Re: My story- CCIE #35355

Congratulation again Jay!!...really nice write up, thanks for contributing
to the group study with your input.

On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 12:07 AM, Sidney D'Souza <mail.sidney_at_gmail.com>wrote:

> WOW! I think this can easily be used as a training roadmap for anyone
> looking to pass their CCIE :) thanks for sharing. Glad I joined this study
> group.
>
> Regards,
> Sidney
>
> On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 7:42 AM, Jay McMickle <jay.mcmickle_at_yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Thanks:
> > I thank God.B This has been a dream of mine for 6 years, and he
> > solely helped me attain this! I donb t want to start a religion roll as
> we
> > are all from different parts of the word and have different religious
> > backgrounds.B However, give God a year of your faith and belief and see
> if
> > things donb t change!
> > Secondly, my wife and family for dealing with me.B
> > Itb s been a constant 2 years of knowing that I need to get home and
> lab.B
> > I
> > thank those that have helped me on the forums, and especially Narbik.B
> He
> > gave me a personal relationship through my training, and even hung out
> > with us
> > until the wee morning hours during bootcamps to chat with us about
> anything
> > and everything.B He really does care and it shows in his work.B
> Finally,
> > I
> > thank my employer.B Without their support, I would have had to quit my
> > job to
> > get this accomplished in 2 years.
> >
> > Materials used:
> > Global Knowledge CIERS1
> > bootcamp
> > CCBootcamp MPLS for CCIE candidates (taken at Cisco LIVE)
> > INE (video
> > only)
> > IPExpert Blended Learning Solution (Vol1 and 3 only, video on demand,
> > audio on demand)
> > CCBootcamp ALM bootcamp
> > Narbik CIERS1 (attended twice)
> > bootcamp, Advanced workbook, bootcamp 4.0 workbook
> > B
> > Hardware used:
> > I was
> > using 2800/3800/3560b s hardware cabled for each vendor.
> > B
> > Products that
> > didnb t work:
> > CCBootcamp workbooks- I attended a CCB in September 2011.B The
> > instructor (Rahim) was great and very knowledgeable.B I attended a
> > bootcamp,
> > but quickly cancelled on day 2 due to the workbooks alone.B There were
> so
> > many typos, that even the instructor had to work through the workbooks to
> > find
> > that it mentions the wrong routers as part of the restrictions.B This
> > made me
> > start to doubt myself- not a good way to learn!B Ib m sure the owner
> will
> > come after me again for this posting, however, he did not follow up on
> his
> > promise to rectify the situation (by receiving a beta version of the new
> > workbooks) and Ib m advising students away from your products as I said I
> > would.B I have a few more examples of the bad business practices, but I
> > will
> > spare you those details.B WORST WORKBOOKS EVER!
> > B
> > Dates:
> > - April 30, 2010-
> > Passed CCIE R&S Written
> > B
> > - May 3, 2010- Global Knowledge Bootcamp, CIERS1
> > (San Jose, California)
> > B
> > - July 2010- Passed CCIE Security written (Free test
> > at Cisco LIVE)
> > B
> > - July 2010-Dec. 2011
> > I was averaging 15 hours a week of
> > rack time over 4-5 days a week.B
> > B
> > - June 2011
> > I attended Narbikb s CIERS1
> > bootcamp.B WHOA.B Thatb s a lot to take in, but amazing training.B The
> > man
> > is a walking IOS dictionary and can rattle off 7 levels deep of IOS
> > commands.B I learned his theory (not verbatim) that if you need a sh run
> > or
> > to use a b ?b , you arenb t ready for the lab.B I carried this with me
> > throughout my studies after that.B Narbik taught me to look at the
> > requirement or question, think about what technology is at hand, and if
> > itb s
> > a global, or interface command before starting in on a solution.B Great
> > advice!
> > B
> > - Nov, 2011
> > I attended Narbikb s CIERS1 bootcamp for the second
> > time. I was better prepared and did much better on my assessment labs.B
> I
> > felt close to ready, but Narbik informed me that I wasnb t ready.B Yet,
> I
> > still had to make my attempt at the Lab to qualify for the Lab Safe
> > program.
> > B
> > - Dec. 13, 2011
> > My first attempt at the CCIE R&S lab.B I got a 50% (avg)
> > on the config section, and an 18% on troubleshooting.B I didnb t expect
> to
> > pass, but I was forced (so to speak) to take the lab by the end of the
> > year to
> > qualify for the b Lab Safeb program (free second attempt).
> >
> > - Dec. 15- 2011
> > Kicked my labbing into high gear, and focused on the technologies I
> didnb t
> > know well.B These were mainly IP Services.
> > B
> > - Dec. 20, 2011-March 20, 2012
> > Stepped up my lab times to 25 hours a week.B My method was this- Run
> > through
> > IPX VOL1 for the technologies I saw that I didnb t know well.B This was
> > about 12 topics.B Run through IPX VOL3 Mock labs very slowly.B In
> fact, I
> > sometimes took 16-20 hours for a Mock lab because I was looking them up
> on
> > the
