The Cost of Staying in the Game: A Hard Year-End Reset

2025 didn’t just challenge businesses — it drained people.

In the final episode of the year, David Greenspan delivers a raw, grounded year-end reset for REALTORS®, entrepreneurs, and professionals who feel exhausted, disillusioned, and frustrated by the state of business, society, and standards.

Building on the momentum of Episode 365, this conversation shifts inward — examining the internal cost of staying in the game through economic pressure, digital overload, eroding trust, declining professionalism, and a growing disconnect between effort and progress.

This episode unpacks:

• Why Canada’s economy stalled instead of crashing — and why that grind is more dangerous
• How social media and dopamine addiction are impacting mindset, behavior, and follow-through
• The collapse of trust, standards, and accountability — and what it’s doing to relationships and business
• Why happiness feels further away for both youth and adults, backed by real data
• How to conduct a meaningful year-end reflection that actually changes outcomes
• What to remove, reset, and recommit to heading into 2026

This isn’t about hype, resolutions, or pretending everything is fine.

It’s about clarity, alignment, and deciding what’s worth carrying forward — and what isn’t.

If 2025 took more from you than you expected, this episode will help you reset with intention and direction.

Main Topics Covered

• The real cost of a stalled economy
• Burnout vs. disengagement
• Social media, dopamine, and declining focus
• Erosion of trust and professionalism
• Youth happiness, affordability, and delayed milestones
• The importance of standards, values, and alignment
• Year-end reflection: wins, misses, lessons
• Building MindShare going into 2026

Resources & References Mentioned

• Bank of Canada – GDP growth projections
• Statistics Canada – screen time, housing affordability, youth renting data
• World Happiness Report (via C.D. Howe Institute)
• Edelman Trust Barometer

If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who needs a reset heading into 2026 so we can all help raise the standard of conversation in this industry, and please leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.