CCIE Twins
Interview
CCIE Twins
In the pages of the CCIE Flyer you have read about CCIEs, Married CCIEs, CCIEs in 3rd world countries, CCIE ‘tudes, CCIEs who really weren’t CCIEs, heavy metal CCIEs, a CCIE who murdered his wife, the Lebanese queen of CCIEs, CCIE instructors, CCIEs in battle zones, Men in Black CCIEs, the first CCIE, CCIE hostages, CCIEs in Africa, CCIEs in Libya, CCIEs in Canada, CCIEs in Egypt, CCIEs at Tower Bridge, CCIEs in bikinis, CCIEs in Dubai, CCIEs in Greece, and CCIEs fighting in the ether. But I have never, ever, told you about CCIE Twins. (Really I checked I know you are going to try and make me out to be a liar but really I promise I have not written about the twins yet)
I have known twins in my life and the one thing I have always struggled with is how to tell them apart. These twins have figured it out, just look at their CCIE numbers! (Yup two different numbers 21032 and 23074) This helps me just fine since the numbers don’t lie. Issam and Maher were geeks in utero, obviously judging by the fact that they hold fifteen IT certifications between them. Barely old enough to shave the pair are an anomaly.
I suspect some form of genetic engineering or even cloning!
As part of my investigation I decided to ask this pair of CCIEs probing questions that might reveal the origins of this diabolical plot to control the genetic traits by a family obviously bent on monopolizing the IT industry in the Middle East.
Q: When did you first become aware that your family had genetically altered you to guarantee your futures in IT?
Issam A: Since age of seven, we were disassembling any electronic toys to figure out how it’s working and then reassembling correctly.
And at 1994 we purchased our first computer to figure out how we can play games on it as SEGA.
Maher A: Wasn’t my plans to work in IT field, I was dreaming in that time to become nerve and brain surgeon doctor and I was reading medical books and stories since I was 12 years old; but I realized that it will be so expensive to follow my dream and afford the expenses of over 10 years studying to be specialized doctor. I’ve started looking to IT after found that I can somehow achieve my dream but with machines.
Q: I have read many science fiction stories and seen countless SciFi movies so I am practiced in the ways of determining if human oddities are telling the truth. Can you tell?
Issam A: The human oddities are controlling our world behind the scenes.
Maher A: There are many theories about twins, as the twins can think about anything together and can feel the same feelings or even can ill together even they are apart; all these theories are wrong, the human being even has twin is separate entity and thinking differently.
But my aunt was watching a lot of SciFi movies and she has funny theory of that the twins are sharing unequally the brain with each other, one will have 70% and one 30% maximum, so till now I’m running experiments on my brother to figure out if he’s the luck dude obsessing the 70% part.
Q: As you were growing up were there certain experiments or supplements done to increase your IQs?
Issam A: We faced many difficulties in our life, many challenges and lot of ups after downs. We lost our father since we were 7-months old, so with these situations we decided to work together and help each other to face this world and by default the experienced IQ developed without intension.
Maher A: I don’t believe IQ can be developed by supplements, by studying 12 hours per day the IQ will be developed as result. And sure the experience of surviving will be counted also.
Q: Did you know at an early age that you were destined to collect more IT certifications than toys?
Issam A: What’s meaning of toys? Collecting certifications is not something you can control when working in this domain, it’s by default and without controlling you feel yourself in tunnel of collecting certifications to keep your name among the certified crowds.
Maher A: Routers and Switches are also toys. In addition, It’s race … collecting certifications are mandatory to keep your old certifications and to continue the career progress. And also sometimes it’s mandatory to achieve higher certifications to continue living and afford the life expenses especially after marriage.
Collecting certifications as collecting fortune, once you gained first million dollar will be looking to gain more and more.
There’s a famous quote: Two persons not gorged, whom seeking money and whom seeking learn.
Q: I actually have a theory that an alien abduction might have occurred in your family. Was it your mom or pop that was taken?
Issam A: I’m always thinking why the earth human being thinking that the aliens will abduct him and they are smarter than the earth man. We are already abducting aliens and running experiments on them. Human being is very evil, look what’s we are doing on our planet of destroying it and this leads to our doom… my imagination story will not end … By the way, do you believe on 12 December 2012?
