I.

CISSP Exam Preparation - Study Notes and Theory

A. Background History
I started Study Notes and Theory 8 years ago with nothing but a laptop, an
Internet connection, and a DREAM! Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of
letting a member in Sweden know that they are the 3,000th CISSP to pass using
Study Notes and Theory. I remember coming up with the name of my CISSP
course and thinking "Maybe it's too long?" "Who is going to bother typing out
or spending time on a platform with four words in the title?" But I had to reflect
what the website was all about: my study notes and theory on all things CISSP.

B. Best Practices
The best part has not been creating videos, or practice questions, or anything on
social media - it has been the small personal stories of those on their journey to
the CISSP. It has been about reading the struggles, stressors, worries, and
dedication of members from just about all corners of the globe! A deep
realization from this has been that we are all the same. We all have the same
things that make us glad, mad, and sad. A suburban dad in Connecticut studying
for his CISSP stumbles on practice questions he thought he knew, just like a
mother of three children studying for her CISSP in Tamil Nadu, India. A
USAID executive in Burkina Faso is trying to shift from a technical to
managerial mindset, while a CCIE in Mexico City is trying to do the same
thing. We're geographically separated, but share turning the same pages of
CISSP books. And to think, some of those pages are from a book I wrote - just
unbelievable to this day. I float through the CISSP ether observing all of this, as
if to peer into this intricate 3D world from a 4-dimensional perspective. Doesn't
even feel real sometimes.
 C. Elite Sector
All of us are in an elite sector of information technology: cyber security. And
then studying for the CISSP is an even narrower path. It may seem like
someone is passing every day and that everyone has a CISSP - I assure you it is
not the case. We post our successes more than we post our failures. We are in a
special space, one that comprises of individuals who make things happen in
their lives through sheer will, dedication, and a resolve which will never be
broken.

D. Heartfelt Thank

A heartfelt thank you to all CISSPs that have been with Study
Notes and Theory, trusted Study Notes and Theory, and followed
Study Notes and Theory through various social media platforms
over the years. Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to
share your personal stories with me, even though you don't
know me. I will protect this level of trust with my entire life
force.

I promise you these things moving forward:

E. Level of Trust
1) I'll always make you feel like the most important person in the
conversation.
2) I'll respect the balancing act you have to perform with your career,
family, financial and personal life events
3) I'll always be studying with you. If your exam is next month, so is mine.
If your exam is next week, so is mine. If you pass, the reason is you. If
 you fail, then it is I who has failed you in some way and will work harder
to put those five letters after your name.
4) I'll never be complacent. Videos, questions, engagements, posts, and
answering your questions are my first priority. I enjoy doing this and it's
never a burden. Though I appreciate the messages of concern I receive,
please don't feel as if I'm doing too much, or that I should take a break. I
make sure to take care of myself because what's the #1 thing to remember
about the CISSP exam? Preserve human life. It's not work if you are
living the dream!

F. Optimistic Outlook
I have such an optimistic outlook for 2023 and beyond, I can't express it into
words. It is all thanks to members of this group and anyone that I have engaged
with over the years even if it was just 1 or two messages years and years ago - it
still counts.

G. Ongoing Progress

Please consider my ongoing progress to be the expression of my

All the best to you, Future CISSP

From Your Biggest Fan,

Luke Ahmed
II. Tailored by Shiferaw Bekele

Contents
I. CISSP Exam Preparation - Study Notes and Theory...............................................................1
A. Background History................................................................................................................1
B. Best Practices...........................................................................................................................1
C. Elite Sector...............................................................................................................................2
D. Heartfelt Thank.......................................................................................................................2
E. Level of Trust...........................................................................................................................2
F. Optimistic Outlook..................................................................................................................3
G. Ongoing Progress.................................................................................................................3
II. Tailored by Shiferaw Bekele......................................................................................................3