From: Aaron DuShey (aaron.dushey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Fri Sep 22 2000 - 21:03:33 GMT-3
Warning: CCIE success story below
Well, I made it- CCIE#6236 on attempt #2 was assigned to me this week.
Wanted to thank all the guys on this list that contributed solid brain
numbing questions, helped answer mine, and gave me encouragement. There are
some guys on this list that are very, very technically solid and helped me
very much. You know who you are, and thanks!
I won't go into a big ol discussion of how I got here, suffice to say it was
the hardest secular endeavor I have ever encountered. It seems to me like a
BAR Exam for the Networking industry.
Besides the standard stuff, here's what helped me that may or not help you-
-I took my Wife with me on 2nd attempt. Don't recommend if you can't stand
her at home, but in our case, it worked well and helped me calm down and get
much needed rest. We had a good time together.
-bootcamp labs-They were good. Best thing I like was trying to guess how the
author of the labs wanted it done, as that's somewhat what you need to do in
the real thing. My only complaint about these is the amount of equipment
they require, but they are still very helpful.
-Make some friends that have or are near taking/passing the lab. Brainshare.
Don't just be a taker. Someone on this list said they learned a lot from
trying to answer the questions posted-I think that's a good idea-
-Be humble. A rare quality, but I would bet money more humble people pass
the lab that those who think they are a step above the rest. Why? Cockiness
makes people messy, and I feel most anyone could be a CCIE if they put
enough work into it. (Can a humble person highlight the quality of humility
to others? Maybe I'm the one who needs to work on this quality more..hmmm)
-Don't try to know everything-What? Yes. It's impossible. I made the mistake
of doing a too brief overview of everything when I preped for the exam no 1
time. I decided the better approach is to make sure what I do know I know
cold inside and out. This is a confidence builder in the lab and will help
you work through what you inevitably won't exactly understand. You obviously
have to know a lot to pass this exam, but anyone who claims to know
everything I would be highly weary of taking advice from. A lot of people
including myself thought they knew certain "basic's" cold but after going
through the lab had to re-analyze their approach. Anyone who says KNOW
EVERYTHING to a question of what one should for sure know cold for the lab
is in my opinion lazily saying, "I don't want to help, go somewhere else."
The CCIE web site gives a good list of core topics you must know. Use it.
They give you hints as to what you for sure will need to know and what you
may see on the exam.
-On the other hand, don't think this is like some Drake exam. If you are
lazy and trying to skirt hard work and study by asking others foolish
questions, you can expect heavy backlash.
-Configure basics(CCIE level basics) very fast, learn how to type, and learn
how to ask good questions.
-Don't get too many books. I buried myself in Cisco Press. They are good,
but too much can bog you down. My approach attempt 2? Use the Cisco docs
1st. Try your hardest to find the answer there, if not, then use other
material.
These are MY opinions only. You may find this approach ridiculous and
absolutely ineffective. If so, you have a right to that, I'm just giving my
2 bits on the whole deal. Feel free to laugh heartily and discard this
e-mail promptly.
Good day, I'm outta here!
Aaron DuShey
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