How I Replaced Gaming with the Atlassian Community 😅

[#1]

Just over a year ago, I was passively reading posts on the Atlassian Community—getting help, occasionally bookmarking a smart solution, and silently appreciating how others contributed.

Fast-forward to today: I’m a Community Champion, a Certification SME, and someone who logs into the forums almost daily—not just to help, but to learn. And that, I think, has been the biggest surprise of them all.

🎬 Before Becoming a Champion

For a few years now, I’ve been part of the Atlassian Community Zagreb, first attending and later helping out with local events. Huge kudos to @Kristijan Pušić, who originally led the chapter, and to my colleague @Dominik Žarković, who took over last year. 🙌

While I’ve never officially been an event leader myself (I’m more of a “behind-the-keyboard” kind of guy 😄), ACE events have been a fantastic way to connect with fellow Atlassian users, share knowledge, and build real friendships in the ecosystem.

Whenever I have the chance, I pitch in to help organize ACE events in Zagreb—including one of our recent sessions where I got to step in as co-organizer while Dominik was away on a business trip. (Yes, I took a selfie! 📸 + I realized front camera is not that good 😅)

🚀 The Shift: Becoming a Champion

I didn’t actually apply for the Community Champion program at first—it found me.

As I got more engaged in the Community, I also started climbing the Kudos leaderboard, and by the end of Q4 2024, I ended up in first place globally. That apparently caught the attention of the Atlassian Community team, who reached out to me directly and asked if I’d like to apply.

📩 The email that started it all — one of the most surprising and motivating messages I’ve received.

Needless to say—I did. And in January 2025, I officially joined the program. 🎉

🎮 Game On: How Kudos Fueled My Engagement

Now here’s a fun twist—I’m a competitive person by nature. Back in the day, I spent countless hours gaming and even ranked second on a 1.5 mil users MMO RPG server, where rankings were based on—you guessed it—a point system. 😅

It wasn’t just about playing either. I was also a volunteer forum moderator, which gave me an early understanding of how communities work: how tone matters, why structure helps, and how small interactions can shape big experiences.

At some point during that game, I even got messages like:

That kind of feedback stuck with me—and maybe even motivated me more.

So when I discovered the Community Kudos Program, my inner gamer perked up. Quests, badges, challenges… yeah, I know the drill. 😄

I also happen to have studied mathematics, which probably doesn’t hurt when it comes to calculating how to efficiently complete challenges and rack up points.

Of course, it’s not all about the numbers, but the gamified experience is undeniably fun—and it keeps you coming back. Especially when that “one more badge” turns into learning something new or helping someone else solve a problem.

And honestly… I think I’ve officially replaced gaming with the Atlassian Community. (Yeah, I said it. 😅)

🧠 Learning Through Helping

One of my favorite things to do now is browse unanswered questions on the forum. Even when I’m not sure of the answer, I investigate. Every time I do, I learn something new.

Some weeks, I’ll reference something I answered in the forum while working with clients:

“Oh yeah, I helped someone with this exact setup just a few days ago.”

Helping others has become one of the best ways for me to stay sharp, spot gaps in my own understanding, and keep up with new features across Jira, Confluence, and beyond.

This might also be a struggle, as most of you who try to keep up with the news know 😄

🌍 From Forums to Face-to-Face: Team '25 in LA

One of the unexpected (and amazing) perks of becoming a Community Champion was getting the chance to attend Atlassian Team '25 in Los Angeles earlier this year. Meeting other Champions and Community Leaders in person was such a powerful moment—suddenly the people you see online every week are real, energetic, and just as passionate as you'd imagined.

It felt like a full-circle moment: from joining ACE events in Zagreb, to showing up on the global stage and swapping stories with folks from around the world.

Hoping to see some of you again (or for the first time!) in Barcelona later this year! 🇪🇸✨

✅ A Few Final Thoughts for Anyone Considering the Community

What I’d Tell My Past Self
You don’t have to “know everything” to make an impact. Start small. Be curious. Share what you’ve learned.

