NO PAIN, NO GAIN

If I am lacking motivation for my CCIE study I always watch following KILL BILL II. movie scene with PEI MEI

Do you think is there any relation between that scene and CCIE (or other) study??? I think yes – Uma Thurman wants master kung-fu as I want master networking knowledge. She needs to work very, very hard to get to the top level as I need to work very, very hard to get my CCIE.
During her “bootcamp” :))) with PEI MEI she suffers a lot but thanks this she gets excellent kung-fu skills (and later it will save her life). You probably know great poverb NO PAIN, NO GAIN and its true if you want to get to an expert level (and It doesnt matter if its football, dancing, surgery ot networking). Some people are talented but they still need work hard to get expert level… I dont think Iam extra talented for networking so need to work much more harder…but back to the movie

I love the dialogue when Uma first time comes to PEI MEI… So I changed little bit that dialogue .. Imagine CCIE candidate is Uma and CCIE proctor is PEI MEI

(NOTE: I know CCIE proctors are very nice persons – but in following conversation CCIE proctor represents difficulty of the exam)

Proctor: Your master told me you’re not entirely unschooled. What training do you possess?
CCIE candidate: I am proficient in DMVPN. And I am more than proficient in firewalling
Proctor: Don’t make me laugh. Your anger amuses me. Do you believe you are my match?
CCIE candidate: No.
Proctor:Is it your wish to fail the lab?
CCIE candidate: No.
Proctor: You breathe hard. Is there anything you do well? — Oh yes, you know firewalling. Go to that rack.
Proctor: Plug the console cable… Let’s see how good you really are. Configure firewall ASA to allow BGP traffic with NAT
Proctor: Your ability really is quite poor.
Proctor: Give up? Or care to try again? Your configuration skill is amateur at best
Proctor: I asked you to show me what you know, and you did. Not a goddamn thing.
…
….

It always helps me to realize that only hard work leads to the success, there are no shortcuts….. I have just started my CCIE security preparation but i know i need to sacrifice my personal and social life..