Sarah Songalia

30/05/2026

Many years ago, 13 years to be exact, I had the privilege to sit in front of a presentation of Dan Thurmon entitled “Off Balance on Purpose.” Little did I know how much that presentation will change me and the way I do my consultancy work.

Most business owners experiencing scarcity for the first time will not understand what going beyond scarcity would mean. Especially when finances are already off balance and an action will tip it even more.

Imagine the reaction I get when I tell them to go beyond scarcity. 😅 Imagine also the disbelief in the faces of everyone on the table. This phrase has caused me to lose more clients than keep them. 😂

The very few who believed are now the biggest companies in their industry. It takes a lot to turn around a company. The pivot strategy does not stay the same along the journey. Not to mention that people are wildcards in the equation. Yet, it can be done. I have done it many times. I have seen and experienced first hand how companies turn around from rags to riches.

Most of the time, the reason why startups are unable to scale is because they cannot go beyond their limitations. They are fixated with the now and the scarcity of resources that they fear tipping the balance even more.

I understand that. I do. But I would like to shift your attention to what happens to your body when you don’t eat or sleep well. You get sick, right? Businesses, too, get sick.

What will happen if you don’t seek medical attention? Chances are you will become more sick. If again you don’t get medical attention at the stage that you are more sick, you may not be able to go to work anymore causing you to lose your job.

This scenario is the same with businesses. Not doing what we are supposed to do because of scarcity may cause us to be absorbed even deeper into the quagmire. The worst case is when getting out of the predicament will exhaust everything that you have.

This is more often that not the cause of the rift between finance and operations. It is not that one wants the best for the company and the other one does not. It is that finance sometimes cannot see beyond the numbers in the presentation that the operations is making. I am not saying this is wrong. I am just pointing this out so you can be aware that improvements need to be made because this myopic view could cause the company to lose out on opportunities.

Do what you need to do to protect your market share even when spending for it may seem an addition to the ballooning expenses you are trying to curb. We sacrifice more to get a little and sometimes we give up more to get a share.

All this is not for today.
It is for the future of your business.
It is for you to be able to enter a new market.
It is for you to hold on to your market share.

Not doing so would mean your end.
We go beyond scarcity not just to survive but thrive.
We need to be off balance on purpose to continue to grow.

Tell me if you have ever been in this situation. Happy weekend !

27/05/2026

There are times when choosing not to stay is the only way to remain faithful to what you believe is right.

Not every road deserves to be taken simply because it is popular, convenient, or paved by power.

Not every process deserves quiet compliance.
Not every majority is right.
And not every walkout is abandonment.

Some paths are chosen not because they are easy, but because conscience leaves no other choice.

Perhaps there are moments when integrity requires leaving the comfort of familiar roads.

Sometimes, walking away is the clearest statement a person can make.

21/05/2026

My friends know that my visits to Leyte will never be complete without going to Maripipi.

There is something about its peace, its quiet, and its untouched beauty that revives me. Nature here is unadulterated — never imposing, never demanding attention — yet impossible to ignore. It is the island I have somehow adopted as my third home, if there is such a thing.

A swim and a snorkel through its clear blue waters make me forget the busy world I come from. Seeing the corals and the fishes that thrive within them reminds me of the simplicity, yet depth, of life itself. It is both humbling and strangely awakening, stirring in me a quiet instinct to protect and preserve.

And when the sun begins to set, you simply stare at the sky in silence, marveling at the beauty of a phenomenon that happens every day yet never feels ordinary. Then comes dinner, stories, laughter, and conversations with new friends who have lovingly adopted me as their own batchmate too.

This is what completes the journey.

This is what fulfills my longing for a sanctuary — a place to refresh, revive, and simply do nothing for a while before the real world calls again through the work that I do.

I pray that each of you finds your own “Maripipi” — a place where the soul rests, the mind quiets, and nature gently renews you once more.

10/05/2026

Whenever I think of mothers, many faces come to mind.

There are mothers who nurtured me, mothers who became more than just mothers but dear friends too, and people who may not have been mothers themselves but showed me what a mother’s love looks like.

As we grow, we meet people at different turns in life who teach us what mothers are like, what they can be, and what they should be — patient, kind, loving, understanding, and selfless in ways that leave a lasting mark on our hearts.

Today, we celebrate not only mothers, but also the beautiful qualities that make them one.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, especially to those who showed me the way to become a mother myself. From my grateful heart to yours 💐 💐 💐

28/04/2026

I had the privilege of hosting the FINEX General Membership Meeting last April 22, 2026 at the Fairmont Hotel. It was an interesting discussion on the Universal Healthcare Act.

We had Dr. Mercado of PHIC, Dr. Ramy of Healthway, Usec. Kim Lokin of PPPI and Dr. Yas of PhilCare. They all discussed the gains and gaps still of this very important act.

My hope is for healthcare to be affordable, accessible and innovative enough to help Filipinos have the dignity and freedom to choose the lifestyle they want.

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24/04/2026

24/04/2026

15 years of being a Pru Life UK advisor. 15 years of awards. To God be all the glory 🙏🙏🙏

24/04/2026

I was not able to attend the 2026 Day Awards of Pru Life UK due to a lot of conflicts in schedule. A friend sent this to me. I dedicate this to all my clients who have continuously believed, persevered and stood by me throughout the ups and downs of my life. To God be all the glory 🙏🙏🙏

22/04/2026

I had the privilege of hosting the Financial Executives Institute Of The Philippines (FINEX) General Membership Meeting earlier today, where we had a meaningful and highly relevant discussion on the Universal Health Care Act.

Dr. Edwin Mercado, Dr. Ramy Roxas, Usec. Kim Lokin and Dr. Yasmin Dela Cruz generously shared their insights on both the gains and the continuing challenges of universal health care in the Philippines.

What stood out to me most is that health care is not only a public policy issue — it is also an access, governance, financing, sustainability, and human dignity issue. Behind every reform are real communities, real institutions, real budget constraints, and real lives that depend on the quality and accessibility of care.

The discussion reminded us that universal health care requires more than legislation. It requires alignment among government, medical institutions, finance leaders, private sector partners, and communities. It also calls for difficult but necessary conversations on ex*****on, funding, implementation, accountability, and long-term sustainability. It calls for changing long held traditions in the medical industry.

Grateful to FINEX for creating spaces where finance professionals can engage in issues that go beyond numbers, and toward nation-building.

Thank you to our distinguished speakers and to everyone who joined us today.