Its been a few months since I passed the CCIE Security exam.  Since then I have been working on Voice and R&S but jumping back and forth.  It’s not the study plan I would follow if I had things my way.  Alas, work, family, and study all have to come together in a fine balance for me to acomplish anything.  It took me 2 years and three attempts to pass the Security Lab. The reason it took me so long is because I wasn’t seriously studying for much of that time.  So when people ask me what plan I followed it’s a tough one to answer.  Once I put it all together and subtract the on-and-off periods I can however, see a distinct path.  So for those who are interested, let me share.

To begin with I was a CCSP prior to taking the Security written.  This, in my opinion, was the “core knowledge” understanding that you must have.  I used CCBootcamps CCIE Security Written Workbook to study for that.  Once I passed it was technology focused labs.  If I couldnt figure something out I went back to what I know of the core knowledge topics and reviewed/re-learned.  Then I would go back to the technology specific labs.  Once in a while I would throw in a mock lab just to smack myself in the face and prove how little I really knew.  When that started getting smoother I began doing multiple mock labs per week.

At this point I took a bootcamp with Jared at IPexpert.  I KNOW it pushed me over the edge.  After that I changed the way I studied because I was less than three months from taking the lab.  It was after the bootcamp that I eased up, rented rack time 24/7 all the way up to two days before my lab.  Now when I would do a full scale mock lab I would not start over every day.  I would work on as much as I wanted whenever I wanted and if I got bored I would go watch TV.  If I got frustrated I would go watch TV or go outside or something.  The point is I would remove myself from the labs.  When I felt guilty for not studying I would go back to it.

Two days before the lab exam I stopped working on the racks and spent the last two days just thinking about things, listening to some audio bootcamp material in areas where I felt weak, and I spent time with my kids and my wife.

Thats it.  There is no trick.  There is no Golden Rule, no “Best Practice” so-to-speak.  Here is what I say:  You know you.  Just study hard, let your mind absorb the information you are cramming it with and enjoy what you are learning.

I’m sure there is more….but I’m feeling guilty for not studying for a test I have to take.  Time to get back to that!