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How to get 6 Salesforce certifications in just TWO WEEKS!

March 1, 2016

David’s note: Ken, I don’t know if you watch basketball but you are the Stephen Curry of certifications… you are simply the DESTROYER of certification records! Congratulations on your success and I commend you for continuing your quest for more knowledge and more certifications. P.S. treat your wife out to a nice dinner for getting you off your butt!

Hello Fellow Salesforce.com Enthusiasts!

My journey to Salesforce.com certification has been an interesting one, and I hope I’m not being too pretentious by telling my story. I hope others will get some inspiration, and that my record of passed certification tests will only stand for a short while!

Let’s keep this story short, though, ok?

Here’s the short version: After 21+ years in IT as a Senior Engineer, Instructor, Information Management Director, Technology Architect, and other interesting job titles, I’ve finally made time to actually put Paper behind my Experience.

I’ve been involved with CRM applications for a good chunk of my career, and Salesforce.com in one way or another since 2003, but, I’ve never bothered to go after the certifications, until now! I made some personal decisions to focus more on getting the really important things taken care of at home, and, as a result, my career growth over the last few years hasn’t been keeping up with the previous years of growth. I knew there was only one way to jump-start that growth again, and that’s Technical Certifications.

I stumbled across SFDC99 late last year, and poked around a little bit. I grabbed the flash cards, and ran through a few of them – once. Then, I put them down. That little voice in the back of my head kept saying “Go get the Certifications. You Have To Do It!”, but, as is the case many times, life got in the way.

So, one night mid January, I was talking with my beautiful wife again about how much I needed to get the certifications taken care of. In her oh so gentle way, she pushed me to just go get the studying done, and get the certification tests passed. (Let’s just say she was tired of hearing me talk about it and not do anything to solve the problem.) So, with her love and support backing me, I decided to just get as many certifications done as quickly as possible.

Two weeks later, after studying hard on the materials that David has helped us find, on Feb 1 I took the Admin exam. On Feb 2, I took the Platform Dev 1 exam. On Feb 4, I took the Advanced Admin exam. On Feb 5 I took the Sales Cloud exam. On Feb 6, I took the Service Cloud exam, and finally, on Feb 14 I took the Platform App Builder exam. I passed them all on the first try.

Yep, that’s right, folks, 6 certifications passed in 2 weeks!

Now, I’m not stopping there. Next up is: Platform Dev 2, then the 9 new Domain Architect exams are on my docket. My goal is to have the Technical Architect certification within the next 12 months.

So, that’s the short version of my story. I hope it brings some inspiration, and shows what can be done by just putting stepping up and making it happen!

I look forward to seeing all of you on the boards, on the Success communities, and collaborating on making us all better Salesforce.com Professionals!

Please, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask fellow Certified Professionals for help reaching your goals! We’re all here to help each other!

Ken Bowman
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bowmanken

Want to tell the world your story too?
Email it to sfdc99.mailbag@gmail.com and your story could be heard around the world!

42 Comments
Rosy
October 11, 2020 @ 8:12 pm

Congratulations, Ken! This is amazing and so inspiring.

David, thank you for your inspiration and encouragement. I am brand new to this and just jumped in. Question regarding the Flash Cards, when I clicked the link for the first Admin Certification, it takes me to quizlet.com which offers TONS of flash card sets. Is there a specific one that is recommended? I’m stuck just looking at all of them! Please help me from myself so I can move on and start really learning, studying and preparing to pass the certification!!

Reply
    David Liu
    October 11, 2020 @ 11:38 pm

    I just kept going through a bunch of sets until I could do all of them reliably lol

    Reply
Victor Rojas
August 3, 2018 @ 12:59 pm

Im 22 years old and also in IT!

I have been doing lots of freelance Web Development and wanted to take a step towards being a Salesforce Developer to put my OOP experience to work! In regards to studying, did you use David’s 2017 certification guide? Or do you have any tips that you can spare to prepare for the Dev Exam as fast as you did?

I really appreciate the read and hope to hear from you soon! Congrats and good luck with your future certs!

Reply
Ken Bowman
August 20, 2017 @ 3:51 pm

Another update.. I’ve just cleared the final requisite certification to earn the Salesforce Certified System Architect credential! I’ve now taken and passed all the required prerequisites for sitting for the Certified Technical Architect.. I know I don’t quite hold all the required knowledge yet, but, I’m nearing the goal!

Reply
    David Liu
    August 20, 2017 @ 9:42 pm

    Yeaaaaaaa congrats Ken!! Sheesh that’s a TOUGH journey!!

    Reply
      Ken Bowman
      August 30, 2017 @ 5:54 am

      Passed Certified Mobile Solutions Architecture Designer this passed weekend, too! Community Cloud Consultant is next!

      Reply
        David Liu
        August 30, 2017 @ 8:16 pm

        YEA!!! Congrats Ken!!!! You’re on FIRE!!

        Reply
      Ken Bowman
      August 30, 2017 @ 8:22 pm

      Also, Just passed Certified Community Cloud Consultant about 10 minutes ago! That makes 9 certifications earned in a month!

      Reply
Ken Bowman
August 11, 2017 @ 5:48 am

Just a quick update! I’m up to 10x Certified as of August 10, 2017! Two more prerequisites and I’ll be able to sit for the CTA exam! That said, I think I’ll have plenty still to study and get very familiar with before making that leap!

Reply
    David Liu
    August 11, 2017 @ 10:06 pm

    YAY!!! Congrats KEN!!!!! YAY!!!

    Reply
Lynn Harrington
May 26, 2017 @ 7:41 am

Thanks for sharing. I have a similar story, so you’re my inspiration to get my tail in gear and get some more certifications.

