Well, here it is everyone – the last new year’s post before we get into singing happy birthday.

If the last bit of the above statement confuses you, Cash Campfire will be celebrating its first birthday on January 10th. THEN, I’ll be celebrating my own 21st birthday (SUPER excited) the 27th of March – I still have a few months to go though.

But before we get into today’s post, I wanted to remind you all about the surprise birthday plans I have for the 10th, so make sure you show your awesome faces here on Monday! You won’t be disappointed.

Now, in case you didn’t know, I asked everyone last Thursday to ask me any questions – anything at all – for the new year and that I would post up the answers sometime this week.

Well, boy did you guys come through.

I’ve gotten questions ranging from how many kids I plan to have to what kind of food would I be able to put up with for the rest of my life if all the food mysteriously disappeared from the planet. And some I can’t possibly fit all of the answers into this one post – so if you don’t see your question on here, know it will be in a separate post!

The creativity in your responses astound me! Though I guess I should have expected it. After all, most of you guys write on a regular basis – and, being a writer myself, we tend to be a creative bunch.

Well, enough of my rambling. Let’s get on to the answers, shall we?

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Hi Christina – being that I just asked you for some direct feedback on my site, and you went well over my expectations I really don’t have much left to ask. But, here’s a quick question: What formal training have you had in achieving the level of writing that you have?

- JK

Well, Jk, I’ve always enjoyed writing – even during my childhood years. I believe my love for writing stemmed from my love for books. And, boy, did I love my books. Every time we would make a trip to the library as a family, I would return back home with at least a bag of books trailing behind my little fingers – usually fantasy and horror paperbacks. Now, I’m not talking about those picture books you see kids sometimes reading. I’m talking about chapter novels with over 150 pages. Back then, I devoted most of my time to reading (we didn’t have the Internet back them) and could read 2 novels a day – so I mostly ended up taking out 14 library books for the two weeks allotted, and I was able to finish them in time as well, surprisingly.

But sorry – I’m getting off topic. Since leaving high school, I took a few extensive creative writing classes in college. I was also majoring in English at the time to become an English teacher, though I’ve moved on to other interests as you know. Since college, I’ve been taking various blogging courses – like the A-List Blogging Bootcamp and Darren Rowse’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog (both are affiliate links).

But most of what I’ve learned came from trial and error. My writing a year ago was nothing like my writing now. Writing is a skill and, like all skills, it becomes better with practice. I also still do a lot of reading and sometimes read books specifically on grammar and writing. A few names in my office library are (aff links) Writing as a Sacred Path, One Year to a Writing Life, The Shy Writer, The Everything Guide to Writing Copy, Woe is I, and many more that teach directly about writing. I then have other books in my library about copywriting (another form of writing) and entrepreneurship.

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What’s the one specific thing you’re MOST excited about in 2011? I want a very specific answer…
- Eric | My 4-Hour Workweek

This is a tough one, Eric. There are simply so many things I’m looking forward to in 2011. But I’ll try my best.

I suppose the most specific, exciting thing about 2011 is, well, watching this blog grow. I’m not sure if my answer is specific enough or not, but it really excites me to see the progress this blog is taking after so many countless hours of work to make it happen.

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What do you want to do in 2011 that you wished you did in 2010?

- Stuart

Wow – I can think of a whole list of things that I want to do in 2011! Hmm… Well, if I was to pick one, it would have to be to go take horseback riding lessons.

I’m not sure if you know this or not – I mentioned it briefly in one of my posts – but I’ve been secretly scheming to get a horse once I have the space for one (most likely when I get my own place). Now, before you laugh and think that this is some sort of little girl fantasy, I’m actually quite serious. My ultimate plan is to save enough money for a house with a decent amount of land (similar to the house I’m living in now – the lot size is about a half an acre), build a small stable, and buy a horse. Just one, mind you.

So, obviously if I’m going to own a horse, I’ll need to know how to ride it (I’ve only ridden one once before), but I’ve always simply adored horses – so taking horseback riding lessons would be a dream for me. But, heck, maybe I’ll make it happen this year.

