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IN TODAYS EMAIL:

• AI and Midlevel Engineers: Zuckerberg’s Big Plan

• Certification Prep 101: My Plan to Pass the CCNP Encore Exam

• Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self Control

• That Thing: Help Desk or Data Center Technician

THE GROUP CHAT :

AI AND MIDLEVEL ENGINEERS?

Zuckerberg’s BIG Plan?

Recently, Mark Zuckerberg appeared on the Joe Rogan Podcast.

During the podcast, Mark shared that Meta was planning to use AI to replace some mid-level engineers who weren’t meeting expectations. In my opinion, this was also a message to all engineers to step up their game.

Zuckerberg went on to say that 2025 would be an "intense year" requiring the "strongest talent."

I've always heard that working for startups or large tech companies is tough. I can only imagine the pressure of being a software engineer at Meta. These companies have a lot on their plates, especially with the need to make earnings and satisfy shareholders. For most publicly traded companies, earnings are reported quarterly—four times a year.

This is typically when I notice changes within companies, like layoffs or restructuring.

In a way, it reminds me of sports teams. Replace software engineers with pro athletes, and the dynamic feels similar. (Stay with me here!)

Mark mentioned they are "looking for the strongest talent" and letting go of those who "don’t meet expectations." This mirrors how pro sports teams draft players and release them if they don’t perform.

So, are software engineers the new athletes?

What are your thoughts?

Read the full article here.

ADVICE AND TIPS:

Certification Prep 101

My Plan to Pass the CCNP Encore Exam

When starting down a certification path, the hardest part is often deciding what to study and which resources to use. This week, I’m taking the CCNP ENCOR exam on the 22nd, and honestly, I’m pretty sure I’ll fail because I haven’t made it through all the material. Plus, life happens, and things don’t always go as planned.

This time around, I tried following a plan I found online to speed up the process, but as we can see, that didn’t work out.

After I get my results on Wednesday, I’m going to hit the reset button and go back to basics—the same approach that helped me pass the CCNA. Here’s my original plan, which I’m returning to, along with the resources I’ll be using:

My Study Resources:

• Exam Topics

• CCNP and CCIE Enterprise Core Official Cert Guide (OCG)

• CBT Nuggets Video Course

• Boson Exam Sim and Net Sim

Plan of Action:

This might seem like overkill, but it works for me and helps me retain what I’m studying. Here’s the process I’ll follow:

1. Videos First:
   I’ll start with CBT Nuggets videos on a specific exam topic. After watching the videos, I’ll read the corresponding module in the OCG book. Depending on the topic, this may take a day or two if I’m studying an hour a day.

2. Flashcards:
   I’ll create flashcards using either traditional methods or the Anki app. To make these, I’ll use the questions from the OCG book at the beginning of each chapter.

3. Labs and Flashcard Review:
   After reviewing the flashcards, I’ll complete any labs related to the module I just studied.

4. Practice Tests:
   Once I’ve worked through all the material, I’ll spend the last few weeks leading up to the exam using the Boson Exam Sim. This will help me identify weak areas to focus on before test day.

I’m a huge fan of Boson—using their tools helped me pass the CCNA certification twice.

Take My Plan and Make It Yours:

If you’re on your own certification journey, feel free to use this plan and adapt it to your needs. All you really need are four solid resources: a book, videos, a way to lab, and a good test prep tool. Combining these will set you up for success in earning that certification.

Good luck, my friend!

WHAT’S ON MY DESK:

Discipline is Destiny

The Power of Self Control

 As the week comes to an end, I often find myself reflecting on how I can become more disciplined and consistent.

When you think about it, discipline and consistency are the keys to accomplishing anything we set our minds to. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Building these habits requires breaking old routines and forming new ones, which takes time, effort, and patience. It’s a slow process, and many give up before they see results.

This is something I work on every week. I often fall short, but as the saying goes, “Fall down five times, get up six.” So, I keep aiming for it.

In Ryan Holiday’s book Discipline is Destiny, there’s a chapter titled “Just Show Up.” It highlights the stories of Thomas Edison and Lou Gehrig, emphasizing that the simple act of showing up—consistently—is a superpower.

One of my favorite quotes from that chapter is: “Once something is done, you can build on it. Once you get started, momentum can grow. When you show up, you can get lucky.”

So, as we head into the week ahead, let’s commit to this: no matter how challenging the task or how daunting the goal, we’re going to show up.

“You don’t always have to be amazing. You do always have to show up.” – Ryan Holiday

Buy Book Here

THAT THING:

Help Desk or Data Center Technician

In my latest podcast episode, I compare two entry level IT Roles. Help Desk Technician and the Data Center Technician.

📌 What’s Inside This Video:

Day-to-Day Work: Explore the differences in responsibilities and work environments for Help Desk and Data Center Technicians.

Skills & Certifications: Find out what knowledge and certifications (like A+, Network+, or CCNA) you’ll need to excel in each role.

Pros & Cons: Weigh the benefits and challenges of both roles to choose the right path.

Career Growth Tips: See how starting in either role can open doors to advanced IT careers in networking, cloud, or cybersecurity.

Hopefully you found some value in this week’s newsletter.

See you next week

-Mike