Re: Passed SP lab, 21yr old double CCIE!

Thanks for the tip, but I'm not studying all day. I also work at an
integrator and doing lot's of projects.
I already have quite some real world experience with building,
designing and configuring networks. (although never enough of course :-)
I make 60k euros, which is quite good in Holland for a 21yr old :-P
I could get more (around 65-70k) if I switched jobs, but I'm building
up a great experience with large scale projects with the employer I'm
currently at, so let's build up more experience first.

Regards,

Rick Mur
CCIE2 #21946 (R&S / SP)
CCNP, CCIP, JNCIA-ER, MCSE
rick_at_rickmur.com

On 25 mei 2009, at 17:23, Ozgur Ocal wrote:

> Rick Well done! You should be focused on getting hands on real world
> experience and making money now. Gaining your CCIE only shows that
> you are capable of learning (it is tough studying). I have a friend
> who has 5 univercity degree but only earning AUD60K a year. I have
> no univercity degree but have ccie earning AUD300K.
>
>
>
> S. O Ocal
> CCIE #13940
>
> > Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 10:50:37 +0000
> > Subject: Re: Passed SP lab, 21yr old double CCIE!
> > From: felixnkansah_at_gmail.com
> > To: rick_at_rickmur.com; ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
> >
> > Congrats Rick,
> >
> > I want to be like you when I grow up :-)
> > Felix
> > ccie r&s, security
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 9:57 AM, Rick Mur <rick_at_rickmur.com> wrote:
> >
> > > After about 2 months preparation for the Written and 4 months of
> > > preparation for the Lab I passed the CCIE Service Provider lab
> yesterday!!
> > > I took my lab in Brussels on the 19th. I was really scared and
> stressed the
> > > 2 days before. Slept very badly.
> > >
> > > During the exam I had a few things that didn't work right away,
> which
> > > caused my adrenaline level to get to a pretty high level :-P. I
> finished all
> > > tasks by lunch with just one skipped. After lunch I got that one
> fixed in 15
> > > mins, which shows that taking a break really works.
> > >
> > > The exam was very tough but fair. Much of the topics in the
> blueprint was
> > > in there and I really saw a difference with R&S. On my R&S lab
> most
> > > questions were really straightforward, looking for a specific
> feature. On my
> > > SP lab I got lot's of freedom in choosing things or the way I
> wanted it to
> > > work. I also had a few questions which requested thinking out-of-
> the-box.
> > > Something that is so obvious to configure, wasn't allowed or
> even possible
> > > in the IOS version, so I had to get around it.
> > >
> > > Wow it's amazing to be a double CCIE now at age 21 :-)
> > >
> > > Funny fact was that I had access to both the new documentation
> and the
> > > good-old UniverCD. Had a little advantage of that as well :-P
> > >
> > > Brussels was a fine location, much better than San Jose. Great
> 20" LCD
> > > widescreens, nice temperature, racks behind a glass wall.
> > >
> > > My preparation consisted of a couple of resources. I used all
> materials
> > > from both Internetwork Expert and IPexpert. They both have a few
> pros and
> > > cons.
> > >
> > > The INE Class-on-demand is not even a pearl, but a diamond! This
> was my
> > > greatest eye-opener in the working of a lot of the SP topics.
> It's also
> > > really focused on SP, so knowledge of IGP and BGP is required. I
> really had
> > > a good understanding of how and why the stuff works.
> > >
> > > INE workbook 1 is great for SP topics. IPexpert workbook 1 is
> good for all
> > > topics, but focus is a little less on SP topics and since I
> already have R&S
> > > I only needed the SP topics.
> > >
> > > IPexpert workbook 3 is something you don't want if you are a
> little
> > > further. The labs are good for an introduction, but they are
> really short
> > > and the video breakdowns give little extra information, besides
> entering the
> > > solutions guide answers. But I contacted IPexpert about that and
> their
> > > customer service is the best!! They took my arguments,
> acknowledged them and
> > > promised to improve the labs soon. A thank you to Mike for that!
> > >
> > > INE workbook 2 is reaaally good for both complex and less-
> complex labs.
> > > They are great for preparation and I really learned from them.
> The solutions
> > > guide is without any explanations, just the answers, but besides
> that it's
> > > great! The level of the labs is a little light. I would say a
> level 8 to 9
> > > is the real lab.
> > >
> > > IPexpert workbook 2 is such a fantastic workbook as well. If I
> can advice
> > > you to buy 1 workbook from them, it's this one! Those 5 full
> labs are so
> > > intense. Cover so much stuff in each lab. First time I got totally
> > > overwhelmed by it, some are definitely harder than the real lab.
> Don't do
> > > these labs if have some weak areas, since they'll beat the crap
> out of you
> > > :-P They are fantastic for lab preparation in the last month.
> > >
> > > End of April I was able to join the INE SP online bootcamp. This
> was great.
> > > I guess they should rename it to a mock-lab week. It was exactly
> what I
> > > needed to built confidence. I scored well on all 3 graded
> mocklabs and they
> > > cover great topics and really can be compared to the real lab.
> Brian McGahan
> > > has such a great way of explaining everything and his labs were
> fantastic.
> > > Again it proved the importance of doing a bootcamp, without it I
> wouldn't
> > > have been that confident about my level, but after those 5 days
> I really was
> > > ready to go for it!
> > >
> > > Wow I wanted to do a shorter story, but turned out not to be
> possible with
> > > so much to tell :-P
> > >
> > > Again I'm soo happy passing in first attempt for my SP lab and I
> think I'm
> > > the youngest double CCIE now on the planet.
> > >
> > > Next up are first some Cisco DataCenter exams, then JNCIS-ER/M
> and in a few
> > > months I'll start my CCIE Security track!
> > >
> > > Thanks to everyone here and special thanks to Mike from IPexert,
> Kady from
> > > INE and a huge thanks to Brian McGahan for his great CoD and
> bootcamp. Also
> > > Scott Morris for his great Wb2 labs from his previous employer ;-)
> > >
> > > Rick Mur
> > > CCIE2 #21946 (R&S / SP)
> > > JNCIA-ER, MCSE
> > > rick_at_rickmur.com
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> > >
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Received on Mon May 25 2009 - 17:47:33 ART