Re: The story of CCIE#34420

Michael,

That is GR8, once again congratulations.

Gr8 job.

On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 5:16 AM, Michael Kiefer <mjkiefer_at_gmail.com> wrote:

> Narbik,
>
> I agree with you to a certain extent. In my case, it was more of a time
> management thing. Early on when I didn't have the speed and self
> confidence, I needed every minute they gave me. The last two attempts were
> different. I knew I had plenty of time during the config part. I could take
> time to plan my attack better, to spend 30 seconds verifying each task
> before moving on, etc.
>
> Another huge factor in keeping a cool head (or not!) in the exam is doing
> the checklist thing with the questions and points. I went to lunch (about
> two hours into config) knowing I had nearly half the points needed to pass
> the test. Again this is something that people probably floss over if they
> need every minute given to them.
>
> Michael
>
> CCIE#34420 (R&S)
>
> On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 6:55 PM, Narbik Kocharians <narbikk_at_gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Michael,
>>
>> I never doubted your success, it was just matter of time. Sometimes when
>> you know a lot, you over think the questions and i believe that this is
>> what happened to you. Congratulations and you deserved it. GOOD JOB MATE.
>>
>> So take few weeks off and start your second and third track, and i am
>> sure soon we will hear your success story again.
>>
>> Eman, he was the 8th one.
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 2:07 PM, Imran Ali <immrccie_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> He is a winner . He Never lost the rythem . Got the numbers he deserve.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 12:08 AM, CCIEAgent <ccieagent_at_verizon.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Imran,****
>>>
>>> >
>>> > I mean he was so happy the small animals were frightened by his cheers
>>> of
>>> > joy! I met Mike here in Wilmington where we both live when he was at
>>> > Narbik s boot camp sponsored by the CCIE Flyer. He is a very
>>> deserving guy
>>> > and exemplifies the best of the industry!****
>>>
>>> >
>>> > As for his studying habits I am certain he was much quieter with a
>>> little
>>> > bambino in the house.****
>>> >
>>> > ** **
>>> >
>>> > Congrats Mike!****
>>> >
>>> > ** **
>>> >
>>> > *From:* Imran Ali [mailto:immrccie_at_gmail.com]
>>> > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 01, 2012 3:55 PM
>>> > *To:* CCIEAgent
>>> > *Cc:* Michael Kiefer; Cisco certification
>>> > *Subject:* Re: The story of CCIE#34420****
>>> >
>>> > ** **
>>>
>>> >
>>> > are you referring to " celebration noice " or he use to study that much
>>> > loud ? ****
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > ****
>>> >
>>> > On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 8:52 PM, CCIEAgent <ccieagent_at_verizon.net>
>>> wrote:**
>>> > **
>>>
>>> >
>>> > Mike,
>>> > As your neighbor here in Wilmington I can now understand all that
>>> noise I
>>> > heard echoing through the trees was. CONGRATULATIONS! For your
>>> > information
>>> > Narbik has had 10 students pass in 12 days now and I expect to hear
>>> more
>>> > from those folks as well.
>>> >
>>> > Simply AWESOME dude!****
>>>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>> > From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On Behalf
>>> Of
>>> > Michael Kiefer
>>> > Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 12:25 PM
>>> > To: Cisco certification
>>> > Subject: The story of CCIE#34420
>>> >
>>> > I passed at RTP on Monday 1/30, after Cisco won 7 previous battles. I
>>> > started studying for the CCIE in July of 2008 (V3 was the test until
>>> > 10/09).
>>> > I didn't really take studying seriously until enrolled in Narbik's
>>> first
>>> > bootcamp in Wilmington, DE (my current town). It simply wasn't
>>> possible for
>>> > me to take a bootcamp elsewhere because my wife worked (and was
>>> pregnant)
>>> > and my daughter was 3 at the time. Her hands were very full!
>>> > I am eternally grateful for my wife's patience. She is a rockstar!! I
>>> would
>>> > have divorced myself long ago!
>>> >
>>> > I started with INE's product line first using dynamips and then moving
>>> up
>>> > to
