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Anna Sagan: From Marketing to Woodwork

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Sometimes, our big breaks come when we least expect them. You could be going through the worst time in your life and still find a way back to life and happiness. Anna Sagan is an example of how people can rise beyond their unpleasant situations to become happier with their lives.

Sagan’s Rediscovery Journey

In 2020, when the Covid 19 pandemic was at its worst, many people lost their jobs and livelihoods and had to figure out ways to survive through life. 33-year-old Anna Sagan from Los Angeles was not spared either. The then marketing consultant lost her job and had to make the difficult decision to move home from Chicago to Fayetteville in Arkansas. While living in her parent’s house, Sagan discovered her late grandpa’s tools in the garage. She decided that since she did not have a job, she would keep her mind busy fixing things around the house. Sagan started refurbishing old furniture at home and making wine racks for her friends and family. In her effort to stay busy, Sagan discovered wood art, which has been her passion since then.

She hopes that she can encourage and inspire people with her work. Sagan says that wood art has healing stories and life lessons that she would love to share with the world. She also wants to honor her late grandpa Bill Barta, who she says is a man who left behind his tools and not his spirit.

How Does Sagan Work Around a Project?

Sagan says that she is extremely ADHD, but nothing can stop her once she sets her mind to work on a project. When she is in the woodshop creating something, time passes, and she becomes tunnel-focused. Her mind works tirelessly to finish a project, and she never stops until she has created a masterpiece. When working on larger projects, Sagan likes to use mood boards so that her end goal or vision is always in sight in front of her. She says she does this because she needs that visual reminder to stay aligned and focused. Otherwise, her mind can get distracted.

Sagan says that she has no problem waking up at 4.30 am to start a project, as long as she creates something beautiful. She is deeply motivated by comments from her friends and clients about her work. She says that the looks and sounds of admiration push her to become better at her career.

Does Sagan Have Any Life Outside Woodwork?

When asked this question, Sagan had this to say, “I’m a big fan of wine. I geek out on trying new varietals and discovering new regions and wine-making methods. It’s truly an art form that I feel people find intimidating because of the industry and false perceptions that our culture has taught us about it.”

Sagan says that while the woodwork is a great experience for her, almost like a rebirth, getting involved in other arts such as wine tasting is a great way to unwind. It also helps to keep her artistic instincts alive.

Common Myths About the Wood Work Career

Sagan says she has also suffered from the misconception that woodwork is a simple skill that doesn’t require hard work. She says she only realized how challenging the career was until she got into it. Woodwork requires the same amount of patience and persistence that not everyone has the mental capacity to do. She says that even though she has become accustomed to the career, there are times she doubts herself and her ability to complete a project.

Source of Inspiration

Sagan’s most significant source of inspiration is Marie Forleo, the author of “Everything is Figuratable.” The book helped her breakthrough a mindset limiting her from pursuing her dreams. She says that the biggest lesson she has learned in her career is that it is never about how much money a person brings home or what other people think you should be doing. The most important thing is for a person to be doing the one thing that brings them happiness, peace, and fulfillment.

Biggest Challenge At Work

Sagan says that it is very disappointing to say that her femininity is the biggest challenge around her career. Being a woman somehow limits her from achieving career achievements for herself. She says that at one time, when she was working with a woodwork company, one of the men asked her if she was the cleaning lady because he could not envision a woman doing woodwork.

Sagan has missed out on numerous opportunities because people think that a woman is not good enough to be working in the industry. She recalls a time when she lost her job because she was a distraction to her colleagues. This was not because she did anything intentionally or was indecently dressed. It was just because she was a woman.

If you would like to get in touch with Sagan for inspiration or buy from her, reach her on her blogwebsiteInstagramTikTok, and YouTube.

This article contains branded content provided by a third party. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the content creator or sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or editorial stance of Popular Hustle.

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Ali Alhamed Is Proof That You Don’t Need to Choose Between Wealth and Faith

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Ali Alhamed Is Proof That You Don't Need to Choose Between Wealth and Faith

Abu Dhabi, UAE – In a digital era crowded with financial gurus and flashy promises, Ali Alhamed stands out as a refreshing voice of integrity and purpose. With a mission to promote halal investing, the Emirati content creator has built a loyal community of over 800,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — and has helped guide more than 40,000 people on their journey toward ethical financial independence.

