I have asked myself this questions over and over again since the last attempt, and the answer is: yes! I am ready this time!
I did a lot of mistakes after reviewing Internetwork Expert's vSeminar (recorded 10th Dec 2006) on various mistakes that I have done. The mistakes are in the preparation, not in the lab exam ;)
After attending that seminar, I was enlightened by various things:
This happens in my last preparation when all distractions are in place ... until 3 weeks before the exam
This time around, the distractions (should be) removed by today.
My last preparation, I just keep practicing. It turned out that even though I understand the reason of the 'answers', it is not properly stick in my brain (aka: I did not managed to learn the lesson).
I have known some topics in the blueprint just like the palm of my hands, yet I still practice it as though I don't know anything about it. Worse still, I practice it along with other topics that are my weak areas!
I am not saying this so all of you are going to subscribe to Internetwork Expert's workbook! It is just happen that I find Internetwork Expert's workbook is suitable for my pace, especially the Advanced Technology labs. Inside this advanced technology labs are where I could find all my burned questions and doubts answered. Will this be the same if I went through it directly without getting practices from the workbook? I don't think so.
I found out that the process that I must went through is yet another challenging and hard way to learn. Not many of my CCIE fellow could remind me on what is wrong, they even know that I could (and should???) pass from my last preparation. Is it out of luck??? Not at all. It is just a missing preparations in order to kick this CCIE number rolled into my hands ;)
Anyway, my payment is due by next week. Thus, it will start counting down 30 to 1 again right after I settle the payment.
This time, I am ready. This time, I will get the number!
CCIE 17[3-9][0-9][0-9] is still there. It is a matter of which number I'd like it to be ;)