Maher A: Dude! You are reading my mind in this, till now the symptoms not leading to the truth. Yup, I’m also watching X-Files on TV.
Q: Which one of you was the first to get an IT certification?
Issam A: We started together, but I achieved the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) before Maher, and then he followed me by achieving the same after few months.
Maher A: I wasn’t planning to achieve any IT certification, but once my brother passed I started looking to this achievement seriously and it was challenge.
Q: Since you have been genetically formulated to be CCIEs you found the lab to be a piece of cake I am sure. Did you both pass on the first try?
Issam A: I finished the exam in 5 hours at third try.
Maher A: In term of technology blueprint, the CCIE lab exam topics are not that difficult, the difficulty of CCIE exam is that the candidate facing many circumstances when studying, as from side to find time, purchase CCIE lab, save money for the exam expenses, save his/her job and the most difficult situation if married on top of all
Also I passed from my second attempt. And for truth, I gained the CCIE exam experience after failed because then I prepared from the beginning. And because we prepared by self-study and without attending any bootcamp, it’s very difficult to pass from the first attempt.
Q: Cloning was perfected using sheep, is that why you both have curly hair?
Issam A: Our hair not curly … it’s smooth because I’m showering it by Head & Shoulders,
Maher A: Interesting! From where you are imagine these questions? The human cloning still prohibited but Avatar not.
Q: As you prepared for the lab were their certain study or preparation materials you found to be more effective than others? What were these?
Issam A: Source of success for CCIE candidates, Internetwork Expert Books and Video Class-on-Demand Materials (www.ine.com)
Maher A: The CCIE lab preparing is difficult if the engineer hasn't extensive experience on Cisco IOS and Appliances, it will be not difficult for some engineers who are lucky of already experienced work on many enterprise and service provider class projects and working on pre-CCIE mode before even achieving it.
For CCIE R&S written and knowledge preparation, the TCP/IP V1 & V2 authored by Jeff Doyle and CCIE R&S book authored by Wendell Odom (now version 4 are available which including MPLS foundation) are amazing books and reference for preparation and CCIE knowledge; but for the CCIE practice exam, only Internetwork-Expert CCIE Class-On-Demand and WB1 & WB2 are needed to pass the lab with following the rule of practice-practice-practice before paying the 1400$ exam fee.
In alternative, if the candidate has no experience, he/she should study the CCNP for knowledge not just paper and to practice many intermediate scenarios then move to the advanced scenarios included in the Internetwork Expert or IPexpert Workbooks.
Q: During the many Star Wars prequels, we all learned that a day like this would come. When clones would get all the cool jobs and look good doing them. Is your family making plans to take over the world or did they stop with you?
Issam A: James Cameron is kid comparing to your imagination …
Maher A: Peace Dude, I knew from the beginning that you are Star Wars fan! Now we are planning for Avatar. Cloning became old fashion.
Q: Education is so important in the development of IT professionals. When did you start focusing on IT as a career? Did you have a mentor?
Issam A: From the beginning our teachers are mentors to us which are friends currently, till now we are still keeping the best friendship relations with our teachers and in many occasions helping them on some projects needs integration between systems and network engineering on the Service Provider levels.
Maher A: We started looking seriously to the IT career since 1995 and forward after Microsoft released the Windows 95. And yes I still admire and inspired by the best mentor who really has a big impact on our lives and careers, who lead us to this serious and profitable market, his name is Dr. Atef El-Debs (he’s also Cisco and security guru).
Q: Many people have been complaining about how hard the Lab has become. Do you have opinions about this?
Issam A: First try (I registered without exam attendance, just to re-certify my CCIE Written exam), second try (I was sick and left after 30 mins) and third try (I finished my exam in 5 hours).
Maher A: As I said previously, the CCIE exam is not difficult if the engineer has experience.
Yes right the lab exam became harder, but this is the pleasure of the challenge; if the exam is easy no one will be happy and proud when passing and no company will pay high salaries.
If asking anyone to accept the following equations, what will be the answer?
Hard Exam = Well salary paid
Easy Exam = Low salary paid
In all cases, all CCIE candidates are achieving the CCIE not because of the number; we are doing it for enhancing our salaries and securing our future.
Q: What advice would you give to others who are considering pursuit of CCIE certification?
