From: Rick Tyrell (rtyrell@gmail.com)
Date: Sun Feb 22 2009 - 13:02:55 ARST
Hey Dave, I know exactly where you are coming from!
I drudged through the CCNP years ago, having to take the Troubleshooting and
Support test three times to pass. Man that was a drain on the brain. Then
I finally got motivated to do my CCIE written, I attended Narbik's R&S
Written Bootcamp. I mainly went there because it was cheap :) But after
attending I got something that I wasn't expected out of it -- MOTIVATION &
PASSION. Narbik rekindled the passion I had for networking. I had lost
that passion dealing with everyday beat downs at work and the stress this
industry can place on you. It seems you go to work to help people but end
up getting put through a grinder and then have to do it all over again the
next day. That on top of personal life issues can really derail your CCIE
studying.
After Narbik's bootcamp I was really doing well and had a passion for the
LAB. Once again life decided to derail my studies and I put CCIE studying
on the backburner. All of a sudden my 18 months from my Written was coming
up and I needed to attempt the LAB or else I was going to have to retake the
Written. I bought some mock Lab workbooks and kind of "half-assed" studied
for a few months but it was not enough. I failed the first attempt. I
was just happy to say "Yeah I attempted the CCIE Lab".
Again instead of picking up where I left off I got burned out and didn't
feel like studying for the beast anymore. Eventually my year to attempt the
LAB was coming up again! I didn't know what to do, I felt like giving up.
So I read some blogs and found out Narbik had a R&S bootcamp which was
fairly inexpensive. I booked it 3 months out from my LAB. Wow he really
lit a fire under my butt! I was pumped now. I studied non-stop with a
purpose and passion for 3 months straight. Unfortunately I did not leave
enough time between his bootcamp and my 2nd attempt. I did not have time to
go through all the material. So I went through as much Core material as I
could and got some IPExpert online rack time (I have some workbooks of
theirs from my 1st attempt). They were great, they updated my workbooks to
a newer edition for free and gave me a voucher for one free rack rental. So
I took a one week vacation right before the LAB and did 8 hour mock-labs
everyday.
The day of LAB I felt in control and confident, but ran into one problem
that I spent 2 hours fixing whereas I should have spent 10 minutes on and
came back to later. That was my downfall. I did not pass, that was Feb.
10th. But instead of throwing in the towel I am determined to not give up
and even make up some of my own labs to practice my weak areas.
Sorry for the long post, but I know where you are coming from. My saving
grace was attending Narbik's bootcamp. He not only teaches what you need to
learn, but makes it exciting again (remember the first Cisco router you
logged into!). Also he can help you develop a plan for studying and let's
you attend for free as many times as you want after your initial week. My
advice is attend a bootcamp through someone -- doesn't have to be Narbik but
he is the only one I can share my experience with. This will not only help
your knowledge, but will rekindle the passion. This industry can burn you
out fast!
Good luck and keep us updated.
-Rick
On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 3:08 AM, dave dave <funccie@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Chap,
>
> I am doing my CCIE study since long but due to some personal &
> official responsibity i am unable to keep consistency in my study. I just
> wanted to know how you people can manage to get more than 1 CCIE with
> manging your own responsibility.
>
> My main consern is how you people keep your passion & moral going when you
> drop the study due to personal/official responsibility & then need to start
> it again. I am also lacking for good plan & statergy to achive my CCIE, if
> you can share your plan (blog/site) to be a CCIE that will help me lot.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Regards,
> Dave
>
>
> Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
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Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
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