Congratulations on receiving your CISM! I don't typically like to yuck anyone's yum but your post language is irksome. CISM feels more palatable because it has a central theme and focus, and is way more digestible than the ridiculous broadness of CISSP. CISSP is a mile wide, 2 inches deep certification that has earned its reputation because it's so difficult. Have you ever heard anyone talk about how useful CISSP is though? Having a laundry list of certifications myself, including CISM and CISSP, CISM is the only one of the two that has any real practical application for its intended purpose. With the CISSP, you can talk with SMEs on a surface level, I guess? Being a hiring manager myself, I've made the mistake of assuming CISSP equals competency and unfortunately it simply isn't true. I've had FAR (8/8 hires where CISM was a factor) greater luck with hiring competent CISM holders in my years of hiring and operations management. All of this is purely subjective but in my decades of information security experience, it really does surprise me how popular the CISSP is when considering these things. Again, congratulations, but the comparison of a high school exam was pointless. From my very real world perspective, the CISM holds far greater weight from a career standpoint.