Thread by @davidsamuelps

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How IT started vs. How IT is going.

#CiscoITProDayContest #CCNA #CCNP #CCIE

This will be a long story, bear with me🧶

https://twitter.com/LearningatCisco/status/1440350800060956686

There are not many pictures of me when everything started, I was always tinkering with computers. Sadly, those times were not picture-heavy of even as media-prone as now.

A friend took that picture, I was taking apart components from a motherboard, and she took it from behind.

How did it start? I was the typical IT geek touching and breaking things. I broke and repaired my own computer more times than I could count, and every time I was learning something new. Some I should *not* do😅

I enjoyed doing this and did it for free for my friends.

When I turned 16, I wanted to find a job (this was a hobby for me). Sadly, I was not able to work anywhere as a teenager, only in a handful of places, like McDonald's. I tried my luck there, and after some months I felt miserable. It was exhausting and mostly physical work.

I was disappointed at my first working experience, and left McDonald's. While discussing with some friends several of them told me something along the lines of: "why don't you charge for what you do for free? You are good at it" - imagine my surprise, when I realized that I could

get paid for simply continuing my hobby. It started that way. There I was, 16 years old, and offering IT services to my friends, their acquaintances, and neighbors in my building. Over time I learned more, it wasn't only replacing components in computers, it was also about the

OS in those computers: installing programs and antivirus, cleaning temporary files, guiding senior people and teaching them how to use computers, check and reply emails, download files, and perform general maintenance. This continued growing over time, until I turned 18.

At that time, the amount of customers had grown considerably. I had to decided what to do now: continue as an individual, or aim higher. I went wild and decided to found my own company. For a 19 years old guy (when I finally founded it), this was huge! I attended several courses

for entrepreneurs. I learned how to do taxes and plenty of paperwork. Suddenly, I was ready to be the one-man company. To my luck, all my customers loved the idea. Some of them even referred me to their employers, as I was now coming as a company, not an individual. Customer base

continued growing. And of course, while I was implementing new things, I was gaining more knowledge. My customers wanted more things: "could you install this router?" - "could you insta this switch?" - "what about cabling my small office?". It continued growing and growing!

I was fortunate enough to have mentors who taught me how to do these things (owners of other companies), and our capabilities (see how it changes to "us", a company) grew! We were doing joint efforts to deploy solutions with other friends who had other companies, and learning in

the process. It did not pass too much time before this became unsustainable for a single person. At that point, my friends were studying at the university. Several of my childhood friends were IT geeks too. I taught them all I knew and employed them. My childhood friends were my

first employees. It was a constant party. A bunch of youngsters would come from a company and do everything for you. For many customers' surprise, we were very capable. Things were going damn well! My friends graduated from the university, and I was their industrial tutor, and

you'd wonder: why? Well, their internship was in my company as well. They were employed part time, and then full time.

We were the funniest "company" of young IT geeks, it was almost a dream.

Sadly, as with every dream, you have to wake up at some point. Venezuela's crisis did

wake all of us up. The economy crisis went worse, and I had to close our doors, we would not able to cover some of the costs if the situation continued to get worse (and it did).

I decided to close the company and find a job for each one of us.

After some discussions, several of our customers took my friends in, as they were consulting them, they knew their network and infrastructure, no need to train them.

It was a good deal for them, and I could ensure they'd have a constant income guaranteed.

In my case, I found a job with a local partner as a consultant. It was time to be an employee (given the situation).

Parallel to all this: I saw an advertisement at the university, and a friend asked me to join him in a networking course. Some "Cisco" course in their academy.

Little I did know that I would have my first contact with real networking (not simple consumer routers at home or small offices) in a Cisco academy.

I was studying in the academy every Saturday from 8AM to 4PM. And guess what? I LOVED IT. I was fascinated by the green leds

and the cables, the science behind the infamous pings and tracerts from Windows. The mystery behind DNS and how the internet works. It was a discovery, it was an entire world before my eyes. I felt like Columbus!🤣 EVERY SATURDAY WAS A NEW EXPERIENCE!

Out of the 4 modules that composed the #CCNA course, you'd get a discount voucher when passing 2 of them with good grades. I got a 99% and my first discount voucher. 65% discount in the CCENT exam! During those times the CCNA exam was divided in two parts: ICND1 and ICND2.

Once you pass the ICND1 exam, you'd get a CCENT certification. It was half CCNA.

I went straight ahead and booked the exam. Guess who nailed the exam? I was over the moon! I was certified even before finishing the entire course! The excitement, the pride, the happiness, and the

posterior realization that there was much more ahead, were invigorating, almost intoxicating. I made it! But also, there was so much to go. I was more excited than ever (who wouldn't?).

I continued the remaining modules of the CCNA course, and once again, after finishing the

second half, I got the second discount voucher. The ICND2 exam was within my reach. I could become the dreaded CCNA who everybody so much spoke about. At those times, a CCNA was quite an achievement, and whomever getting it was respected and valued.

I wanted to be more capable

and solve anything thrown at me. I set myself to take the ICND2 exam to achieve this.

After studying for weeks, reviewing and doing practice exams, I decided to schedule the exam. I had the fabulous discount, what could possible go wrong? It was cheaper! No fear! 😬

Possibly*

I couldn't sleep the night before the exam, I was scared (only one chance with the discount and not enough money to pay another exam that year), excited, confused, pressured, and happy. Isn't it confusing? Well, yeah. I was all over the place.

With more coffee in my veins than I should and a couple of hours of sleep, I went to the testing center.
Stopped by a kiosk and bought some chocolate before getting there. I had to keep myself up!😅

Once I started the exam, my nerves almost took over. I was terrified!

