your enthusiasm make my grandma want to try the CCIE certification

You look like a crazy scientist Keith. I am studying CCNA and feel tired of studying, so this is good inspiration. Thanks again!

Thanks Keith! These stories of your experiences go a long way in encouraging many of us. Honored to have you as a mentor.

Man such a great story Keith!! Also its great to put a face to your voice from all those tutorials I have watched. Also thanks for the signed hat and notebook you sent me for being a CBT Nuggets subscriber!

I'm going to have my CCNA exam tomorrow. And this gave me extra motivation to study more so I wont have any regrets if ever fail though I'm not looking forward to fail. Thanks for the motivtion Keith! UPDATE: I passed! Yay!

Have grown up watching your videos and they are amazing ..Even more amazing is your energy level after so many years in the industry..keep going Keith !!!!

You are awesome Keith! Happy to know you through CBT Nuggets and KZfaq

Great story! I got my CCNP back around that same time, so i remember all those legacy protocols i.e. token-ring, FDDI, SNA, X.25, IPX/SPX, DLSW, ETC. It was so much to know, not to mention all the different frame-types! When TCP/IP became the industry standard, i did my happy dance!

I've enjoyed living your experience, I'm now 2x CCNP (R&S, Sec) ,,,, on my way to studying CCIE Sec, Thank you for everything

This was so wonderful to watch. Your excitement is so energizing! I can't wait until I am on that end and get to tell people my story.

I absolutely love your style in your videos. You are so knowledgeable and easy to watch. Thanks for all you do.

Great story, awesome that you passed first attempt. I took the CCIE written portion last week and failed. Like you mentioned, it all comes down to preparedness. I obviously wasn't prepared as I should've been. I'm not giving up though. I'm not letting this test beat me, but a word to the wise for those who are planning to sit for the exam - know your stuff! I was told the exam has algorithms that feed on your weaknesses, meaning if you get a question wrong, it generates more similar questions trying to further trip you up.

Congrats on your achievements, thanks for sharing your story.

Keith keep going like this, I love watching this videos

Nice one keith. Thanks for sharing. Really such an encouragement :).

Keith, your closing remarks were especially inspirational. I continue to try to build skills both in music and technology. This year I have decided to celebrate the small wins. In 2022, I have sung in five operas and I completed four IT certifications so far (ITF+, Cloud Essentials+, Security+, LPI Linux Essentials). I take the ISC2 pilot entry level security exam tomorrow, and I plan to take Network+ and Python PCEP in the next few weeks. With certifications, at least I can pat myself on the back and point to verifiable accomplishments, milestones along the journey. The certification path can become very clear even when everything else seems to be a blur. But you are right. The greater your skills, the more that you can contribute to the world.

Thanks for sharing this Keith. I’m really enjoying all your videos. Keep it up 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Thanks Kieth for such inspirational video, really had a bad time last night with my SUP card replacement and IOS upgradation activity on cisco 4500 in production network and it failed due to license issue. Really got demotivated from last night but you have motivated me again. Thanks a lot,and would really like to hear from you, suggestions and guidance in future.

great videos!will love to hear more stories from you.

Thanks for sharing your journey Keith :)

Great inspiration. I learn a lot from you. I get my CCNA, CCNP, VCP mainly because of your tutorial videos. Thank you sir. I want to say you are changing many people's lives including me. I will see you in the next video.

Thank you Keith, for sharing this with us. I always like to hear people's first hand experiences with the CCIE Lab exam, since I'm planning on going for it myself and there's this huge air of mystery surrounding it. I feel like I can relate a lot to your story. This inspired me to go for it even more. Thanks again for sharing! I like the new Logo by the way. 👍

I have been learning so much from your CBT Nuggets CCNA and CCNP Series - Your explanation is awesome and love every single chapter you taught in the video. Now I have passed CCNP Route and I am learning more and more from your videos and other sources to attempt CCNP Switch & CCNP T-SHOOT within this year. Thanks for the great sharing of knowledge.

Keith I love the way you explain, my name is George Ugalde from COMPU-PAGE LLC in Miami Florida, and I learned a lot with your 55 videos of VMware 6.0 and also the 74 Videos of VMware 6.5 of CBT Nuggets, and now that I see this video of you I take the opportunity to congratulate you for that fantastic work

Great story and great advices like always Keith. You are a star

Love your story and hope it will help me and other peuple here to go ahead.