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If I could ask you any question it would be – what is your motivation for maintaining this blog and helping your readers like you do?

- John

Hmm… Honestly, I don’t know what it is. I just enjoy writing about the topics I do here at Cash Campfire. Creating a successful business is something I’m constantly striving for, as I’m always trying to improve my own business and brand. And writing is something I also constantly do and enjoy.

So, blogging here doesn’t seem like work at all. I love every second of it. This blog also helps me, believe it or not, improve how I run my business and tackle problems by sharing what I learn along the way. Helping and interacting with readers here also make me feel more connected to everyone else, and I’m building friendships along the way. I can’t even describe how many awesome people I met last year and how many of those same people I became really close friends with.

So, the motivator? Well, the love of blogging and the opportunity to share what I’ve learned throughout the journey – and also connect with so many great people along the way. You all make this blog worth every bit of the effort I put into it. Without you guys, there would be no blog.

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Ok, Christina – as a granny, my question will be family related. You’ve said before that you intend to start a family someday – when and how big?

- Crystal

Crystal – so far this is my favorite question of the day! Simply because I love the topic of children and having some of my own children one day.

Personally, I don’t want a big family. I’m aiming more towards 1-3 kids, though definitely no more than 3. When I was young, I was brought up with 2 brothers, and I liked the peace and quiet I had with not that many siblings. I also don’t know what I’d do with so many children if I was to ever have more than 3 – I mean, that’s a lot of work involved.

But, if I would have to choose an exact number, I would go for the middle – 2 kids. One to give the other company. I can’t imagine being the only child in a household – without anyone to play with, it definitely would have been pretty lonely for me. I mean, sure you have your parents, but sooner or later your parents will have to get back to work, and it’s just not the same as having someone else around your age to play with all day.

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OK, so here are my questions:

1. What’s the hardest part about keeping this blog?

2. What are your biggest fears?

3. If you had to eat one food every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

- Marcus Sheridan

Wow, Marcus – these are some pretty tough, tough questions. But, I’ll try my best in answering them.

1. After some serious thinking, the hardest part about keeping this blog would have to be the waiting – waiting for traffic, waiting for blog subscribers, waiting for sales, and even waiting for comments. Luckily, I’ve found something else to preoccupy my mind while I’m waiting – writing. But, just as much as it is exciting to watch this blog grow, the slow progress can also get frustrating until I get dizzy from refreshing Google Analytics or the “Comments” tab in WordPress all day. Unhealthy, I know – but I just can’t help myself! Every daily visitor and comment I get are like gold medals – I just need to collect more of them!

But, when I find myself eagerly refreshing tabs, I just have to stop myself and work on making progress rather than waiting for it, as hard as stopping myself is. Even so, I love this blog in its entirety, so the wait isn’t too bad.

2. My biggest fears? I have many fears, depending on which you’re referring to.

In my everyday, personal life… My biggest fears are spiders (I absolutely WILL NOT kill a spider unless I have a huge spray in my hand – I’m too scared to get near them), the dark (I sleep with the light on), busy public places – especially banks (I get anxiety), and talking to people I don’t know well on the phone (again, an anxiety issue).

In the online and business world… My biggest fears are disappointing myself and others (not completing the goals I have set for the day, for example), not living up to what people expect of me, being viewed as “unprofessional”, and criticism (I guess this ties in with the previous fear – but, I know this is something I have to get over; though I fear it, I always welcome criticism as a means to improve).

3. Now for my second favorite question of the day – because I absolutely love food (and making it! – though I’m a horrible cook =/).

My mom makes the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted. So, if I had to eat one food for the rest of my life, it would be her homemade lasagna – absolutely delicious! I think it’s because she puts sausage pieces in it for flavor, but it’s seriously good. And then the melted cheese dripping from your fork as you try to slip it in your mouth? Oh, I can feel my mouth water now!

I often refer to it as paradise on a plate!

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Thanks everyone for your questions, and I hope you find my answers sufficient.

Again – If I didn’t answer your question here, you’ll find it answered in a separate post within the next few weeks.

Happy new year everyone!