From Not Knowing How to Write to Expressing My Life in Words: A Community Journey

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I am a nostalgic person. I can easily drift far back into my memory palace and spend time reflecting on events and relationships. That’s why this topic is a special walk down memory lane through my Atlassian Community experience.

I have been around for 9+ years, and never had any doubt whether I belong here. Coming from a completely different background (graphic designer, marketing, and photographer), diving into the tech space was challenging. Also, until my first tech job at Botron Software, Platinum Marketplace Partner at that time, I worked only in my native language, and my English was, to be very optimistic, mediocre at best.

Starting with simple answers to simple technical questions on the Community, I suddenly got invited to the Atlassian Authors program. Me!? The mediocre at best? I was convinced this is a no-go; I am not an author, and I barely learned how to describe technical terminology on the Atlassian Marketplace adequately.

But I took the chance. And I was so proud of myself for challenging my fear of writing. Looking back at my first articles - what a disaster! But time passed, and I became more and more excited and committed to creating content that resonates with people, provides answers, and inspires action.

Not long after, another special email landed in my inbox - the invite to become a Community Champion. I was thrilled. I already had a couple of friends who were responding to my articles, but being one step closer to them was a real gift.

Depending on your location and the local business landscape, some jobs can be a very lonely ride, as mine was at the time. I was (and still am) qualified as a marketer, but here in Bulgaria you often see marketers as very well-dressed, perfectly polished people who walk around offices debating campaigns and brand colors with a matcha latte in hand. Guess what? I’m not that breed. I can do those things, but my strength lies in customer relationships, content that speaks, and strategies that resonate. With a user-first approach, I put value over looks, and I can’t handle just any marketing role.

Establishing connections that turn into long-lasting friendships is what makes the Champion program stand out. Constantly forcing me outside my comfort zone, this circle of influence has always helped me elevate my skills and my approach to people and technology.

What’s something you wish you’d known before becoming a Champion, and what advice would you give to your past self?

I loved this sample prompt from @Loren Siegel, who inspired us to write, and I plan to use it straight:

Don’t let your self-doubts and fears stop you from trying. As a person who constantly questions any word and any action, I am prone to delaying decisions, circling non-existent doubts.

Being a Community Champion not only helped me boost my career but also gave me the push to excel in my technical knowledge. 9 years after I first installed my Jira and Confluence instances (on a Docker instance which I set up myself), I am still in love with the stack. Yes, some changes may be a bit annoying, but we learn to adapt; that’s what Agile is for.

However, one of the most surprising things on my journey was not the fancy swag or the little tag next to my name (as cool as these are!) but how warm and welcoming the environment is. From visiting my first event to making friends at Summits (Teams), I always felt appreciated for my presence. People like @Jimmy Seddon, @Fun Man Andy, @Andy Gladstone, @Huwen Arnone _Deiser_, @Fadoua Boualem and the amazing Community Managers Team are not only “part of my work network”; they are true and very special friends who I appreciate and value, who help me go through the good and bad moments in life.

So here I am. 72 articles later (which you can read on my Champion profile), and with a passion for more. Learning how to transform words into feelings, with the help of my friends.

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PS: Can you imagine that I am now a co-founding member of a company with friends I met through the Atlassian Community? Thank you, @Fun Man Andy, and @Suze Treacy, for believing in me and being a hell of a #fun team!

[Josh Costella]

We are glad you're here! And your English communication is better than many native speakers. 😉

[Amanda Barber]

Thank you for sharing your story, @Teodora V _Fun Inc_ - this community really helps each of us utilize our (sometimes hidden) strengths! 

[James O_Connor]

What a great story @Teodora V _Fun Inc_ thank you for sharing! Very inspiring!

[Teodora V _Fun Inc_]

@Josh Costella that's great to hear, I am working heavily on improving and utilizing all modern grammar tools 💪

@Amanda Barber @James O_Connor thank you for reading, guys 🫶

[Huwen Arnone _Deiser_]

I was hesitant to comment here just because you tagged the wrong Huwen 😭I thought we were besties.😭 @Teodora V _Fun Inc_ I made it to the pictures but not to the name. 

"Some jobs can be a very lonely ride," as a marketer within the Atlassian ecosystem, I confirm that, lol. #foreveralone

 

[Teodora V _Fun Inc_]

Ahh, forgive me, love, I hope I wasn't treating the wrong Huwen as the real one @Huwen Arnone _Deiser_ this entire time. 

[Huwen Arnone _Deiser_]

Now I feel spoiled 🙈😂 @Teodora V _Fun Inc_ 

Here, we hate @Huwen Arnone [ACE], it's like Superman Bizarro 😂

[Jimmy Seddon]

This is a wonderful article @Teodora V _Fun Inc_!  I'm very happy we have been able to travel this adventure together for so many years!

[Teodora V _Fun Inc_]

Thank you, and I fully agree @Jimmy Seddon! 

[Brita Moorus]

I really loved reading this – what an inspiring story! 💙 It's amazing how you went from doubting your English to writing 72 articles and co-founding a company. That's such a big achievement, and it shows how far you've come.

Your description of marketers in Bulgaria made me smile - but I really admire your approach: putting people first, creating real value, and building strong connections. That kind of marketing is what really matters 👏

Thanks for sharing your journey. It's inspiring to see how much the Atlassian Community has helped you grow - not just professionally, but personally too. And the fact that you made real friends (and even started a company together!) is just incredible 😊

[Daria Kulikova_GitProtect_io]

Great story, @Teodora V _Fun Inc_ , and wonderful journey! 

[Teodora V _Fun Inc_]

Thank you for your kind words @Brita Moorus. 🙏 It's funny how I find a different excuse to avoid the word "marketing" every time someone asks me about my job 😀 People immediately imagine loud, social-media-addicted individuals who have no "real job". And marketing is sooo much more than this.

And thank you for reading @Daria Kulikova_GitProtect_io 🫶