![\"John](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/PTDublin_cropped.jpg\")
Name:<\/b>John Eriksson<\/a>\n<\/span>Level:<\/b> L3
\n<\/span>Location:<\/b> Grankulla, Finland
\n<\/span>Judge Start Date:<\/b> 14th of April 2012 (at the very first Finnish WMCQ, where I was the TO as well)
\n<\/span>Why did you become a Judge?<\/b> I was a gaming store manager before I was a Judge. To be honest, I took the Judge test because I wasn\u2019t allowed to play at my own store\u2019s Competitive events. Johanna<\/a>
\n<\/span>Occupation:<\/b> Student and part time HVAC designer (studying to become an engineer in the same field).
\n<\/span>Favorite card:<\/b>\u00a0Rakdos Charm<\/a>. It\u2019s such a versatile card! I\u2019ve had it in almost every Modern sideboard (that can cast RB) as it is a catch all for most opposing strategies. There is no better feeling than seeing an opponent filling his board only to go \u201cso how many creatures do you have?\u201d
\n<\/span>Least favorite card:<\/b> Any and all Counterspells. From the day I was introduced to Magic, I\u2019ve disliked blue. Counterspells are the reason why. Not letting the opponent even play Magic is so annoying.
\n<\/span>Commander General:<\/b>\u00a0Saffi Eriksdotter<\/a>. Both for the name and for that is the kind of control Magic that I can relate to. Saffi + Sun Titan<\/a> is lovely <3.
\n<\/span>Favorite non-Magic Game:<\/b> Star Realms<\/span><\/a>. It is the only game I play more than Magic, just because I have it on my phone at all times and I can pick it up and play a few turns exactly when I want to.
\n<\/span>Best tournament result:<\/b> I was the Finnish German Highlander Champion 2017. Well, a German guy actually was but I was the best Finn!
\n<\/span>Random fact about yourself:<\/b> I am one of very few Finns that doesn\u2019t drink coffee. (Finland is the <\/span>#1 consumer of coffee<\/span><\/a> in the world)<\/span><\/p>\n
What are some tips you have for other Judges? What is your favorite non-judging moment that happened with other Judges (or after event story)? How has being a Judge influenced your non-Magic life? What is your favorite non-Magic hobby? If you could chat with one person, real or fictional, dead or alive, who would it be and why? If you were a Planeswalker what would be your ultimate? See my hate for blue above…<\/span><\/p>\n What character in Magic (real or fictional) represents you the best, and why? We have a saying at home. \u201cFan ta den som ger sig.\u201d \u201cThe devil may take whoever gives up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not about being the best or the brightest. It\u2019s about perseverance and not giving in at the first sight of trouble. You don\u2019t have to always win. You don\u2019t have to go again right away. Just don\u2019t give up. Follow your dreams and try, try again. Even if you never succeed, just as long as you didn\u2019t give up. Play smart, do your best, accept defeat and then restart when you\u2019re ready.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Judge](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/thegang2.jpg\")
You were nominated for your ability to empower the Judges with whom you work, especially by finding tasks that will help them grow or progress. \u00a0Why is it important to you that opportunities for improvement are individualized for each Judge?
\n<\/b>Since I was a teen I\u2019ve been taught that good leadership meant finding the right task for the right person. Everybody is good at something. You just have to find what they are good at and motivate them to do more of that, or teach them to become better where they are lacking. Even at officer\u2019s school in the military, I was taught to empower the people beneath me to keep them motivated to work harder (mostly because if I was shot, someone needed to finish my task\u2026). This way of thinking has translated well to the Judge Program. It is not just about delegating but also about making sure everybody gets a chance, that they feel heard. We all have to do things we don\u2019t always like to do, but if I feel I can influence my own future, I will be motivated to work harder at everything I do.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>The same way we instruct player to communicate more, I urge my fellow Judges to talk more. I am not a mind reader, nor are you. Tell me what you want to happen, what your goals are, what motivates you. Also talk to me when you have an opinion, but also be ready to receive feedback from others. The Judge Program IS<\/strong> a Self-Improvement Cult and we all want each other to succeed. Don\u2019t be afraid to use your voice and communicate your feelings!<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I\u2019ve had a lot of late nights with a lot of lovely Judges during GP trips. I do not have a specific favorite but I do want to use this space to let others know how great a time you can have if you \u201clive a little\u201d. Don\u2019t do anything that will have a negative impact on your time at the actual GP, but do go out and meet new people! A lot of fun things happens after the doors to the GP close for the night. Use that time and meet those around you. And don\u2019t forget to share a drink or three… (which of course can be non-alcoholic!)<\/span><\/p>\n![\"John](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/judging-with-karn2.jpg\")
What challenges have you faced or are you facing to become a better judge, and how have you worked to overcome them?
\n<\/b>I hate conflicts. I\u2019ve actively tried my best to avoid them. Not running away or something like that, but doing my utmost to stop a conflict from even happening. If there is anything I can do to ease someone away from a conflict, I will probably try it. Sometimes that has been a problem for me. I don\u2019t mean that you should go out looking for conflict in your life, but you shouldn’t shy away from it either. Some things need to be confronted and dealt with in an effective manner, even if that means some interpersonal conflict. And that is something I am still working on.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I\u2019ve met a lot of new friends via Magic. I\u2019ve seen so much more of the world thanks to going to GPs. I\u2019ve learned new skills that I\u2019ve been able to translate to the non-Magic world, and vice versa. I am just a more confident and happier person thanks to Magic.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>I am a gamer of all sorts. I love learning new games and trying to find out how they work. I am not a hard core gamer that can pick up any game and just win at it. I\u2019d rather figure out how the game mechanics work, for the fun of it. I\u2019ve always had an easy time learning by doing, and I feel super proud when I \u201cget something\u201d before someone else and I can play the teacher. It is not about arrogance but about the feeling I get from teaching someone something new that I just figured out myself. Some do find that annoying however\u2026 sorry!<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>This is one of those \u201cno matter what I answer, I will want to change my answer next week\u201d type of questions.
\n<\/span>Right at this second, I would want to talk to one of the great inventors in human history. It could be someone like da Vinci or Newton or Tesla. I would want to know where these guys got their ideas from. What drove them to figure things out that nobody had ever thought of before? What was their muse? A lot of people dream of leaving their mark on the world and these guys certainly did. I would want to know if they knew that when they invented stuff or if they thought they were just improving something.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>You get an emblem with \u201cSpells you control can\u2019t be countered.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Squee, the Immortal<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"John's](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/first-rptq2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"John's](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/my-l3-cake2.jpg\")
What is the proudest moment of your Judge life?