I need a help from everyone in the forum. I just want to know where everyone gets your motivations towards CCNP? I have been studying towards CCNP for a while now.. about a year or so.. but just cannot make myself study. With work and family, sometimes it is hard to find a time, but i think that is an excuse. Where do you guys find a time to study? and How do you do it? It seems like everyone in the forum is doing great and passing a test left and right...

Any advise.. will be greatly appreciated..

Thanks :-)

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My motivate is cisco reward program. But it has already expired.

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hello ClearSky,

focus! Don't look at all the stuff you have to do, it's a bit overpowering, look at the next little bit along the track.

It's like you have to eat an elephant and it looks like you'd never do it, but concentrate on one bite at a time and the job's done soon enough!

Set an easy target for study, maybe read for 30 minutes a day (actually you can't really take in much more that 45 minutes info at any one time!). Or read ten pages a day and you get through a book in 4 - 8 weeks.

Then there's a bit of revision, a few practice exams and you can take each real exam about three months apart (but it's no problem if it's four months, there's no pressure).

Once you start then you soon get into the habit, but you /have/ to start.

You're doing this to hopefully get a better job, more money, make it better for your family? They have to understand that you're going to spend some time apart for a few minutes a day, just a few hours a week.

The family is important, but right now not as important as your studies.

Regards
Peter

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Okay. Send me your address. In six months, if you are not a CCNP, I will come and kick your A**.

Does that help? HA!

I'm MOSTLY joking.

Honestly, most of us struggle with the same thing. With our busy lives, it makes it difficult to sit down and read a boring and dry Cisco book. I think you have to enjoy what you do and then force yourself to read the material.

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ClearSky,

I would suggest attending one of your Miami Cisco Users Group meetings and ask if they have study groups. http://miami.ciscouser.org/

When I attend the Dallas meetings I find that just mingling and being able understand their technical problems is quite motivational. Not to mention listening to the CCIE's and Cisco sales reps give their technical presentations.

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Hi,

this cisco user group sounds interesting, is it free? Do they have any in the UK?

It's a bugger of a way to commute to Florida!

Regards
Peter

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Thanks everyone. These positive feedbacks really help me out. I will try to get back to my goal.. it is true.. I just have to concentrate on accomplishing one thing at a time.

I will also check out the discussion group.

Thanks everyone.
Good luck to you guys!

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From peterd:

quote:

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It's like you have to eat an elephant and it looks like you'd never do it, but concentrate on one bite at a time and the job's done soon enough!

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Elephant Stew

1 small to medium size elephant
2 rabbits (optional)

Take one small elephant and cut into bite size chunks. This will take about a month to do. Then place meat into a large vat over an open fire with enough water to cover. Simmer until tender ( about 2 months). Making sure to add any seasoning and water to cover. Feeds a small crowd of 200. If you get any extra guests, you can throw in the two rabbits. Be careful here, because some people don't like hare in their stew.



On the serious side; my family is my motivation. I just look at the faces of my children and realize how much they depend on their dad. Not only is the certification helping me professionally and financially, but studying for the exams has had an additional benefit. Instead of watching tv all the time, my sons see me with my head in my books. Quite often they will grab a book and join me in reading at the table.

Reamer

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It's okay to talk to yourself, and even answer back. But if you say "huh?" to your own conversation, then you've got real problems!

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stew sounds good when is dinner

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Let The Games Begin!

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I look at myself as being the hungry lion and Cisco as the elephant - I have taken three bites out of the elephant. Sometime (when I get bogged down) that means the elephant is turning his head and is trying to bite me back - so I go into a zone (major focus) and I sink my teeth a little deeper.
Focus my friend - remove distractions, or get up and interact with the distractions and leave Cisco for a spell. Some once posted a while back that "you will eat drink and sleep Cisco" that is a true statement, just ask my girlfriend and kids. By the way, Reamer, my kids and girlfriend have started picking up by my example - study study study - it pays! T.V the vast wasteland is being phased out slowly but surly, is this progress or not. Thanks all for the advice
Ciao
chuckster

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