Re: My story- CCIE #35355

Congrats Jay, all of your hard work and determination paid off. Well done.
On a side note I would like to state that Jay is one of the nicest guys
you'll ever meet, and if it wasn't for YOU I wouldn't have my number.
Thanks for everything my friend and I'm forever in your debt.
Anything you need just let me know.
Cheers mate.

Steve Di Bias
CCIE #32840

On Tue, May 8, 2012 at 8:42 PM, 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
>
>
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-- 
Thank you,
Steve Di Bias
CCIE #32840
Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net