My CCIE Journey

*phew* finally lab 7 is over. I must admit that was one of the toughest lab workbook ever.

The toughness is not because it bears the score 9 out of 10 difficulties, but ... I was occupied to prepare documentation, a very long, long, long documentation that involve the whole country's branches of one of my client. I hope it meets their requirements.

It was a chaotic two weeks preparing the docs, and finally it was submitted today (actually, yesterday close to midnight)

As the documentation draws closer to completion, I start seeing many possibilities to even extend the network to the highest potential. Am I being affected because of my CCIE study? Maybe, but seeing that the network is not at their peak performance, tickles me to scratch on some solution drafts. Oh no ... it is because of my study then :)

Lab 7 is now concluded. Lab 8 here I come !!!

As of tomorrow, the countdown to 90 days starting. This will prove my real stamina challenge.

This is what would happen:

• 90 - 60 days before exam
• Full month work and study
• Quick break on 1 weekend by month end
• 60 - 30 days before exam
• Full month work and study
• Quick break on a weekend by month end
• Start hitting real equipments whenever I have the opportunity. Scheduled: all 3 weekends (6x8-hours sessions)
• CCO drill down whenever I have no access to equipment/ simulator
• 30 days until 1 week before exam
• Freshed (supposed to be) and hitting back with full month work and study
• Intensive weekend visit to the real equipment (another set of 3-4x8-hour sessions
• Deeper CCO drill down for untouched areas
• Flight ticket, accomodation, etc -> the most important outside factor that determines my presence in the lab exam!

Sounds good? I don't need it to sounds good, I need to ensure I work it that way :)

Possible challenges:

• Client's plan on merging network, circa mid August - early October -> RED ALERT!!! Because I will be doing two weekends in preparing this
• Client's plan to transition the NOC monitoring to Singapore!!! Threat to my job? I don't care :) What I care is Client is happy while I am around and they are happy that the transition works smoothly.

Some of you might say "Hang on ... won't that cause me my job if the NOC transitioned to Singapore?". Since the initial engagement with this client, I am fully aware that my presence are purely temporary. I should pass whatever I know to the rest of the team member while ensuring that after I am no longer with them, all are well supported. The only agenda I would like to leave with this client is: give a good result to what they need

Another crazy things that I keep passing it around for many people is: I prefer to have short term contract than being paid for long term and I am going no where. I prefer to have a lot of growth and have fun while enjoying my work with various clients.

"It is worth for my client to only pay me for job that I really do, compared than 'make' them pay me for doing nothing but seeing that their systems are OK"

Finally, I managed to compose another version of schedule.

Would I be able to do it? Surprisingly, I am the follower of the 'better schedule, more efficient' philosophy.

When I was having dedicated study time (aka less employed), I dedicate the remaining of time for studyying my CCIE. Now, the story changed after 4 weeks in touch with a client. I *MUST* adjust the study time accordingly.

Another part of my study that I have to adjust is: more reading and navigation in UniverCD. I like UniverCD a lot for configuration guide. However, prior to studying the workbook, mostly I only access UniverCD for either curiosity or client's demand. So, it leads nowhere other than self knowledge and clint' configuration solution -> Thanks Cisco!!! :)

Since the starting of 'intimate encounter' with the workbook, I start to access UniverCD in more area and solutions that I seldom tought before. Another thank to UniverCD and the workbook.

... but ... I must admit that I can't follow the previously composed study schdule due to lack of free time. Thus, I am now studying in the best pace that I could do: do the lab, open UniverCD for unknown answer, compare it against the workbook solution, argue with myslf if the solution is not satisfactory, try to do the config in the lab, another argument with myself on the result, test the config result and move on to the next tasks/ lab. (Don't forget to save your config if it worked, and don't hesitate to reload your router if the config does not work - and don't save it if it is not working yet!!!)

Yep, the lab tasks that I supposed to do on my scheduled plan is now all over the place

Seems like I need to re-organize my self better in order to meet deadlines

Here are my deadlines at the moment:

• Network diagram of my client - due next week
• Family holiday preparation - on week 4 of Sep 2006
• This CCIE lab - 3 plus more months to go

Not much, but all of them seemed like chasing me like crazy

So, here is what I have planned in order to meet those schedule on time:

• Mondays: teach in the morning, client in the afternoon, quick break with dinner, CCIE study
• Tuesdays and Thursdays: teach in the morning, class preparation in the afternoon, quick break with dinner, CCIE study
• Wednesdays and Fridays: clients the whole day, quick break with dinner, CCIE study
• Saturday: longer rest in the morning, CCIE study in the rest of morning, family time in the afternoon, dinner, CCIE study
• Sunday: house cleaning in the morning, family time in the afternoon, dinner, CCIE study
• ... repeat from Mondays again ...

From the above schedule, I could pull out at least 20 hours of CCIE study per week ... and it's not enough!!!

But, just be honest to myself. The study part that I really need in preparing the CCIE lab are:

• Univercd navigation
• Proper interface and IOS command on router-by-router basis
• Calm and relax in doing the lab
• Concentrate on questions and solutions. If not clear: check with proctor
• ... one more: look for configuration hints from the lab paper/questions, currently configured router, etc.

Many people think it is not possible. For me: there is nothing impossible :)

I have many encounter in the past on that believe. Thus, with blessing and guide from Him, I believe I know where I am going.

Wow!!! Time really flies doesn't it???

Last time I blogged was 2-3 weeks ago!!! What happened in between???

Busy with clients, finding solutions, and ... lab every evening and any time that I could find the opportunity.

Next week, the real teaching load starts and less time on daytime that I could normally do acessing the 'lab' remotely

That means less time that I have to do labs, and I fall behind my own schedule. Oh nooo ... what had happened???

What I could do now is: have a good rest (man! I felt more tired compared than last time I writ on the blog), have a better time sensing: work, home, rest (a while), study, rest and back to work again. The only two places I always go are: home and work, two work places :)

So, if you feel scared to do CCIE, don't do it! :) Once you decided on it, go for it and it will follow you as you enjoy doing it

I must admit that maybe I haven't seen the end of the tunnel as yet, but I know where I am going in this tunnel.