Hey Keith you’re one of the best Cisco instructors. Working on my CCIE and hope to get it in 2 years.

Working on getting my CCNA and I'll do my best to ensure that my foundation is solid. Thanks Keith!

Thanks for sharing it! Physically I have no peer friends to study with but thanks to the technology I have many awesome online trainers like you! What energy and enthusiasm!!!

Ah, back in the day... ;-) Token-Ring, DECNET, AppleTalk, SNA... before switching. The “study materials” was reading the entire IOS manual set from left to right, then trying them all. 2 shelves worth. You could order the whole set in print for free. The format in 1997 was still very close to what you describe. It was a solid 500 hours of intense studying and hands-on labs to prep, on top of doing it for a living. That upside-down serial cable was a good trick; it looked connected, but all kind of impossible signal combinations.

This video is one of the best I have ever seen on hits subject. It really helps to jumpstart the CCIE Certification process if you like to by pass the CCNA and CCNP certs !!!

Hey Keith, worst test taker in the world here. Your CBT Nuggets for sec+ was a godsend and I couldnt of done it without you. Passed with a 777, but I passed. On to CCNA next. Thanks man!

Thanks for the video Keith. Loved it.

You are them man...your way of teaching is incredible!

This was a great vid man...thanks for sharing.

Definitely motivational. These facts helped me in achieving my number in 2013 (10 yrs post your security certification :-)). I always encourage people to know the technologies rather than just learn it for exam sake. If you are reading about vlans, try to configure it, know the value of it, master it. Also want to thank you for the mpls nuggets of ccip days which really helped me in my job, but I have never tried for any service provider exam.

I only worked layer 1 and some 2, studied a little CCNA, achieved CompTIA Network+ (no snickering, please), so couldn't appreciate this video as much as many others. Still, enough to be glad guys like you exist. And a reminder how much brain power goes into networking that hardly anyone is aware of. Looking forward to your other videos. On anything.

inspirational as always..😀 thanks Keith.

Thanks for this amazing story. It has encouraged to pursue my CCIE Security.

Thank you Keith, You just answered biggest question in my mind "Is certification is required??". As I am working in networking from past 3 years I have never asked whether I've certification or not. They just asked me questions and concepts in interview and i can say i have knowledge up to CCNP level so i answered all correctly, Hence it was very confusing for me that why we need certification. Your video and those last lines answered a 3 year long question. Thanks again I've learned a lot from you. Keep rocking!!!!!

awesome stuff Keith

Thanks Keith. Absolutely great video!! It's definitely been informative....and you are welcome ;-)

Thank you for sharing this story Keith! I really enjoyed the video!

thank you so much for this video Sir...seriously this is very inspirational for me to go for CCNA & NP & for CCIE.

I passed my ccna last week. Im starting my ccnp enterprise this week. Thank you for being such a great teacher.

Keith is one of the top network resources available. I was fortunate to attend Keith's CCIE Security course and passed lab on first attempt.

Do not memorize, learn to know it sensational motivation. Thanks, Keith.

Welcome back, I am fun of you and Jeremy (Back in the day).. :-)

Thanks for sharing your experience it was awesome

Thanks, so much for sharing your story. It thought it is very helpful for me..

This was an awesome video. Thank you for taking out time to bring this video to us. I am learning a lot of things currently being a cloud engineer, AWS, Linux, Python :P . However no matter what job role you are in, in an IT Infra sector, networking is like at the core of it and one gets a strong feeling oh I wish I knew about this. Which is why I want to do at least the basic certification of CCNA but not sure how to make time for it with job and other courses I am studying, but stories like these keeps the motivation up to keep learning :)

Great Video Keith, I did yesterday my SP written, I didn't pass but I continue studying, I realized I need to learn more about some subjects.

Very inspiring, Thank you Keith for sharing your experience

Highly Informative, Thanks.

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

What a great story! Currently deep in CCNP learning to know it:)

:) So thrilling story. Hey keith, would you mind having a Q&A?? In general??