> > DOCCD, and playing with different options to actually break the solution
> > and
> > finding a second solution as an alternative.B This was a key building
> > block
> > for me.B I want through Narbikb s Adv. workbooks and Bootcamp 4.0
> > workbooks.B I especially liked Narbikb s workbooks for the reason for
> the
> > solution.B If I didnb t know something in-depth, Narbikb s workbooks
> were
> > my direct solution.B All of the vendors workbooks were still weak in IP
> > Services, especially EEM an OER.B I know that Narbik, and Ib m sure the
> > other vendors will as well, have updates to their workbooks as this has
> > been
> > mentioned time and time again.B I believe Brain with INE has
> > committed to releasing something soon.
> > B
> > - March 20-April 30, 2012
> > Kicked my
> > labbing into high gear.B My job allowed me to work from home, so I was
> > averaging 30 hours a week (7 days a week) without any days off from
> > labbing.B
> > Those last 5 weeks were rough!B I was staying up late at night, drinking
> > Monster energy drinks, and chasing them with Red Bull energy drinks!B Up
> > until midnight/1am, and getting up at 6am, taking my girls to school,
> > going to
> > the gym, and then heading back to the house to lab/work.B The last week
> > before my lab, I actually took a week of vacation and turned off my email
> > and
> > didnb t answer my work phone except at breaks.
> > B
> > - May 1, 2012
> > Passed CCIE
> > R&S Lab in San Jose!B Although they say to stop labbing and relax your
> > mind,
> > I don't work like that.B I labbed until midnight the night before the
> lab
> > in
> > my hotel, and labbed for an hour that morning.B This is partially
> becuase
> > my
> > mind was conditioned to do that (lab late), and I wanted my mind alert
> and
> > fingers ready that morning for the lab.B I didn't feel it was proper to
> > show
> > up and not have the mentality for the wording of the lab.B *NOTE* You
> > could
> > have cut the tension with a knife in the waiting area prior to the lab at
> > Cisco's San Jose's office.B I couldn't help but crack jokes!B Probably
> my
> > way of dealing with nervous situations.B Also, it took 10 hours for my
> > email
> > that I passed!B AHHHHH!B Why was it that when I failed I knew in 2
> > hours?B
> > Needless to say, I got zero sleep that night!
> >
> > *My tips to success*
> > When you
> > lab up, take your time to learn a technology.B When you learn it, go to
> a
> > different vendor and work their technology based labs.B Go through them,
> > fix
> > it, and break it.B Get fancy with it and find another way to do it
> > (because
> > there is always another way and you might get a restriction that will
> throw
> > you for a loop).
> > B
> > Preferred vendors (there is no single vendor), and why-
> > Narbik-Workbooks are in different degrees of difficulty, they build upon
> > each
> > other, and have a VERY detailed explaination to learn from.B After
> paying
> > for
> > his bootcamp and attending, you can re-take the bootcamps if seats are
> > available for free.B With the amount of information delivered, I highly
> > recommend taking it at least twice!
> > B
> > IPExpert- VERY hard, right out of the
> > box!B But, their BLS has videob s that help understand how, but not
> why.B
> > Itb s up to you to learn the technology prior to working their labs.B
> The
> > VOD is a b death by slideshowb that didnb t help me at all.B I did
> > thoroughly enjoy their video on demand.B I have a lengthy drive to work
> > each
> > day, and these came in handy to some extent.B But, once I found myself
> > solid
> > on a technology, and I was done with Narbikb s workbooks, this is where I
> > went.B This is for the advanced student that feels they are ready, but
> in
> > my
> > opinion, not a learning tool.
> > B
> > INE- Their all access pass is great, and
> > offers you discounted rates on their CCIE workbooks.B Their videob s are
> > REALLY good.B For a lot of candidates, INE is a good choice as their
> > hardware
> > is 1800/2600 model routers and less of a financial impact.
> > B
> > Cisco 360- I
> > donb t care for the workbooks, but their assessment labs are good to get
> a
> > feel of the lab interface, and gives you an idea via a score of where you
> > are.B If you can score high on these labs, you will do good on the
> labs.B
> > But, I saw technologies on the lab that I did not get tested on within
> the
> > Assessment labs.
> > B
> > I hope this helps you.B Now, onto CCIE Security!B
> > Re-cabling my racks now for IPExpert and Narbik's layouts.B ;)B
> > B
> > God
> > Bless.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Jay McMickle-B CCIE #35355
> >
> >
> > 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
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> Subscription information may be found at:
> http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html

Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
Received on Wed May 09 2012 - 00:27:59 ART