Re: The State of the CCIE Training Industry

CCNP material?

On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 8:50 AM, Dark Fiber <darkfiber08_at_gmail.com> wrote:

> I think the rumors of Brian Dennis and INE were GREATLY exaggerated...
>
> It would seem because of his post on their blog yesterday that he just has
> been tucked away working on material...
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 2:59 AM, Darby Weaver <ccie.weaver_at_gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Well here I go again.
>>
>> I just came back from Cisco Live 2009. Had a great time attended some
>> techtorials and breakout technical sessions. Met some awesome people.
>> Lots
>> of energy.
>>
>> Here's the State of the CCIE Union.
>>
>> It appears there is not enough to go around and pools of endless CCIE
>> Candidates are drying up (at least of the paying variety).
>>
>> It seems that the Cisco CCIE 360 Program was designed to retain the value
>> of
>> the program and it has its merits. However a lot of very respected
>> trainers
>> are joining the program for one or more reasons:
>>
>> 1. It is better (eye of the beholder).
>>
>> 2. It allows the trainers to accept Cisco Learning Credits (in a very very
>> tough market).
>>
>> 3. It is going to allow for a much improved product.
>>
>> Umm... That's a multiple choice question.
>>
>>
>> So if a lot of trainers are being "corraled" by Cisco into joining the
>> program as at least some have suggested (as in join us or die... well more
>> like join us or decertify) isn't this a little odd way to bring some of
>> the
>> best trainers in the industry into the Cisco CCIE 360 Program?
>>
>> I think so, but hey I'm not a trainer nor a CCIE as of yet and so it's not
>> really my concern.
>>
>> My concern is innovative and quality products.
>>
>> From what I gather I'm not sure this is going to happen from the Cisco
>> CCIE
>> 360 Program immediately or possibly anytime soon despite having some 30
>> highly experienced CCIE Trainers (some of whom are content developers).
>>
>> Let's see....
>>
>> There's a mean rumor going around that are only two main games left in
>> town: Cisco CCIE 360 Program and IPExpert. And IPExpert is diversifying
>> into other certifications...
>>
>> What? Only 2!!! What about InternetworkExpert?
>>
>> Apparently some think InternetworkExpert may be in dire straights (Truth
>> or
>> Dare) and since Brian Dennis may no longer be at the head of the table
>> (another rumor from an informed source) then InternetworkExpert as we know
>> it may not exist much longer and may not hold a top spot either for long.
>>
>> In any event the CCIE Training is venue is bleeding badly. Very badly.
>>
>>
>>
>> I saw a lot of stuff while in San Franscisco. I saw a little hustle and
>> jive. I saw fear. I saw anger. I saw despair. And out of it all I might
>> have seen a glint of opportunity but you'll have to shake me to see where
>> I
>> saw that aspect of the game.
>>
>>
>>
>> Here's the problem as I see it:
>>
>> 1. The economy. Well not quite true since in times likes these trainers
>> and education in general are safe bets... unless...
>>
>> 2. Every trainer sells and makes all their "intellectual property" full
>> available "electronically.
>>
>> 3. Ouch! I said it. Piracy and Sharing is about to be the death of the
>> program. Classes are still a go, but electronic revenues are getting hit
>> hard apparently and the biggest retailers are getting hit the hardest
>> (like
>> say... InternetworkExpert for example).
>>
>> 4. One CCIE Vendor/Trainer shared with me a very sad fact... Exactly 4
>> sales of a product in exactly 4 months. That's it guys. It is now that
>> bad
>> and LockLizard is not good enough to protect the family jewels.
>>
>>
>> But... but... Darby... I'm from a poor country and I cannot afford a
>> workbook a video on demand, or anything else... Yep I hear these all the
>> time. Ouch! Apparently you won't have to worry as soon there won't be
>> anyone left producing them and you will have to rely on Cisco Press and
>> the
>> Cisco CCO for your training. The CCIE Vendors/Trainers may soon be
>> extinct.
>>
>> The Golden Age of CCIE Training is almost waning entirely and may soon be
>> gone in the advent of several things:
>>
>> 1. Mass media - electronic media.
>>
>> 2. High download speeds - 30GB is downloadable quite quickly.
>>
>> 3. Rapidshare and others are the death of this industry - sorry it is
>> true.
>>