Ali’s platform isn’t just about numbers — it’s about values. With a firm belief that financial success shouldn’t come at the cost of faith or ethics, Ali produces daily content that simplifies investing, entrepreneurship, and money management in ways that resonate with young Muslims across the Arab world and beyond.

“I believe success in this life and the next can go hand in hand,” says Ali. “That’s why I teach halal investing — so people can grow their wealth while staying true to their beliefs.”

His influence spans much more than social media. From real estate tips and stock market education to launching his own course titled “Mastering Halal Investing,” Ali’s work is empowering a new generation of investors who are both financially savvy and spiritually grounded.

Ali’s journey hasn’t been without challenges — but it’s his transparency and resilience that continue to inspire thousands. His story is a testament to how purpose-driven content can spark real-world impact, especially in communities where financial literacy has long been overlooked.

With upcoming plans to expand into global financial education and community building, Ali Alhamed is not just shaping portfolios — he’s shaping mindsets.

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From $300-a-Month Seamstress to Tang Heritage Luxury Icon—The Rise of Hua Ziyan

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Hua Ziyan

Hua Ziyan spent decades stitching other people’s clothes for less than $300 a month. Today, at 78, her handcrafted bags are coveted by collectors from Singapore to New York, selling out within hours.

It’s a transformation that nobody—least of all Hua herself—saw coming.

Born in 1946 in a modest farming village in southern China, Hua learned to sew out of necessity. By age nine, she’d mastered basic stitching because her family had little, and sewing meant survival. At fifteen, she began working in garment factories, earning less than $300 monthly while living in dormitories with ten other women.

For nearly five decades, this was her life. Eighteen-hour shifts under fluorescent lights, stitching uniforms and basic wear, repeating the same seams thousands of times. She slept in shared spaces and worked under constant demand for low wages.

But even during those grueling factory years, Hua was different. In her rare free moments, she’d work on something else—intricate embroidery inspired by the regal robes she’d seen on noblewomen, pieces she could never afford. She wasn’t sewing for attention; she was preserving what beauty looked like to her.

The turning point came in her early 60s. Instead of retiring, Hua made a bold decision: she stopped taking factory jobs and returned to embroidery. Not mass-produced work, but precise, symbolic pieces that blended imperial motifs with modern bag structures. Using techniques she’d developed over decades, she created her first structured embroidered bag—not for sale, but for herself.

For over a decade, she worked in silence, creating one bag at a time and storing them in a locked wooden chest. When people asked what she was doing, her response was simple: “I’m making something that will last longer than me.”

That’s when Tang Heritage discovered her in 2009. The luxury brand didn’t ask her to design something trendy—they simply asked her to continue doing what she’d always done: create with care.

The result was the Tang Red Collection, which ran from 2012 to 2022. These weren’t just bags; they became what collectors call “modern heirlooms.” Each piece featured hand-embroidery by Hua or her personally trained team, built with proprietary techniques that allowed fabric to hold shape like leather.

What sets her work apart is the relentless attention to detail. Hua once spent 47 hours on a single embroidered motif, only to discard it because one line drifted by less than a hair’s width. Her bags carry no logos or marketing gimmicks—just precision, depth, and design rooted in a life of quiet mastery.

Today, her bags are treasured across the globe, with some reselling at four times their original price. What began as survival stitching in factory dormitories has become legend.

Hua Ziyan didn’t climb fashion’s traditional ladder. She rewrote the story entirely, proving that true luxury comes not from marketing campaigns, but from decades of patient craftsmanship. You can learn more about her work and Tang Heritage’s commitment to preserving traditional artistry.

From factory floors to collector showcases—sometimes the most extraordinary journeys begin with the simplest tools: a needle, thread, and unwavering dedication to doing every stitch right.

Learn more about Tang Heritage and the Red Collection, here.

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Daniel Hartnett Is Making Hip-Hop Beats More Accessible Than Ever

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Daniel Hartnett / Corporatethief Beats

When Daniel Hartnett first heard the term “corporate thief” in a Michael Moore documentary during the 2007-2008 financial crisis, he had no idea it would become the foundation of his music career. What started as a casual YouTube channel name has become something much bigger—a go-to spot where struggling hip-hop artists can actually find affordable beats without getting ripped off.

