From: Bryan Stair (uptown.ccie@gmail.com)
Date: Sun Feb 22 2009 - 13:59:02 ARST
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bryan Stair <uptown.ccie@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Subject: Fwd: [NON Tech] Need Plan/Guidance/Motivation
To: dave dave <funccie@gmail.com>, ccielab-subscribe@groupstudy.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bryan Stair <uptown.ccie@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: [NON Tech] Need Plan/Guidance/Motivation
To: Rick Tyrell <rtyrell@gmail.com>
Dave,
You have to ask yourself why you are doing certain things. First you have to
determine what's important to you. It may not be the CCIE or is it? The
reason why I pose this question is very simple, people will do what comes
naturally to them. I tell people all the time that if your in this business
because of money or because you want bragging rights due to a certification
then you may want to take a second look. If you are naturally curious about
how things work and why then you stand a chance of succeeding.
I have maintained a gruelling schedule between life, work, and family but I
make it a priority to invest in my career, knowledge, and skill set. The
CCIE for me is more about the journey and how I faced the challenge more
than getting the correct answer. If I look at it that way I get more out of
the experience than just I knew the answer and that's what keeps me
motivated to continue. Over the years I have made my attempts and if I had
just the exam to concentrate on then I probably would have passed a long
time ago.
Here are some suggestions that may or may not help. When I reach a point
where I can't or don't want to continue I write down some very simple notes.
What is the real reason why I don't want to do it? What's in my way from
completing this goal? Am I tired, run down, overwhelmed, feeling
incompetent. Then once I understand that I can adjust and fix what's wrong.
Get some rest, take a break, do something totally unrelated to work and
technology. Generally the answers will come to me during this time. For me
writing down my feelings sounds corny but it has worked to get my past
whatever is blocking me. I simply have made room for new things to come in
(its a spiritual principle)
As it relates to the practice labs I take notes after each lab and I ask
myself questions with regards to my knowledge. What am I weak at? Why? How
to overcome the hurdle? Why didn't I do well on that practice lab? Thoughts
scattered, poor planning, too many outside distractions? Never took time to
understand the technology!! My problems usually stem from not enough rest.
Once I get the proper rest then I am back to the challenge.
Develop your own system of attacking and solving problems and it will follow
you for the rest of your days. Do you understand how you learn things? What
factors influence and make you sucessful? You have to find these things out
because if not there is no way you can juggle a schedule, study and maintain
your life.
Please view my notes as just a guideline. It is not an attempt to tell you
how smart I am or I have something you don't. I just have used this
challenge as a way to expand upon my knowledge and develop a system for
learning. Remember I have yet to complete but with some tenacity I will.....
I always do.....
This is the CCIE..the joy is in the journey. The CCIE is not the end its
just the beginning
Good Luck
On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 10:02 AM, Rick Tyrell <rtyrell@gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
> >
> > _______________________________________________________________________
> > Subscription information may be found at:
> > http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html
>
>
> Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
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