STOP YOUR BELLY ACHING!

It’s time for my 1st rant in a couple of years. It’s been building up for a while now, so I am just going to let it all out. The year 2011 ended in the Cisco Certification world with the news that one company CCBOOTCAMP was no longer an authorized Cisco Learning Partner (CLP). What I think this means, is that they no longer accept Cisco learning credits, are not authorized to teach the CIERS curriculum and that the other perks that go along with this highly regarded honor are no longer available thru them. Another big news story in 2011, was that folks at Internetwork Expert cutback on their live training offerings, in what appears to be an effort to go virtual as much as possible. The loss to them of one of the best in the training business, Scott Morris seems like a significant reason for the change. Whatever the reason, where ever Scott goes, so does a significant amount of attention in CCIE R&S training. Scott is now a part of Nova Datacom a victory for Cisco authorized training. As the year 2011 started it also ended with the owner of IPExpert making headlines. It seems that this gray market training company owner was found face down in January of 2011 unconscious in the cold, and then in December was sentenced for an assault charge.

OH, THAT’S NOT THE NEWS HERE…

Seriously, why would I care about any of this or consider these things worth getting upset about? I mean who has time to document the bad behavior of CCIEs that have chosen to wear black hats in the training industry. When the news broke about the conviction of one of these guys, my real surprise, (and this should be yours as well), was how I found out. I am no gumshoe listening in on police band broadcasts or reviewing court dockets. It is not part of my routine to keep up with the criminal activities of CCIEs, heck I am the CCIE Agent and not on her majesty’s secret service. Though the title CCIE “Secret” Agent “007” does have its appeal, I have no time for a job change. (Heck I think I see the grim reaper looking over my shoulder sometimes while shaving.) But I digress; I was sent emails with links to these court histories and news story by a few people. These folks are people that have had their own run-ins with one another. These emails from INE, were obviously sent by people with axes to grind or a bone to pick. People that felt this very bad experience, even if deserved, was a way to get a leg up on a competitor.

If this behavior is not at least one reason to consider Cisco Learning Partners for training, then maybe you should ask around from trainers that have left their employ. Then you can decide on your own, not by looking only at a price tag, but by looking under the covers and you might find yourself sending a message, that their poor behavior is not appreciated.

I understand that the owner of IPE has tried to damage my reputation by taking professional swipes at me in emails to clients, and I should be mad. In fact I am mad, but I will not be used by the INE folks to do their dirty work. Why should I try to make the owner of IPE look bad? He is doing just fine on his own.

SHAME ON YOU ALL

This crap (I refuse to use the word s**t) got so bad that the news story about the police officer that saved a man’s life in January was commandeered by a few people in the industry, to air this dirty laundry about the IPE owner.

http://www.voicenews.com/articles/2011/04/05/news/doc4d934675f40b9673557907.txt

“Bishop's "Commendation for Service Above and Beyond the Normal Call of Duty" recognized him for his quick actions.

The six City Council members, Mayor Bill Cedar, City Attorney James Downey and City Clerk Janice Winn each shook hands with Bishop, thanking him for his efforts.”

Link and photo Courtesy of “The Voice”

This story about a police officer receiving a commendation was suddenly hijacked and became this string of rubbish (still trying not to say s**t).

Joe wrote on Dec 21, 2011 4:41 PM:
" Is this the same Wayne Lawson convicted and tried for assault with a deadly weapon sentenced on the 19th of this month?

Nathan wrote on Dec 22, 2011 7:44 AM:
" This is the owner of IPExpert and Platinum Placement Services. Sentenced for an Assault just a couple of months after the incident mentioned in January. He appears to have neglected to show his appreciation to Officer Bishop at all. "

Chris wrote on Dec 22, 2011 12:58 PM:
" "Commendation for Service Above and Beyond the Normal Call of Duty"

So, doing routine patrol is beyond the normal call of duty, now? "

Betsy wrote on Dec 22, 2011 1:56 PM:
" Wow, it seems from this guy's record in the courts, he has some serious substance abuse issues and mental issues. Several different alcohol related incidents, assaults and a protection order. I have a tough time reading these things, but, I hope he receives jail time. We don't need these dangerous people on our streets! "

Concerned Citizen wrote on Dec 22, 2011 5:51 PM:
" This is the third felony charge for Wayne A. Lawson II, which you can verify from public records. He should be put away for years because he is clearly a danger to society. Nobody with 3 felonies should be walking our streets, but he is as a result of powerful attorneys. Anyone else would be locked up right now. This makes me absolutely sick. "

Game Over Wayne wrote on Dec 22, 2011 6:35 PM:
" I know Wayne Lawson. He has four DUIs (Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol) and I am confirming for a fact that this is his 3rd felony. I don't even think he is allowed to see his own kids anymore. He is ruthless and horrible to his employees, and has been hit with several major lawsuits now - including sexual harassment. The truth needs to be known about this evil person, who is just rotten to the core. Can someone please post the link to this article on: www.OnlineStudyList.com, and www.GroupStudy.com so that the world knows who the real Wayne Lawson is. Having fun yet, Wayne? ;-) "

