The CCIE is important to me.
My family
Myself
CCIE <
I see becoming more technically competent as a good way to boost my salary beyond $150k, which would improve the quality of life I can offer my family and myself.
No! I am not the sort to lock myself in a room indefinitely to achieve this.

I expect to spend more time on the written than I strictly need to, to ensure that I fully master the topics, to be stronger at work and to be better prepared for those pricey lab hours!
(I first passed the CCIE Written several years ago.)