Issam A: Focus, Read and Practice, Practice ……………….. Practice (1200 hours minimum to guarantee the passing core)
Maher A: Personal Advice- Think before navigating in any career, and always seek and decide to work only in career really love and don’t choose any career just for matter of gaining money; if you work in career you love, will be everyday practicing your hobby and not job with no limit of success.
If anyone can’t afford to fail many times and not looking to the CCIE as investment (mentally and monetary), I advice him/her to not even thinking about the CCIE .
Q: Has the journey to become CCIEs actually paid off for you?
Issam A: No, we paid all the expenses.
Maher A: Yes by the aliens.
Q: You are both working in different parts of the Middle east where? How has the economy affected you in these locations?
Issam A: Thanks God, currently working as a Networks Manager for Tier 4 & 3 Datacenters and the Internet Exchange Point (IXP) of Bahrain. The economy crisis affected on me and on everyone for sure. The problem when you are CCIE you can’t accept any salary and work in any company, so the freedom of selection is difficult in this period; hopefully after this crisis elapsing, the engineers will again have the freedom of choosing the best for them.
Maher A: Having job in this bad period of the economical crisis is really good chance. The economy crisis affected everywhere even direct or indirect. And as we know that some economies are weak and vulnerable for all affects even if just gossip.
And fortunately, the telecom and communication markets not affected as the other markets.
In Qatar, the market and economy somehow intact because the banking system is following the special banking rules and well managed; its small country has a lot of monetary resources as gas and oil.
Tomorrow or after, the crisis will end and the markets will continue on growing but with more maturity and slowly but steady steps; hopefully!
Q: Have you been competing with each other to gather the most certifications or is this part of the clone war you are waging against other IT professionals?
Issam A: Amazing question, yes we still competing each other and against other IT Professionals and be sure that this challenge will never end.
Maher A: Yes sure we are competing with each other just for always moving forward. But from my inside I always feel proud when my brother achieves success and many times driving him to competition state when he becomes calm. Currently both of us preparing for the dual CCIE status to achieve the CCIE Service Provider as it’s a good chance as we are currently working with Service Provider companies and involving in daily basis on advanced MPLS and routing; and after “Hopefully” passing the CCIE SP will start directly preparing for CCIE Security as I already studied it and most of my experience on information security “The best for last”
Q: Your resumes both read like travel logs. Which countries that you have worked in were your favorites and why?
Issam A: I’m really lucky that collected all this experience of having delivered innovative high-end network solutions in Germany, Guinea (Africa), Lebanon, UAE, Qatar, KSA, Syria and currently in Bahrain. In my journey I met my wife at Syria and my daughter born there. My best places are Lebanon and Abu Dhabi as well.
Maher A: It’s not easy to work on Cisco career without traveling a lot, and by my nature willing to travel but always my wife and daughter accompanying me. I believe on quote said by Jobran-Khalil-Jobran, where I found prosperity is my land.
My travel log is always in the Middle East, GCC and North Africa regions; but the most country I dream to live in it forever, is Qatar… because it’s very peaceful place and very nice people and has a lot of opportunities and planning someday to establish my own business in it.
Q: Where would you like to eventually settle down and raise a family?
Issam A: Settling down, now!!! We are still at the beginning; we are planning to have business in the near future at GCC and Lebanon as well.
Maher A: Not now, in Middle East the wives are taking care of the children and fathers working to raise the family in prosperity. When my children finish the university studies, and then will settle down.
Currently I feel still at the beginning of my career journey, all the elapsed period was only preparing my journey gadgets.
Q: Do you read the CCIE Flyer?
Issam A: The CCIE Flyer really acquired the fame and respect because taking care of the CCIEs around the world and always has something new posted.
Maher A: Really like the idea of the CCIE Flyer (CCIE Magazine and News!); when always reading it, I feel that you are well respecting the CCIEs around the globe. When I knew you at 2008 and read how you strove for surviving CCIE from company in Dubai hostage his CCIE number, I really felt so glad to have in the CCIE market a CCIE Agent really caring about us. You are more than recruitment expert, a distinguished person and not surprise why every CCIE respect and admire you.
Q: Do you like it?
Issam A: For sure, amazing website directed by the most respected and expert man in the world (Emmanuel Conde).
Maher A: Sure.