Curiosity → Confidence → Community
Curiosity brought me to the forum. Confidence grew through consistent participation. And now, I’d say Community is where I belong—and contribute—every week.

The Champion program has helped me grow not just professionally, but personally. It’s not about perfection; it’s about momentum. One small contribution at a time can lead to big things—whether it’s improving a workflow, mentoring a newcomer, or helping shape a certification exam.

And if you happen to love a good challenge (or just secretly enjoy collecting points), the Community has plenty of that too. 😉

[Calvin]

This is a great post seeing how you got into it all. It sounds like the point system helped with your competitiveness on gaming. 

[Andy Gladstone]

@Tomislav Tobijas reading about your gaming background gives me a greater appreciation of your ascension of the Kudos leaderboard in the Atlassian Community. When I first started to notice your name in posts last year I predicted you would become a Community Champion in no time - and I am glad the Community Managers noticed the same. 

Keep up the great work!

[Amanda Barber]

I love your story, @Tomislav Tobijas - while I'm not a gamer, I love "checking off" tasks, so I have a somewhat similar drive to participate. 

[John Funk]

I have never been a gamer, but I know several who are. And like you, @Tomislav Tobijas I use the Atlassian Community kinda as my hobby now. I enjoy helping people, so why not be productive at the same time? Thanks for sharing your story!

[Anahit Sukiasyan]

Such a great read! I also started by quietly exploring the Community before stepping into a more active role. Organizing events in Armenia and joining the Champion program has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.

Loved how you tied your gaming background into this! Excited to see where your journey goes next @Tomislav Tobijas, and hope to cross paths at an event (Team '25 Europe) soon! 💙

[Tomislav Tobijas]

@Calvin They say it’s either a blessing or a curse… in my case, definitely leaning toward curse 😆 But hey, it keeps me active!

Cheers, @Andy Gladstone! 🙌 And yeah—it really started as a “let’s see how far I can get” kind of thing. I wasn’t actively aiming to join the program, but I’m incredibly grateful the Community team reached out. The result has been amazing so far, and I truly appreciate the support!

@Amanda Barber Totally get that—while gamers will definitely relate, it’s a similar kind of drive that keeps you coming back. I actually haven’t been gaming much the past few years either, and I’m finding more satisfaction in checking off real-life tasks (well, my personal Jira tasks 😄).

@John Funk Yep—my morning routine usually involves coffee, reading the news, and answering a couple of Community questions. 😄 I remember reading that you do something similar—spending spare time here instead of, say, watching TV—so I figured you’d totally relate!

Thanks so much, @Anahit Sukiasyan! I’ve noticed how active you’ve been too—so great to see the Community growing strong in Armenia! 💙
Would love to connect if our paths cross in Barcelona—feel free to reach out! 😊

[Brita Moorus]

This was such a fun and relatable read! 💙 I loved how your story evolved from silently browsing to leading and shaping the community on multiple fronts. I totally agree - helping others is one of the best ways to keep learning. And your Curiosity → Confidence → Community progression is so on point! 👏

Also replacing gaming with the Atlassian Community? Respect 😄 I feel that too sometimes, especially with the Kudos quests and leaderboard challenges!

Looking forward to catching up more in the community (and maybe in Barcelona 👀)

Thanks for sharing your inspiring journey! ✨

[Susan Waldrip]

Great article, @Tomislav Tobijas! When I first joined the Community last year, I noticed that you provided great answers and were gracious when people asked oh-so-obvious questions (uh, that was me!). I've watched you climb to the top of the Leader Board multiple times and always give you a verbal shout-out when I see your name pop up on a question (and yes, I know you can't hear me 😊 but just know I'm doing it). You're one of my inspirations to be consistent in being active in the Community, and I appreciate you and what you bring to it. Thank you!