From: Scott Morris (smorris@xxxxxxxx)
Date: Mon Apr 17 2000 - 21:35:57 GMT-3
The money is a side benefit, but shouldn't be the main driving force. You
are quite correct, that you'll end up just making your life miserable and
stressing out far too much!
If money's all it is, why bother going to college? Just religiously play
the lottery and you'll win $100 million someday and retire and not do
anything!!! Yeah, whatever...
You need to ENJOY whatever it is that you're doing, particularly if you plan
on spending a good portion of the rest of your life doing it. But be aware
that the CCIE is NOT the end of all things... It doesn't mean you're gods'
gift to networking, and it sure as hell doesn't mean you know everything.
In fact, it's typically the first realization that there's a LOT out there
that you don't know. And now you know enough to pay attention to that
little detail in life.
The CCIE is the beginning of what is (hopefully) an exciting journey through
a field that you enjoy being in. If you don't enjoy it, and it's not
something you like, get out while you can before you're too far in debt from
the classes and/or hardware purchases.
Social life? When studying, you won't have one. Get over it. Deal with
it. Things will get better! Once you have your CCIE and start doing what
you enjoy, like any other job, there will be good days and bad, good weeks
and bad. Sometimes you'll be really bored. Sometimes you'll WISH you were
really bored.
Like any other milestone in life, this has to be a truly personal decision.
It is certainly not the "I'm going to retire before I'm 40" job. Like
anything else, every decision you make (similar to the guy who made lots of
money on stocks), is all based in chance. Maybe it will work, maybe it
won't.
If you get a chance, listen to the song/poem 'Sunscreen'. The song is by
Baz Luhrman. The original "poem" was written by a columnist of the Chicago
Sun-Times. Good philosophy stuff. Designed for graduating college
students, but much of that same thought process works around this type of
"graduating" class.
Best of luck to all, and enjoy! (Don't forget the life happens AROUND work)
Scott Morris, MCSE, CNE(3.x), CCDP (R&S), CCIE (R&S) #4713, Security
Specialization, CCNA - WAN Switching
smorris@ccci.com
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Cell Phone: 941-350-8590 e-mail:smorris@ccci.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com]On Behalf Of
Chris Jackson
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 6:43 PM
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: RE: The dark side of CCIE
If money is what you are after then you are doing it for the wrong reas
ons.
You can make money in many different ways, if you lose sight of why you are
working so hard, then you can make yourself miserable. I want CCIE because
it is a personal goal, and I love the technology. It is tough when you give
100% and aren't rewarded for your work. You have proven that you can
accomplish something very difficult. Be proud of what you have done!
I do agree with the downside. The worst part is the waiting between tes
ts.
You never know if you have prepared enough! How are the rest of you coping
with the stress? Any tips from you who have passed?
Chris Jackson
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com]On Behalf Of
Yao, Yuan
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 5:24 PM
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: The dark side of CCIE
Like everybody who just got CCIE, I have something to say about the CCIE
journey.
There is a question popped up in reviewing my past 3 years CCIE prep. Did I
spend my time wisely? The answer is negative. Let's take a look at one of my
friend's journey in the same period. This guy started his consulting in a
brokerage firm earn $85/hour in 97 and worked on his website since 96 off
hours. He put $40,000 in internet stocks in 1998, whose value went beyond $2
million twice. He sold with net $600,000-700,000 and quitted his job last
summer. Following that, he rented an office at World Trade Center at New
York City and hired 6 guys to revamp his website. In the past early March,
he sold his website to a phone company for more than $10 million, which made
Reuters and PRwire news in the web. He is 30 by August.
His working list for his past 3 years was, studying internet business plans,
preparing his business plan, chasing venture capitals, extending web
services, networking with potential suitors...
My working list for my past 3 years was, studying frame relay, isdn, ospf,
bgp, going to training on dlsw, design, practicing in labs, networking with
CCIE and candidates, chasing new test topics atm, voice...
I also developed much more near sight, digestion problems, carpal tunnel
syndrome besides more psychological factors less efficiency, less certainty
and alienated wife and kids.
Would it be wise to spend a long period time and dedication of your life for
CCIE $100,000 reward? We only live once. The big question for everybody. How
can you spend your time wisely in your next 3 years?
Yuan Yao
CCIE5806
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