>>> > the real hardware. I was and still am a hard core Linux user. I had
>>> about 6
>>> > years of experience as sysadmin on production boxes. INE's products are
>>> > great, but I was growing more and more frustrated with dynamips.
>>> >
>>> > I started with a clean slate the summer of 2010 with a new INE topology
>>> > based lab on real hardware
>>> >
>>> > Narbik taught me to look at things in their absolute simplest form. My
>>> > friend and mentor Dave Roehsler (CCIE#20502) did the same thing. Grab
>>> some
>>> > markers, a white board and work it out. Narbik's topology and
>>> workbooks can
>>> > almost be done entirely on Dynamips without any trouble, FB!!!
>>> >
>>> > I began sharpening the saw over and over again with Narbik's workbooks
>>> on
>>> > Dynamips. Any chance I got, I used them.
>>> >
>>> > I found myself knowing the material, but failing the tests. The last
>>> > failure
>>> > was 9/9/11 by one or two troubleshooting tickets. Revenge for that
>>> failure
>>> > would be cold and merciless! No comfort to the enemy, just pain,
>>> death, and
>>> > destruction!
>>> >
>>> > The time between the two tests was nothing but speed building and
>>> > reviewing.
>>> > Brian McGahan's new ATC v4.5 was out and it was great for keeping the
>>> > cobwebs out of my mind. I could burn through an INE Vol II TS section
>>> in 40
>>> > minutes or less by the week before the lab. The Vol II config labs were
>>> > toast in 4 hours.
>>> >
>>> > I managed to complete and pass the TS section with 30 minutes left in
>>> the
>>> > real lab. The config part was done with more than 2 hours left.
>>> >
>>> > All of my studies were self funded. In fact, I even left a full time
>>> > position with a local Gold partner who wanted my CCIE#, but didn't
>>> want to
>>> > fund my studies. I landed a very lucrative long term contract that
>>> provided
>>> > the resources to make it all happen.
>>> >
>>> > I put some video clips out on my Youtube channel: mjk2374. I don't have
>>> > much
>>> > content, but there are some good clips from RTP and a rack tour from my
>>> > basement. The proctor, David Blair, gave me permission to shoot the
>>> video
>>> > inside the lab.
>>> >
>>> > It was an honor and privilege to sign the wall of pain next to David
>>> > Roehsler's. Narbik's entry is there as well as a few other interesting
>>> > things like a husband and wife duo. It looks like Howard's son put
>>> Sponge
>>> > Bob on the bottom, too. I saw Brian McGahan's, but unfortunately didn't
>>> > capture it on video.
>>> >
>>> > My best advice to CCIE candidates is pretty much what Narbik says,"You
>>> are
>>> > ready when you can do the workbooks cover to cover with absolutely no
>>> > questions." Don't overestimate your own ability(like I did). Make sure
>>> you
>>> > are an expert when you walk through that door at Cisco. If you take the
>>> > psychological aspects of the test out, they don't have a leg to stand
>>> on.
>>> > Invest in yourself and absolutely never give up!
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Thanks!
>>> >
>>> > Michael Kiefer
>>> > CCIE# 34420 (R&S)
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________________________________
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>>> > http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html
>>> >
>>> >
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>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________________________________
>>> > Subscription information may be found at:
>>> > http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > ****
>>> >
>>> > ** **
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________________________________
>>> Subscription information may be found at:
>>> http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Narbik Kocharians
>> *CCSI#30832, CCIE# 12410 (R&S, SP, Security)
>> *www.MicronicsTraining.com* <http://www.micronicstraining.com/>
>> Sr. Technical Instructor
>> YES! We take Cisco Learning Credits!
>> Training & Remote Racks available
>>
>>
>

-- 
*Narbik Kocharians
*CCSI#30832, CCIE# 12410 (R&S, SP, Security)
*www.MicronicsTraining.com* <http://www.micronicstraining.com/>
Sr. Technical Instructor
YES! We take Cisco Learning Credits!
Training & Remote Racks available
Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net