Man if only weezer could play again at cisco live this year! BTW going for my second attempt at CCIE security next month, wish me luck! Very inspirational video

damn bro, i needed to hear this. CCNP encor is booked for a week from now, i've done nothing but study for the last 3 months even while working. Wish me luck, going through some of your multicast material from CBTnugs to fill in some gaps. Thanks chief!

Very inspiring! Thank you!

Great story. Thanks for sharing!

Nice story bro! Very inspirational

Great words Kieth. Finding an edu system that tolerates moments of less clarity is very hard to come by👍 but this is where the extra mile is provided by personal drive.. do you want it? A question I ask myself frequently. Have been up through the CCNP route am now specialising in Cyber and attempting a Masters Degree at 58 years and post full military career, problem solving is still high on the interests list. Thanks Kieth for the years of motivation and simple learning techniques👍👍

You are my inspiration Keith.Was almost giving up on my Cisco journey

Great story, Keith!

Great story , thanks Keith after listening to you , i have decided iam going for CCIE EI

Kieth is the GOAT

thank you for sharing ! very inspiring :)

I'm not following you ..or I was not following before I watch this video, I think youtube is using some advanced AI and decided that this exactly the sort of inspiration I need, Instantly and a huge fan. Can't thank you enough

I am currently on the path to getting my first CCIE, Route switch. Been studying every single day from 3pm till 10pm for the last two months. I still have a long way to go (expecting about another 6 to 8 months of study and labbing) but I already realized how much sharper I am. At work (I'm a project delivery engineer at a Cisco Partner) I've already pointed out some design flaws in a customers network that I previously was oblivious to. And not only did I realize the flaw I was able to intelligently explain why the flaw is a flaw.

Your grndkids will be the happiest...you are a very good story-teller..that is also a skill

Damnit man you have convinced me to go for it. I was happy to stop at NP, i should have not clicked.

Awesome story... Hard work pays off 👍

Wow, I have been following you since 2012 for CCNA, CCNA Sec videos. Man you look different now, you're like an ultra marathon runner.

Love your videos. BTW, you look like a good/nice version of Rick from Rick&Morti cartoon.

I definitely wanna thank the person who told you that you can be a teacher. If it wasn't for that guy/gal you would've never get into the instructing world. I am more than happy to be one of your audiences cause your elaboration skills are more than amazing.

Thanks so much Keith..

That spinning thing on the table behind you is mesmerizing. Anyway, great video.

Learning to KNOW vs learning to memorize long enough to pass the exam. Big difference and a lesson I learned the hard way. Studying for my IE RS now.

Thank you Keith

YOU'RE AWESOME MAN !!!

that was moving, thanks for sharing

thank you for sharing sr.

Thanks for sharing... Excellent video.

You overcoming your failures confirms my belief that your are a true network god. Not only that, your story has motivated me to continue my studies. Thank you Keith.

Keith you look fit man. great video again :)

Love the sound effects! :-D

I loved the story!

Hahah Keith Looking younger... I like yo Tshirt.. By the Way CBT Nuggets have played a major role in my IT Career.. I have learned about Bitcoin thru CBTNuggets also..

you are the best @Keith Barker

Thank you so much for sharing

Great instructor ever !

I don't understand how does this guy does not age. I am looking at his videos for last 6 years and I thought he is like in his thirties. Just mind blowing. We need to know what is this guy eating !!!

Hope you have your own Training tutorial Services. I could watch you all day on different lessons in technologies . I can imaging you doing reviews on Tech, gadgets, mobiles and Games too.

Thank you Keith, once again a grate motivational and mentoring video. 22 min well spent. Wondering if you can touch base what career path a person should adopt after CCNP (R&S). Please if you can share your experience that would be grate.

love your energy. im going to get ccie next year...xD.

Thanks for sharing.

Hello Keith, a couple of years ago I decided to go for the CCIE R&S. But I was recently discouraged with the arrival of network programmability. Do you think it is still worth the effort and money for the CCIE R&S?? Thank you for your videos, you are the best

I got my CCNA about 3 month ago and my ccnp switch yesterday !! both in my first attempt. I am very Excited !!! I am hoping to increase further to CCIE. guys get encouraged. Failure is not an option!!!!

I had a friend (a triple CCIE) that one of his troubleshooting issues was an obscure KRON job that did a configuration change every few mins. I figured that out with minutes to spare. He was a newer CCIE. My brother is in the 8K range of numbers.