A look at the calendar shows me that I am 90 days away. A long time in some ways. Not much in others. With two Lab attempts behind me, I know all too well that ninety days is not much time.
On the other hand, I'm a lot more juiced than before. With the announced removal of some of the trivia, I'm finding my studies a bit easier in that I can talk to customers about what I am learning. QoS is relevant. The 3550 switches are relevant. I'm studying things I sell, things that will help my customers. No ATM LANE, no IGRP, no token ring, no IPX. These are things customers are throwing out the window. DLSW? Well there has to be SOMETHING in the Lab just to mess with you :-> The router IOS's have all been changed to something that supports the technologies I believe are being emphasized. I heard a rumor today that voice is worth a lot more points than it was last time through. Good. Counting on my fingers, I'm estimating that 60% of the next Lab I see will be this good clean difficult but relevant stuff. So I'm jazzed. I'm enjoying my reading. I'm digging in with yellow pen and a notebook for writing down things to test. I'm going to be saving the big labs - the NLI, the IP Expert - for special occasions. Maybe once a month for now. During the last two weeks I'll be doing nothing but labs. Right now I just want to test things, test ideas, get used to the commands, read the documentation ( something I didn't do enough of last time around ) The most difficult thing I am finding is keeping an even keel. It is far too easy for me to ride the peaks, then burn out, and have to fight my way back to concentrating on the task at hand. Keeping it even. That's the key. Go out each and every day, one day at a time, one task at a time, practicing the habits that make one successful. Over the years I have collected the good advice of people who have achieved their CCIE. Some of it is there on my web site. Some of it is on one of the computers around here, waiting for me to find the time to edit it and publish. One thing I do recall inferring from, but not seeing explicitly stated, in all that advice is keeping an even keel. Keeping up the routine. Going out there day after day, reading, thinking, practicing. Success is achieved one day at a time, one project at a time, one skill at a time. The Groupstudy Homilies will become a once a week format, probably on Sunday evening, after I've had a weekend of work, and can report more technical findings, more interesting conclusions. Time is catching up to me. So things will change. Still waters. Falling leaves. Clear sunsets. Goodnight, Everyone. -- www.chuckslongroad.info Want to start preparing for the CCIE Lab? Check out my recommended books and training materials. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=52651&t=52651 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
