Alan Nero Tells Springfield College Grads, Everything in Life is About Relationships Built Face to Face
May 15, 2011SPRINGFIELD, Mass., May 15, 2011 – Alan Nero, managing director of Octagon’s baseball division, told Springfield College graduates today, “Everything in life is about relationships. I’m not talking about the relationships you have on Facebook with 5,000 of your closest friends, or the kind of relationship you create in 140 characters or less on Twitter. Relationships are built face to face. They are built on trust.”
Nero was the featured speaker at Springfield College’s 125th undergraduate commencement ceremony, addressing 834 graduates and about 5,000 others, at 9:30 a.m., at the MassMutual Center, in downtown Springfield.
Prior to Nero’s speech, Springfield College awarded him an honorary doctor of humanics degree. The college has, historically, awarded honorary degrees to a few outstanding individuals who, by their character and accomplishments, personify the college’s guiding philosophy, humanics. The philosophy emphasizes the dedication of spirit, mind and body for leadership in service to others.
Nero cited 10 rules to live by, most of which he learned from his father. “If you want to get an edge, get up early,” “There is no right way to do a wrong thing,” “Always tell the truth,” and “Everything in life is about relationships,” he said.
His fifth rule is to be a good listener, make good eye contact and be confident. He went on to say, “Encourage intimacy, answer your phone…The digital world creates barriers to intimacy.”
“Love your enemies; it will drive them crazy,” is his seventh rule, followed by “Character is always doing the right thing, even when no one else knows.”
He went on to say, “Live within your means…Avoid the human obsession of always wanting more,” and “Real happiness comes from within…Save time for your family, that’s where your real happiness lies.”
In today’s ceremonies, the college awarded 834 bachelor’s degrees. At its graduate commencement ceremony yesterday, on Naismith Green, on the Springfield, Mass. campus, the college awarded 525 master’s degrees, seven doctor of philosophy degrees, 31 doctor of physical therapy degrees, and three certificates of advanced graduate study.
