, of their place in the world, of the energy and passion with which they live their lives.  Henry gives them a choice.  They can either have that, they can either be part of the "few" the "happy few", or, they can leave, and wonder forever what it must be like to feel the special bond that unites survivors of this soon to be epic event.  Henry says to them in essence, you can envy or you can partake, you can truly live, or you can suffer a pale imitation of life.

 

This is the choice that all great inspirational leaders give to their followers.  It is a chance to give nobility and meaning to life.  And it is given as a choice in many different venues, and in many different ways.  Not all are a matter of life and death.  Not all are a matter of great recognition.  But all paint a vision of what is most important to the follower.

 

Painting the Vision is a skill more uncommon than common.  The very best political leaders have it, and it is the basis of their appeal.  Painting the Vision gives hope and inspiration to people and energizes them to see possibility and then to work towards that possibility.  The perceived lack of what people call "charisma" (literally from the Greek for "gift") can many times be traced to the leader's inability to engage people through storytelling to the painted vision of a hopeful and wished for future.  This is what people yearn for in a leader.  It is why we tend to despise "negative" campaigning that tends to focus on the opponent.  We would much rather see a candidate who can tell us more fully what it is we can do!  Who are we?  What are our possibilities?  What do you see for us?  What will help give meaning and value to our lives?  President Bill Clinton used to say that elections were all about the future, not the past.