Reply
Monica Sena
April 6, 2017 @ 2:10 am

Congratulations!!!

Reply
David Catindoy
March 9, 2016 @ 5:17 pm

Totally awesome! Congrats Ken!

Reply
Mani
March 8, 2016 @ 3:50 pm

Wow! 6 certs in 2 weeks. That is unheard of. Congratulations!

Reply
Ken Bowman
March 7, 2016 @ 1:26 pm

All, Thanks for the encouraging kudos and well wishes! I appreciate it all!

Reply
AC
March 4, 2016 @ 11:16 am

Ken,
Great achievement!!!

I am kind of in your shoes – having focused a lot of time on personal stuff and have taken on various interesting titles like you said. Without diminishing your accomplishment, can you state the real value of these certifications? It seems a lot of them are from memorization and passing the exam – how much does it pay off? For someone that is not extremely familiar with the SFDC environment, but has some experience, does this type of certification give enough confidence for someone to take on complex projects and deliver?
Just curious as I am trying to assess my path for the future!

Thanks!

Reply
Kitty
March 3, 2016 @ 11:00 am

A big congratulations Ken.. thats called determination. :)
I would like to know how did you prepare yourself, can you share about your study pattern.

Reply
Anonymous
March 3, 2016 @ 6:48 am

Holly Molly …COngrats Ken ..!!! 1200 $ ;)

Reply
    David Liu
    March 3, 2016 @ 10:28 pm

    Think about how much more his salary is going to go up after he spent $1,200!

    Reply
atulgupta31
March 2, 2016 @ 7:17 am

No I am keeping a close eye on this fellow :-P

Reply
Aamala
March 2, 2016 @ 6:55 am

Thanks for Sharing..!!!! very Nicely Written admin!!!

Reply
Aamala
March 2, 2016 @ 6:53 am

In your blog I had a chance to get some useful and unique information, I love your writing style very much, I would like to suggest your blog in my dude circle, so keep on updates…
Regards
Aamala

Reply
Aamala
March 2, 2016 @ 6:52 am

All are saying the same thing repeatedly, but in your blog I had a chance to get some useful and unique information, I love your writing style very much, I would like to suggest your blog in my dude circle, so keep on updates…
Regards
Aamala

Reply
    David Liu
    March 3, 2016 @ 10:32 pm

    Well, this post was all Ken, LOL! Say hi to your dude circle for me!

    Reply
Warren Wise
March 2, 2016 @ 6:40 am

I work with Ken. Our team is proud, impressed and inspired! I’ve started going through the study guide and have downloaded the Quizlet app. Hopefully, I’ll have a success story to share before too long. Great job, Ken!

Reply
    David Liu
    March 3, 2016 @ 10:30 pm

    Wish you the best Warren, you got a great man on your team to help you out!

    Reply
Samyuktha Reddy
March 2, 2016 @ 6:13 am

Nice to you hear from you, Yesterday i taken certification on Salesforce platform developer , your inspire me alot with your story , even am working hard to become like you upcoming.

Reply
    srinath
    May 11, 2016 @ 4:25 pm

    can you please suggest any study material.Please share if you have any.
    Thank you

    Reply
Samyuktha Reddy
March 2, 2016 @ 6:04 am

Nice good to hear from you, yesterday i got certified from salesforce developer platform 1, your story inspire me alot upcoming plan to work hard and plan to certifications as like you.

Reply
Ashraf
March 2, 2016 @ 5:48 am

Congratulations!!!!….How you were able to manage job and preparing for certs? please share your experience.

Reply
Jeremiah Kofi
March 2, 2016 @ 4:23 am

Congrats, that is a big achievement, I am truly inspired, you will inspire many! well done again.

Reply
    David Liu
    March 3, 2016 @ 10:31 pm

    One of the best things to see if how everyone inspires and challenges the next generation! Jeremiah you are one of them!

    Reply
EK
March 2, 2016 @ 4:11 am

Wow! I find stories like this hugely inspirational, thank you for sharing and very well done on your achievements!

Reply
megasteve4
March 2, 2016 @ 3:26 am

Not bad! But there was quite a gap between the 6th -> 14th. I think you need to apply yourself more… Just kidding that is an awesome achievement!

Reply
Jose Claramunt
March 2, 2016 @ 1:23 am

Man, you’re a freak! :P

Congratulations on your success :) Best wishes!

Reply
Rich Coloyan (@richcoloyan)
March 1, 2016 @ 10:36 pm

Impressive, most impressive. I just started the Apex Academy that David created, hoping to get to that developer level. By the way has anyone else noticed that the Platform App Builder logo that you download doesn’t line up with the others horizontally? Drives me nuts LOL.

Reply
    David Liu
    March 3, 2016 @ 10:29 pm

    I kid you not I spend so much time aligning these certification logos because they are always off!!

    Reply
Lalit
March 1, 2016 @ 10:35 pm

Congratulations ken Bowmen. great work and inspiration.
Thanks to david too…

Reply
Anonymous
March 1, 2016 @ 9:45 pm

Wow! You nailed it to perfection. Congrats!!!
One doubt, I do not see guide to passing the App builder and Platform Dev I certification in sfdc99 website. Can you kindly share your reading tips for those exams.

Reply
Ken Bowman
March 1, 2016 @ 8:32 pm

Thanks, Casey!!

Reply
Casey
March 1, 2016 @ 8:29 pm

That’s incredible Ken! Congratulations!

Reply
    David Liu
    March 3, 2016 @ 10:28 pm

    Quickdraw Casey strikes again!

    Reply

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