Page 63 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2026

the name had to grab you.”
They felt they had chosen the right name when a friend of
Blount’s who works in branding for Shell Oil complimented
their choice.
It was decided to do audio only so walkers and anyone not
sitting still could listen. Then it was action for the first session
which was attended by the staff of the Mary C. with a round of
applause at the conclusion.
The podcast uses research, experiences and guests to discuss
the importance of civility at home, in business, in sports and
social settings. Sometimes they give homework such as reading
pages from “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families” by
Stephen R. Covey, or practicing making introductions.
Having guests they feel is important because it adds different
perspectives and experiences. A married couple who put strong
emphasis on family time together gave suggestions of how to carve
out time for family meals together, something Wilson and Blount
stress as important. Two grandparents were guests to discuss the
crucial role grandparents can play in grandchildren’s lives.
“We must continue to nurture our families—physically, socially,
mentally, and spiritually,” Blount said. “If you don’t, your
relationship will atrophy. We suggest family reading together and
discussing, hiking, biking, learning new skills and community
service.”
Considering business etiquette, the ladies quote studies from
Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford
University which concluded that 85 percent of job success
stems from well-developed soft skills (people skills), while only
15 percent comes from technical expertise. Research shows that
roles requiring high social skills command higher wages.
Technical skills change fairly rapidly. Conversely, soft skills like
critical thinking, ethical judgment, and complex problem-solving
remain steady.
Approximately 94 percent of recruiters believe employees with
strong soft skills have a better chance of being promoted into
leadership positions than those with more experience but weaker
interpersonal abilities.
“We talk about it as a big tent that includes manners, almost
anything connected to business etiquette such as communication,
technology, phone, change in the workplace, meetings,
dining, attire, correspondence, entertaining, introduction, first
impressions, public speaking, etc.,” Wilson said.
Blount’s background includes working with Gayfer’s
Department Store’s White Glove and Party Manners. She also
did workshops for the store’s teen board, made chamber of
commerce presentations and did professional development for
the Beau Rivage’s human resources department.
Wilson, a former English teacher and Ocean Springs Chamber
of Commerce official, has developed team building and other
types of programs through the years.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net Both deplore what they see as the sloppification of America.
“We were already on a slippery slope and the pandemic did not
help,” Blount said. “I often wonder what people are thinking
when I see the way they present themselves in public.”
Blount and Wilson have completed a series of six podcasts of
Sweet Tea & Civility and are planning the next series. “Now that
we know how to do it, the sky’s the limit,” Wilson said. “We will
focus more on business etiquette and what employers are looking
for. We will invite some employers to join us with their input.”
Nancy Wilson, Brenda Blount and
Guest Parent Trevor Smith
Sweet Tea & Civility Podcast Crew with Grandparents
Panel, Betty Sue O’Brian and Charles and Lillian Jenkins
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