To my surprise, over time, I was going through the questions and they did not feel that difficult. I thought: "but wait, Iabbed this!", or "Ha! I see the gotcha here!". I kept feeling more and more confident while I was advancing through the questions.

YES! I PASSED!

I was finally that CCNA! That dude who could touch the sky with his hands. The mythical networking engineer who could solve problems and was so required by companies. I finally obtained my ticket to find a new job outside of the country, away from crisis and crime. Ticket to

a new life. Or that I thought.

I went running to my academy instructor to deliver the news. He was not even remotely surprised. He actually said: "now that you are a CCNA, are you down for teaching? I need an instructor". IMAGINE MY EXPRESSION!

My eyes were glistering and huge.

In the same academy where I was a student, where I discovered my love for networking, where I got captivated. I could be an instructor for THAT very academy. It was a dream!

The following months were about learning how to teach, about learning how listen before talking, how to

reformulate, how to describe topics on simple ways, how to come up with examples for everybody. And also, learning even more! I got so many questions from my students that I never thought, things I wasn't able to figure out easily. And there I was, learning to teach, and learning

to learn.

It was a wild ride, and I loved every second of it. Teaching is, along with networking, one of my passions. I love seeing people evolving and growing, reaching higher places, solving puzzles and learning, spreading their wings and flying away. You know, going at full

speed without the training wheels.

This happened in parallel with the consultancy job (I was teaching during Saturdays). Every week I had a new story to share with my students, a new funny thing I discovered in a customer's network. Something I learned, and wanted to pass it

to them.

Months passed and my first course of student graduates. And this occurred several times. After my 4th course, I had accumulated 2 more CCNA certifications (security and CCDA), and started to study for CCNP. My goal still was to find a job overseas.

I got into Cisco Learning Network looking for more knowledge. Unbeknownst to me, I was getting into something else. I found a family, a group of, albeit unknown, kind and knowledgeable people.

I had my first contact with the #CiscoVIP crew. People like @danieldibswe @dotonebit

@eeariass @Peter_Paluch and many others, who were a fabulous and tireless crew of supporters and enablers, like @citylifematt, @Rigo_Online @KarloBobiles or @brettlovins. All of them, unique human beings, and a massive source of kindness and support. Humanly and technically!

I continued studying and asking in the forums about the ROUTE and SWITCH exams. And I even asked about how to get a job overseas.

You wouldn't believe this, but somebody replied to me after I posted that question and gave me clear indications about how to do it.

He explained to me the process, the interviews, the visa, everything. All I had to do was to apply and get ready for the interviews. I only had to get the knowledge!

I worked on that for months. Studied even more, and started applied when I felt ready. Little I knew that I'd

be a marathon, not a sprint. There was so much to learn about interviews and networking!

I applied for months, always getting rejected. My total number of applications was 206, if I remember well. Most of them would reject me because of the visa process, it is lengthy.

Regardless of the rejections, I continue to apply. The same guy who gave me information about the companies, recommended me to apply for IBM Brno, in Czech Republic.

I applied, completely ready for another rejection. But no, I got an email weeks later: "CV shortlisted for

Interview". I couldn't believe it!

I got ready for the interview, was as honest and authentic as I could be. I said once: "I do not know, and I'll not make up some answer." And the guy was delighted. Never be afraid of saying you don't know something!

After weeks of bitting my nails, I got an email from recruitment. I GOT SELECTED, I GOT AN OFFER!

Imagine me jumping around, screaming and crying, laughing and not believing it, I MADE IT.

How did it happen? Study, discipline, curiosity, and CLN! (I bet the last was a surprise)

I got knowledge, support, references, and all the motivation I could need, all from Cisco Learning Network!🤩

I did everything in my power to move to Czech Republic. That included selling everything I had and betting my future on a plane ticket. It was all or nothing.

Once I got to Brno, I was faced with my first job overseas. So many challenges and extremely well versed people in my team. I felt like the dumbest guy in the group.

This motivated me to study even more. Everyday was a new opportunity. And guess what? I still had CLN and it's

people. I kept studying and learning. I got my first CCNP (thanks to the support, teaching and mentoring I got in CLN). And the world was within my reach (or that I felt😅). The excitement was not from this world.

Time passed, and during late 2016 (December) I got an invitation

to join the #CiscoVIP crew. The same VIPs I had as idols, the same ones who inspired me, the same ones who answered my questions, the same ones I looked up so much!

I was living a dream, and I couldn't believe it. Wouldn't you feel the same? It was nuts! I didn't feel deserving.

They did teach me that we all have something to share, something others can learn, some support to provide. We all can help others, we all can make a difference.

I have been honoured for several years by CLN and continued to be a VIP. And of course, I continue to believe in

those ideals and ideas.

I've taken all chances and opportunities to help others as I could have. Webinars, forums, WebEx calls, blog posts, everything!

And guess what? It's been the most rewarding experience of my life. You certainly learn that, everything you give selfishly

will find its way back to you.

You only have to continue doing good, continue believing in yourself, continue pushing forward, and work your butt off like a beast. Effort will bring it's rewards.
In my case, it changed my life, it allowed me to change my and my family's future

and also gave me the possibility to join my idols, to meet them, to call them friends, and to keep learning from them.

At this point in my life, I'm still living my dream, I am still amazed at what IT and certifications allowed me to do, I'm still not ready to wake up.

One of my biggest achievements happened a little ago. I was sharing the stage with two huge personalities of the Cisco world. Daniel Dib and Peter Palúch. And we were talking about #SDWAN. Seeing my name next to theirs is still moving me, is still making me doubt I am awake.

My life changed dramatically, and all that was thanks to networking, IT, certifications, and discipline.

You can also change yours, you can also make a difference, you can also helped and be helped. YOU CAN DO IT.

If you read until here: thanks!😁