It wasn't long ago that the media and general public disregarded Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) as a serious contender to Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. But as the primaries rolled on, Sen. Sanders captured the hearts, minds and votes of many, tightening the race. However, we will not be feeling "the Bern" in November; the Senator endorsed Ms. Clinton Tuesday, effectively ending his campaign for the presidency.
Sen. Sanders' advisers told The New York Times he "came around grudgingly to supporting [Ms. Clinton]." It wasn't easy for him, as both Democratic frontrunners have flung insults at each other and upheld significantly different political philosophies, but he admitted defeat, and we can all learn from his style.
Here are four lessons we can learn about admitting defeat from Sen. Sanders', according to Inc.
1. Accept the reality of the situation. Sen. Sanders could have kept fighting all the way to the Democratic National Convention at the end of July, which would have extended his time under the spotlight. He even could have returned to his Independent party affiliation and run as a third-party campaign in November, according to the report. However, neither of these options would have benefited the U.S., nor would they have served his long-term goals, suggests Inc. In every failed initiative, there comes a time when one must realize the smartest next step is acknowledging you've failed so you can move on, according to the report.
2. Celebrate the wins. Failure and success is usually not black and white. Even in politics, where one is either elected or not, there is still a lot of gray area. You could win but find yourself forced to commit to alliances you would not have chosen, or you could lose and still yield powerful influence beyond what it used to be, such as in Sen. Sanders' case. Look at your failures and celebrate what you have achieved.
3. Take the good from what you've done. Even if you've failed, chances are your failed attempt has yielded some positive results. In Sen. Sanders' case, according to the report, he lost the nomination but gained 13 million primary or caucus votes and millions of enthusiastic followers. Furthermore, he has the chance to make a speech at the convention and be named chairperson of a Senate committee on one of his main sticking points — raising the federal minimum wage.
4. Keep the big picture in mind. While Sen. Sanders, at 74, will likely not run again for president, he still has larger goals to keep in mind, such as keeping the worsening problem of economic disparity at the forefront. Giving up the Democratic nomination — instead of fighting until the convention — allows him to wield greater long-term influence on the Democratic Party and national politics in this regard, according to the report.