Matt Just wrote on Dec 22, 2011 10:40 PM:
" Im actually surprised how quick everyone is to judge Wayne. I know Wayne personally and as a business partner. Wayne is a good person and someone I am proud to call a good friend. Wayne as a business owner is a dedicated individual who appreciates and treats his employees with respect. Wayne is always willing to help those that are in need and is a father of two kids that he loves and talks about all the time. We are all human and make mistakes in our lives, mistakes that we regret and ask Jesus for forgiveness and receive. Being 3 days from the celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I am disappointed to see people on here passing judgement on someone they have no right to pass judgement on. Wayne, as your friend I'm sorry that people would say these type of things without knowing you as the good person you really are. "

Nathan wrote on Dec 23, 2011 9:51 AM:
" Matt Just don't invoke Christ's name when referring to this monster. Every person who has left his employ has been treated to slanderous activity intended to injure their reputations and careers. That alone is enough to disprove any assertion that he is a professional. Every one who is a competitor is treated to the same MO. He needs to take this time to reach out to us all and ask for our forgiveness and apologize as part of his Anger Management counseling. This is not even the tip of the iceberg in this monster's case. Wayne Lawson is an abusive person that has soiled the whole CCIE community. His threats against Cisco personnel have escalated to him threatening physical harm on several of them. His price fixing calls to his smaller competitors have included threats as well so he could keep training prices artificially high for years. He deserves to sleep in the bed he has made and I hope he comes out and realizes he has taken greed and soiled the entire CCIE community with it. He needs to fix what he has broken himself because you apparently do not know the Wayne Lawson we all know. I am happy for you if he has not beat you up yet or started telling people how stupid you are like he has been doing to Marko. Wayne Lawson is a person with the means to be a better person so why does he do this to us? So we can treat him better than he treats us? Don't evoke Christ's name in the same sentence with his. Tell him to be a Christian and repair the social damage he has done to us all! "

Eman wrote on Dec 23, 2011 12:48 PM:
" OK everyone calm down a bit please. Everyone that has posted so far is right. I have been a victim and endured backstabbing slanderous crap from Wayne as he even escalated the audience of those lies to the head of Cisco in emails I have been forwarded by friends there. Still though we should take this directly to Wayne and company to resolve. He is a jerk and when he was my friend he was trashing me along with the people that have left his employ. In life and business he is a monster but I am asking the person responsible for this forum to remove this stuff. As good as it might feel now it is really a sorry state of affairs. If the moderator would be so kind I request this feedback to be struck from your site. "

I did call, “The Voice” and spoke with the website editor and successfully had all this stuff (oh damn I really want to say s**t here to). Yes as I have noted earlier I have no love for this guy either but, damn (there I go again) was this really necessary? There once was a fraternity, a real caring community of CCIEs on this planet, geeks that changed the world. Remember? The internet, the LAN/WAN/MAN information unrestricted zooming around the globe to every mud shack and high rise on the planet. You guys did, and still do this history changing work. Why then do we see this nonsense (s**t) happening in this highly regarded network of IT professionals?

M O N E Y, SPELLS MONEY!

Spells trouble, if you ask me. What does it take to make so much money, that you can pay attorneys, buy airplanes, own boats, drive the top of the line automobiles and live like a king? M O N E Y, that’s what it takes. When do you take your CCIE certification from an investment in a passion, to a burden of earnings? Maybe a compass is needed to help the CCIEs that own these training companies, get back on the path their journeys originated on. All three of these companies were founded by people that sat in meetings together at the beginning of an historic launch by Cisco Systems, to help spread the knowledge, skills and honor of becoming Cisco Certified Instructors. Yes, once a whole bunch of folks like Narbik, Wayne, Brad, Brian, Bruce, Scott, and a bunch more CCIEs, all crowded into a few meetings to help get the IT industry’s best and brightest, certified. Really significant these events were, and I have no doubt that in the beginning it was not all about revenues, or putting each other out of business. This tremendous effort was started as a passion for mentoring others, and to increase the number of people that could preach the gospel according to Cisco. Yes there were egos in the room, I have heard the stories from these meetings told by several different people, but they still managed to emerge as a force in the IT industry like no other before. Real superstars who did manage to churn out many CCIEs from their mentoring and training efforts. Now over a dozen years later, we witness the hard economic times or maybe Karma creating havoc for these training companies. CCIEs already make good money here in the USA, where these companies and owners reside. Anyone of them can easily make over $175,000 per year without breaking a sweat. When did it become all about making 10X that? 100X that? All about, and only about the money!? M O N E Y!

s**t!

Oops, sorry, it just slipped out. This is completely and ridiculously wrong. Anyone running a company including me, we want to be successful and make a living. I pay the mortgage and feed the kids and I have a working wife. The amount of money I make is just fine, I do not need to put anyone out of business or beat anyone up, virtually or physically, to do this. Some will say this is s**t; that I have a vested interest, so speaking out is part of that interest. Well to each their opinion. I am not equipped with the tools to repel every attack or opinion and have survived them in the past just fine. I love what I do, so it makes the attacks on me easier to handle.

BEHAVE ALREADY

You don’t have to love each other, but you really don’t have to roll around in poo in the public eye either. Do you? Maybe 2012 can be a better year for us all, and at least we can be civil if not friends. My door is always open even to you, Wayne and Brad! Happy New Year!

No more s**t please!

Eman