>> 4. Sell once and a team get together for a "Group-Buy" and Share many -
>> Unless they are waiting to get it for F-R-E-E... (see an example below).
>>
>> 5. Since everything "intellectually valuable" has been shared and
>> re-shared,
>> that leaves only classroom revenues and these dry up since many people
>> either cheat the exam itself or refuse to buy or take classes when this
>> stuff is readily available via video and instant download.
>>
>>
>> So the guys who started the thing with Video on Demand may be among the
>> first victims of their own success.
>>
>> Hell one copy sold to a country with no intellectual copyright law or no
>> regard for it, means one copy sold to exactly 1 billion souls (well not
>> quite - but you get the point - but you lose the buck!).
>>
>>
>> Here is an example taken this week from an underground forum:
>>
>> 1. Any one got the NMC BGP kindly share.
>>
>> 2. Please share it friends.
>> 3. yes men share it It is so important
>>
>> 4. Any update ??
>>
>> 5. need this, please share if you have or locate! BGP for me!
>>
>> 6. if many people are interested...we can buy it directly from
>> NMC....anyone
>> interested.....comes for $349...
>>
>> 7. JUST wait men , xxx offer them for free now. only contributors can get
>> them now and they will available for all after 4 weeks. hope one of the
>> contributors can share them before the month
>>
>> 8. no problem, we can wait 4 weeks
>>
>>
>>
>> See how that works. NMC will sell 1 copy for those 100 who want this
>> particular product and then it will sell no more.
>>
>> Done!
>>
>> And NMC/Cisco can protect it to their heart's content and it will still
>> get
>> raped and pillaged within 24 hours or less of the sale. It's like that.
>>
>>
>> So the era of our vendors supplying electronic copies of anything just
>> died.
>>
>> R.I.P. July 11th 2009.
>>
>> Unless some of them are still making some sort of profit - which is
>> dwindling fast.
>>
>> Even Cisco Press is in trouble since most books are available for free
>> mostly anywhere on the net.
>>
>>
>>
>> The big question on the underground today is: Where's Narbik's 2.0
>> Workbook?
>>
>>
>> Only 1 Trainer's labs/products have survived this: That German guy... who
>> trains in Denver.
>>
>>
>> Why?
>>
>>
>> Easy:
>>
>> Paper and Watermark. If he used the red paper then he'd be even one more
>> layer secure from this kind of thing.
>>
>>
>> However, he's pretty secure and his stuff is not everywhere. I think he
>> only takes cash or wire transfer aka cash. But he's not worried about his
>> stuff being pirated.
>>
>>
>> Some vendor's stuff is literally everywhere and trying to stop 30-40,000
>> determined techies is really tough for anyone or um... 20 times those
>> numbers.
>>
>>
>> Hey - Don't kill the messenger. I'm just telling you that with all the
>> E-CCIE available nowadays - class sizes are going to continue to shrink
>> even
>> though demand is growing out of control.
>>
>> It is exponential.
>>
>> The lab is changing right... now.
>>
>> It's the only hope you guys have of maintaining your career - or at least
>> your salary or profit margins.
>>
>>
>> Hey!!!
>>
>> 1 lab is worth $1000.00 per student or even $2,000.00 if it is not
>> available
>> for free.
>>
>> What can I tell you that I've not already said?
>>
>>
>> This may be the last year you really have an opportunity to save the
>> full-time career as a CCIE Trainer.
>>
>> Who knows?
>>
>>
>> Just letting you know how fast your brains are leaking all over the
>> Internet. Pretty fast actually.
>>
>>
>> By the time you've read this I can't tell you how many GB or even TB have
>> been downloaded.... Can you say lost revenues?
>>
>>
>> Honestly I even heard some producers of materials willing to sell the
>> stuff
>> for $20.00 a copy - imagine that - now if you pay $500 or $1000.00 for a
>> copy of a product and a vendor is in that tough a situation... Think
>> about
>> it. and then there is the CCIE 5x selling his own workbooks for $20-30.00
>> each on ebay.
>>
>> Ouch!
>>
>> It is really getting bad now guys.
>>
>>
>> A bright light come October 18th. The troubleshooting section of the
>> lab.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> You'd better change your ways and your strategies... use stone carvings if
>> you have to. It's your work or its not your work anymore - you choose.
>>
>>
>> Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>>
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Received on Sat Jul 11 2009 - 09:02:49 ART