Journey to the CISSP

I’ve started a new journey.

Actually, this journey was started when I attended a March 2020 CISSP bootcamp. They were clear during the bootcamp that in-and-of-itself, the bootcamp was not enough to get you a passing score on the CISSP exam.

But I was confident that if I gave myself a month I would be ready for the exam. I downloaded the flashcards, got a subscription to Boson, and started studying every day.

Until they cancelled my exam because of Covidia. Without an exam date, I had zero motivation to study.

So I did nothing for a month and a half because all the test sites around me were closed. Finally, I was able to schedule an exam an hour and a half away from me for June 12.

I just received an email yesterday (May 29), that they cancelled my exam again. Not 24 hours later they were bugging me to reschedule my exam. Honestly, I saw the “urgent reminder to reschedule” email before I even saw the cancelation email.

My first thought was ‘BACK OFF! If you hadn’ t canceled on me AGAIN I wouldn’t be in this situation.’ I get it. Covidia n stuff. There was a pandemic. But when you reopen testing areas because life is starting to get back to normal, and then cancel again cause you whoopsed by opening too soon, that, sir, is on you.

Anyways, I’m very motivated by dates. If I don’t have a date, I have a hard time studying.

But I think I found a technique that’s going to get me through this. And by this, I mean based on my expected travel and vacations (not the same things), it looks like I won’t be able to take the CISSP until after September 2020.

I’ve decided to document my journey to get through the CISSP. Ways I’m studying, stuff I’m doing to keep motivated.

First off, as of today, I’m no longer studying 2 hours a day. Ain’t nobody got time to do that daily for 4 to 5 months. So, I’m changing my schedule to do 1 practice exam every 2 weeks and then spending those two weeks studying all the questions I got wrong or otherwise didn’t feel confident on.

This is different than my 1 practice exam ever few days and then spending those few days studying my ass off.

It’s a more relaxed scheduled, but one that will be maintainable over the next 4 to 5 months.

This series is going to document that journey. Maybe something in here will help you study and pass your exam.

-John

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