Hartnett’s path to hip-hop production wasn’t conventional. Growing up in Ireland, his mother encouraged him to explore various instruments, from the tin whistle and accordion to keyboards and guitar. At 13, he formed a grunge band with friends, teaching himself guitar and developing what he didn’t yet realize was a natural musical ear.

“I was all about grunge and barely gave any other genre a chance,” Hartnett recalls. Everything changed when his college friend Mike handed him a laptop loaded with FL Studio and introduced him to Kid Cudi’s debut mixtape, “A Kid Named Cudi.”

That single moment completely shifted his musical world. Cudi’s vulnerable, honest approach to hip-hop hit different—it felt genuine in a way that resonated with people his age. Combined with Kanye West’s “808s & Heartbreak,” these influences began reshaping how Hartnett thought about making music.

The switch from acoustic performer to beat maker wasn’t planned. Before long, he was uploading type beats like mainstream rappers, along with trap beats and pop instrumentals, to YouTube under the alias “The Corporatethief Beats.” He’s always been fascinated by stories of white-collar crime—documentaries like American Greed or films like Wall Street really influenced his branding. That’s why you’ll find beat packs and mixtapes on his site with names like Greed I$ Good, Money Never Sleeps, and Anacott Steel.

What gives Hartnett an edge in today’s crowded beat-making world is something many producers don’t have—he can actually play instruments. While most rely entirely on software, his years of playing everything from tin whistle to guitar taught him how melody and harmony actually work.

“Having a musical ear gives me a definite edge,” he explains. “Many beginner producers struggle to tell when a note is off or when two sounds clash. That intuitive understanding has saved me countless hours in the studio.”

His creative process always starts with a concept. Whether it’s a specific mood, an artist he wants to channel, or just a moment he’s trying to capture, Hartnett needs that spark before he can stay focused and inspired.

After teaching himself the basics, Hartnett decided to get serious about his craft. He studied Music Technology at Galway Technical Institute, then moved to Dublin for the Academy of Sound, where he learned proper studio techniques with Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and actual analog equipment. By 2015, he had a four-year Higher Diploma and the technical chops to back up his natural talent.

These days, 99% of his beats happen in Logic Pro—he just loves how it works. When he’s engineering for bands, though, he switches to Pro Tools since that’s what most professional studios expect. Having both skills means he can work on whatever project comes his way.

Here’s where Hartnett saw a real problem: independent artists were getting screwed by beat licensing. Basic leases cost $50-$100, often with confusing contracts and multiple pricing tiers that didn’t make sense. Artists would buy a beat, then discover they needed to pay more for different usage rights.

His answer was Rap Beat Packs—bundles with anywhere from 10 to 150 beats covering trap, boom bap, drill, and pop. Every beat comes with unlimited licensing for one price. No fine print, no upsells, no surprises.

“Producers these days tend to overcomplicate things with five or six different license tiers,” Hartnett notes. “I’ve tried to make everything simple, clear, and affordable for serious artists.”

Beyond making beats, Hartnett has become something of a teacher. His “Rap Lyricist’s Handbook” runs over 250 pages, packed with real advice on writing, recording, and marketing music. It includes QR codes for bonus content and works more like a reference guide than something you’d read straight through.

His website has become the place artists go when they need help—beat packs, production tools, marketing courses, ebooks, and blog posts that actually explain how to get your music heard. It’s designed for artists who want to build real careers, not just chase viral moments.

Hartnett has worked with artists like Kid Berg, Sam May, and Ricky T, plus collaborated with producers like Lazy Rida Beats. His dream team? Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and Drake—the three artists who basically shaped his entire approach to music.

His advice for aspiring creatives gets straight to the point: learn to market yourself, ignore sketchy promo deals, and don’t be ashamed of having a day job. Most importantly, stop obsessing over numbers that don’t matter.

“Stop obsessing over likes, views, and vanity metrics,” Hartnett says. “Focus on making genuine connections and building a fanbase that actually cares about your music. That’s how real growth happens.”

While the hip-hop world keeps changing, Hartnett stays focused on what matters—making quality beats and helping independent artists succeed. He doesn’t get caught up in who’s-the-greatest debates or industry drama.

His real message to struggling artists? “Stay grounded. This industry will test you, especially if you’re selling beats online. Just keep showing up, stay focused, and always keep learning.”

For more information about The Corporatethief Beats and available resources, visit the official website or follow on YouTube and X/Twitter.

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