The Age of Real Is Here: From Digital to Analogue in 2026

If you’re a business owner in Ajax or the GTA, standing out in 2026 looks different.

We're deep into February now ... calling it the new year is starting to feel like a stretch.

Most of us came into 2026 with some kind of intention to grow—personally, professionally, or both (well, not everyone, but hopefully those reading this)

And if you're a business owner or entrepreneur in Ajax or anywhere across the GTA, that pressure to get seen, be remembered, and be real is here.

AI Slop and the Yearning for Something Real

We're living in a moment where AI has worked its way into nearly every part of our lives—professional and personal. If you're online, and most of you are, you've seen it play out on social channels where you're left wondering what's real and what isn't.

We're seeing it in the job market too, where résumés are being read by automated systems before a human ever lays eyes on them.

I'm not saying it's all bad. But it is making things harder, and the fatigue is real.

People are worn out by it.

There's a growing pull toward something simpler ... a time before the feed, before the algorithm, before the phone was always in your hand.

A Lack of Authenticity in the Market

A few weeks back, I saw online a post by Ogilvy—the ad and marketing firm—which said we are living in an "authenticity recession."

I couldn't agree more. Sadly, as mentioned above, with the amount of AI slop and TikTok and IG algorithms, it feels we are in short supply of "real" these days. What's the solution!? Well, I thought Ogilvy summed it up nicely:

"The winners will be those who build transparent, human-led creative systems that use AI as a tool while making their humanity provable."

For better or worse, AI isn’t going anywhere. But it puts the responsibility back on us. If the tools are available to everyone, then what separates us is how honestly we show up.

The Shift from Digital to Analogue

I can't believe I'm saying this, but it feels like we are moving back to a time when analogue ruled the world. While I don't see it returning altogether to analogue, with so much mistrust in what we see and read online, the people who show up in real ways—shaking hands, attending events, being genuinely present—are going to have the edge in this new era of the information age.

Being part of a business community, whether that's the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade or something in your own corner of the GTA, isn't a nice-to-have anymore. It's part of how you prove you're real.

And it's not just Ogilvy saying it. Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman of VaynerX and VaynerMedia, said it plainly in a recent post:

"Everybody who has been yearning for more real world—good news—it's coming. Live events, getting together, going bowling, taking a hike, all these things in the real world are taking off, and analog is going to continue to explode."

That's the direction things are moving.

So what does that actually mean for professionals and entrepreneurs in Durham Region and the GTA?

When I talk to professionals and entrepreneurs across Durham Region and the GTA, I keep coming back to the same thing: build real connections, in real life. It's that simple.

Networking Still Matters. Maybe More Than Ever.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of photographers through Headshots Matter, a global network of professional photographers across 150 countries. (Which I'm a part of, btw.)

The topic was networking, and what I shared with them applies to anyone looking to build real connections and grow their business.

I talked about how I'm involved with the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade — how I show up, attend events, and talk to strangers who become contacts who become friends. That's always been the way it works for me.

My message to those photographers was direct: if you don't put yourself out there, you won't build relationships. And without relationships, your business will struggle.

Here's what I've learned after years of doing this across Ajax, Pickering, and Durham Region.

Show up consistently, not just once.

Networking isn't about attending a single event and trying to sell to everyone in the room. It's about putting the time in. Seeing the same faces at several events. Asking how someone is doing and actually meaning it. Taking the time to understand what makes that person tick—what they care about, what they're working through. That's how a stranger becomes a contact, and a contact becomes someone who refers you. If you're trying to sell on the first meeting, you've already lost.

The goal at any event isn't to close a deal. It's to start something. Be curious. Be useful. Be the person people are glad they met. The business follows from that—it always does.

Follow up intentionally

This is the part most people skip.

If you meet someone at an event, connect with them afterward. Send a short message. Reference something specific you talked about. Add value if you can.

Networking in Durham Region—or anywhere in the GTA—isn’t about collecting business cards. It’s about building relationships that continue beyond the room.

I Still Believe in Digital ... LinkedIn in Particular

All that said, some digital platforms are worth your time. I spend more time on LinkedIn than anywhere else, and for good reason—it's where professionals are actually paying attention.

But you have to approach it the same way you'd approach a room full of people. Show up as yourself. Be consistent. And make sure your profile reflects who you actually are right now.

Awhile back, I wrote about how a strong profile image on LinkedIn is one of the simplest ways to increase your visibility on the platform.

We're talking up to 21X more profile views.

If yours is out of date, that's worth fixing...

In Times Like These Both Matter

Standing out in a tough market takes effort in two directions—digital and in-person.

So get back in the room.

Attend the events.

Join the local chamber or board of trade.

Have the conversations.

And while you’re at it, tighten up your digital presence so that when someone looks you up after meeting you, what they find actually reflects the person they just met.

In a world flooded with automation, the advantage belongs to the people who show up—consistently, honestly, and in real life.

You won't regret it.

See you out there.