CCNA is good for a grounding in networking. The hard part is if you are new you'll need some of the virtual router labs unless you have access to some routers kicking around. If you can do CCDA its also good for a grounding knowledge in networks design/implimentation.
I actually like it, its not too cisco'ish (until you hit CCNP).
I'd pay close attention to subnets, VLANs, QoS, and the OSI model (with regards to the differences betwen L3 and L7). Big technology 'areas of interest' for me/my clients at the moment are VLANs for VoIP and security segregation; QoS for VoIP (although we don't sell underspec'd cisco gear so its no much of an issue for us) ; L7 firewalling and traffic shaping.
If you want valued skills in networking I look at it this way : Cisco for Switches (most switch vendors base their cli on cisco'ish commands) ; Juniper for Routers ; Sonicwall or Juniper for firewalls (I'd consider cisco security certs completely worthless - what good are certs in security from the company with the worst gear and practises).
ps hi honey
