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Editors note: The following people have won a prize from last weeks comment contest in the Skellie interview: Al, Karen, Lid, and Tina. Please email me so we can arrange the mailing of the prizes. Additionally, as today is Christmas the Yaro Starak interview will run next week. Today I will give a little ‘Ten Questions With’ recap.

Someone recently emailed me and asked what inspired me to create the ‘Ten Questions With’ interview series?

Because today is Christmas I thought that I would give a little recap of how the series came to be, and provide some information on the past three interviews with Cameron Low of NorthxEast, Leo Babauta of Zen Habits, and Skellie of Skelliewag.org.

Why ten questions?

Before I started seeking out interviewees, I thought about this quite a bit. Even though I have no quantifiable evidence Ifelt ten questions would be the perfect amount of inquiries. I knew that I could get some great information with only five questions but with ten I can throw in some unique questions that really help me (and the readers) get to know the interview subjects on another level.

Where did the ‘Ten Questions With’ idea come from?

When I first started my site I had no idea that there were so many talented, creative, intelligent people writing online. Like most, I assumed the typical blog was focused on discussing the author’s everyday life. Boy, was I wrong! Soon I discovered, and started reading, many blogs that are authored by all kinds of successful people from all over the world.

So, I thought it would be great if I had the chance to go out and have a beer with these people what would l like to ask them to discern how they became who they are as entrepreneurs, influential marketers, motivators, and creative writers. Hence, the idea for the series was born.

Has anyone turned down an interview request?

Surprisingly, I have had tremendous success with respect to people saying yes, and agreeing to be interviewed. I feel quite fortunate and I owe all of the people who agree to answer the ten questions a HUGE debt of gratitude.

When asking people for their time, of course not everyone can commit, so yes, I have been turned down. But, instead of dwelling on the negative I even wrote a post about how to handle rejection with grace and dignity. Also, I try to see my request for the interview from their point of view. Whether we like to admit it, or not, sometimes when you are busy you have to ask yourself, what value can this interview add to my life, or projects? For some, they do not see the value and that’s okay. I just move on to the next person :)

Fortunately, I have some amazing people coming up in the series to include; Yaro Starak, Darren Rowse, Michael Martin, and many others that you will just have to check back for. Because it is the New Year I am also going to list some people that I would really like to interview to see if I can get some assistance from the readers. The people are (in no particular order) Brian Clark from CopyBlogger, Muhammad Saleem, Lance Armstrong, Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, Aisha Bain, and Ishmael Beah. Please let me know if you have other bloggers, entrepreneurs, or interesting people that you would like to see interviewed.

I would like to thank my first three guests again, and if you missed any of the first three interviews you can view them here; Cameron Low, Leo Babauta, and Skellie.