In the aftermath of the first Community Engagement Challenge we have been distributing rewards and we want to thank our 20 Super Beast participants who joined the 7/500 Club. These are the people who finished with a minimum of 7 qualifying posts and 500 comments.

Today's spotlight is on...

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and what brought you to Whaleshares.

I am a 40 something Aussie gal who’s a bit of a closet nerd, not so closet formula one fan and a caffeine addict. I was lucky enough to find an Aussie bloke who can put up with shenanigans… my really unfunny sense of humour and the chaos I tend to leave in a trail behind me.

The biggest thing in our lives right now is that we are going through the adoption process, which has taught us a lot about ourselves. It’s very confronting and you really need to be prepared for an honest look in the mirror. But it’s an exciting new world we are living in now - and I can’t wait to start sharing this with a little one.

We are also crazy travelers which is the majority of my posts. I love to share all of the places we’ve been so fortunate to travel and I hope these experiences have really shaped me into a better, more empathetic person who can leave this world a better place.

I am a bit of a mad blogger. Mainly because I’m a talker. LOL I’ve tried for so many years to find an audience so I can monetise my blog. When you put in so much effort and time it can be very disappointing to feel you are getting nowhere - And I guess that brought me to Steem. From Steem my hubby really got into crypto and bought up a whole lot of these little things called Whaleshares LOL. I can not take the credit for that bit of brilliance. I sorta looked at him and went “Whale what now?”

So that is kinda how I ended up here!

Q: What prompted you to join the Community Engagement Challenge, otherwise known as “The Beast”?

I’ve found the community in general on Whaleshares to be so embracing and supportive of each other. I guess I saw the challenge as a way to extend that and find some other like-minded people - now I’m not saying that’s a sane mind.. But hey if there are more out there like me.. I was duty bound to search them out!

^{image "borrowed" from @velaris}

Q: Be honest. Did you think you would be able to accomplish all the goals of the challenge?

^{(Minimum 7 posts and 500 comments within 10 days.)}

I was actually okay with the posts.. But for someone who talks a lot.. I found the comments hard.. I tried my hardest to make meaningful comments and that does take time. But I loved how everyone rallied to help get as many people over the line. I learned some people have really weird senses of humour… and after a day in the Discord party.. Some very scary music tastes. LOL

Q: What was your biggest challenge during this process?

My biggest challenge was sticking to my day job..when I really just wanted to hop on line and join in the fun!

Q: What is the greatest lesson you’re taking away from this process?

Just have fun - get engaged, you can meet some really neat people - and that’s what it is really about.

Q: Putting you on the spot. Who did you most connect with during the challenge and do you still keep in touch?

^{image source}

Oh, there were so many but I think ta few that that really stand out are @pandamama @ksolymosi and @yomikibagami.

Some of us are doing the #pixelperfect lessons and we all seem to enjoy discussing photography… And I am trying to make Yomi spend money on books and he is trying to make me spend money on cameras lol!

A lot of the engagement has spilled into discord which is pretty neat. Lucky I work from home and not in an office!

Q: Where else on the internet can we find you? (Steemit, Smoke, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

• I’m on Steemit as @shellyduncan - though not so active these days.
• Twitter: @MeetShellyD and @SuccessGals
• LinkedIn: Shelly Duncan

Websites:

• Blog: A Girls Guide to Success
• Travel blog: AmateurAdventurer
• Bookclub Blog
• YouTube

Q: Will you be participating in future Community Engagement Challenges?

Yep - I am so very crazy enough to do it all over again. And even though I say I will be planned this time… watch the panic!

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

While I was concerned with the time it might take - and hubby thought I was certifiably nuts - I am so glad I did this.

I made a lot of connections and some of them are close - well as close as online connections with people across the other side of the world - who don’t know if I’m really Jason Vorheese or Michael Myers in disguise - can be. Now excuse me while I take my leave.. I seem to have misplaced my hockey mask!

PS - I did not have that warped sense of humour until the Beast Challenge - see what it does to you?!
^{Oh yes, @velaris - we believe that!} :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

It was our pleasure to interview @velaris and we sincerely appreciate her time. If you're not already doing so, please consider following her on Whaleshares and beyond.

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