I did the same thing as FH, but I was working on a production net at the same time. Still, CCNA is small
time stuff if you get it from a book. You will find
it useful, but there will be some hangtime before you
actually understand what you're doing.
As far as wbn's comments: sounds like the same stuff
I've heard from other "pros" in the industry.
The thing they overlook is the old truism that you
can't learn unless you're working on the stuff.
I know OSPF back and forward from the book, but I have never set it up on a production net and would be
uncomfortable unless I had a good book in front of
me.
If you are learning from Sims or a book, start small
otherwise you will have to deal with the censure of
all the "pros" out there, who are too jaundiced to deal
with newbies.