All - I want to thank IPexpert for their help and support during the last year. Amy and Vik are incredible instructors. They really want to form you into a true CCIE, not just someone who can pass the test. I am greatly indebted to the amount of work they put into the v3 materials that they offer. Way to go guys!
I also want to say a HUGE thanks to the IPexpert technical support guys: Drew LePla, Ryan Barnum, and Andrew "B" Shipton. You guys know how many times I sent after-hours support requests! Thank you for your help. A thanks to my buddy, Mike Down aka "Frank" - You sold me a good deal on the end-to-end package and provided plenty of sarcasm and customer service throughout my journey. Keep yer' stick on the ice, my friend. I also want to thank my study partners: Antonio McCarver, Roger Källberg, Jeff Cotter, Warren Heaviside, and the list goes on and on. I made some great friends on this journey. You know who you are. Let's keep in touch. I also wanted to shoot out a few thoughts while things were still fresh in my mind. Tip 1: You begin taking the lab the night before Make sure that you prepare yourself for the lab the night before. My wife told me to not have sugar or carbs because they can slow down your mental recall abilities. Don't eat heavy food. Try to avoid excess sugar and carbs. Take a 30-45 minute walk the night before. This will help alleviate stress and provide "feel-good" endorphins that will help as you go to bed. The morning of the exam, do not have ANY sugar or carbs. For me, I went to Denny's and had eggs, bacon, and fruit. Protein is good for endurance and mental alertness. After having breakfast, I went for a 30 minute walk. I was super nervous going into the lab because it was my first attempt. I felt that the walk in the morning was a great stress reliever. When I went into the lab, I was riding high on those positive endorphins for the first hour. Tip 2: Don't waste your "free" meal at Cisco's cafeteria You get something like $13-14 to spend for lunch. Following my wife's advice, I avoided sugar and carbs. I had a big salad with tons of protein (chicken, bacon, eggs) and fruit. I was tempted by the fresh pizza, burgers, and fries, but managed to avoid them. When I returned to the lab, I was alert and not groggy in any way. Other guys picked up sugary drinks, chocolate, cookies, fries, etc. Don't make that mistake! You've invested a lot of time into your preparation, don't handicap yourself by being undisciplined and eating junk food for lunch. Tip 3: Keep a spreadsheet to track your study progress The CCIE lab requires a high level of personal dedication and perseverance. Use a spreadsheet to track your study time. Every Monday morning, I would determine the number of hours I would study that week, clearly define what IPexpert labs I would focus on, and what Cisco documents/concepts I would study. I would schedule my week and hold myself to it. Logging your time can be a great confidence-booster as well. By the time I went in to the take the test, I had logged 600 hours worth of rack time and another 350 hours worth of reading/reflection since January 1st. I was able to confidently tell myself, "Matthew, you know this! You've done this many, many times before." Tip 4: Get involved in online study lists like the OSL Gather people around you who will challenge you. IPexpert's online study list was a great way to meet other people and be challenged. If you come across a question, do your research, check the OSL archives, and then send an email out to the group if you're still stumped. Make an effort to be a contributor. Don't just ask questions, but answer them as well. I made a commitment early on to answer at least one email once a week. It was a great way to be stretched. I will write more on my blog over the next few weeks, but these were just a few tips that really helped me. You know, there's no shortcut to getting your CCIE. In the end, it takes a lot of hard work, sore muscles, awkward schedules, etc. The reason Voice IEs are so coveted in the marketplace is because there are so few of them. Not many people are willing to make the sacrifice in order to get the prize. Commit yourself to the goal, throw yourself into your study plan, and "get 'er done!" Thanks, Matthew Berry ciscovoiceg...@gmail.com http://ciscovoiceguru.com
_______________________________________________ For more information regarding industry leading CCIE Lab training, please visit www.ipexpert.com
