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
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!
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!!
I just kept going through a bunch of sets until I could do all of them reliably lol
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!
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!
Yeaaaaaaa congrats Ken!! Sheesh that’s a TOUGH journey!!
Passed Certified Mobile Solutions Architecture Designer this passed weekend, too! Community Cloud Consultant is next!
YEA!!! Congrats Ken!!!! You’re on FIRE!!
Also, Just passed Certified Community Cloud Consultant about 10 minutes ago! That makes 9 certifications earned in a month!
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!
YAY!!! Congrats KEN!!!!! YAY!!!
Thanks for sharing. I have a similar story, so you’re my inspiration to get my tail in gear and get some more certifications.
Congratulations!!!
Totally awesome! Congrats Ken!
Wow! 6 certs in 2 weeks. That is unheard of. Congratulations!
All, Thanks for the encouraging kudos and well wishes! I appreciate it all!
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!
A big congratulations Ken.. thats called determination. :)
I would like to know how did you prepare yourself, can you share about your study pattern.
Holly Molly …COngrats Ken ..!!! 1200 $ ;)
Think about how much more his salary is going to go up after he spent $1,200!
No I am keeping a close eye on this fellow :-P
Thanks for Sharing..!!!! very Nicely Written admin!!!
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
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
Well, this post was all Ken, LOL! Say hi to your dude circle for me!
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!
Wish you the best Warren, you got a great man on your team to help you out!
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.
can you please suggest any study material.Please share if you have any.
Thank you
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.
Congratulations!!!!….How you were able to manage job and preparing for certs? please share your experience.
Congrats, that is a big achievement, I am truly inspired, you will inspire many! well done again.
One of the best things to see if how everyone inspires and challenges the next generation! Jeremiah you are one of them!
Wow! I find stories like this hugely inspirational, thank you for sharing and very well done on your achievements!
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!
Man, you’re a freak! :P
Congratulations on your success :) Best wishes!
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.
I kid you not I spend so much time aligning these certification logos because they are always off!!
Congratulations ken Bowmen. great work and inspiration.
Thanks to david too…
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.
Thanks, Casey!!
That’s incredible Ken! Congratulations!
Quickdraw Casey strikes again!