The Fire Never Left: How Routz Reignited My Purpose

I thought about writing every day for the last 15 days.

Every single one of those days, the urge was there. But something always stopped me. Sometimes it was the lack of motivation. Other times it was the weight of life. And honestly? A lot of times, I just didn’t want to feel what I knew would come out on the page.

The pressure’s been relentless. Every day starts with a weight on my chest that doesn’t let up. There’s this invisible clock ticking louder and louder — and I can’t slow it down.

No space to breathe. No pause button.Just this constant hum of stress and the sense that I’m being crushed under the expectations I’ve placed on myself. It’s like I’m stuck in a loop — trying to move forward while something keeps pulling me under.

Yeah… it’s been that real.

But two days ago, something shifted.

That fire inside me — the one that refuses to die — started burning again.

I had this urge to build something meaningful. Something that actually mattered. So I did what I do best when I’m stuck — I turned to creation.

I opened ChatGPT and asked it for app ideas rooted in the things I’m drawn to: Travel. Discovery. Real connection to the world around us.

It gave me five ideas.

And one of them sparked something deep inside me.

What is Routz?

Routz is more than just a navigation app. It’s built to help people experience the world differently — not just by getting from point A to point B, but by uncovering the voices, stories, and soul of the places around them.

It’s got a feature that reveals moments and memories tied to your surroundings — told by the people who’ve actually lived them. It turns every journey into something personal, layered, and real.

And as I started mapping it out, I thought — who better to build this than me?

I’ve traveled. I’ve protected lives. I’ve moved through cities like a ghost with a plan.I understand the unspoken language of routes — how they shape stories, moments, and human experiences.

This is my lane. And this time, I’m not letting the fire die.

The last few years haven’t been easy.

I launched a business around a luggage/stroller idea. When that felt too big, I pivoted to diaper bags. I went all in. Bought inventory. Branded it. Built the whole thing.

And it flopped.

I kept asking God “Why.” Why give me a vision, only to have it crash?

But now I realize I was asking the wrong question.

Instead of “why,” I should’ve been asking “how.”

Because the truth is, my purpose never left.

It’s always been there — burning under the rubble, waiting to be unearthed: To create. To build. To make a difference.

Yeah, if the money comes along the way — great. But the money’s not the mission.

The mission is the mission.

The Fire’s Back

In the last two days, I’ve felt it again. Even with pressure still on my back. Even with failure nipping at my heels. Even with people counting me out.

I’m still here. I never stopped getting back up. Creating an app has reignited my purpose, my mission.

And if this story — this journey — one day gets told next to the ones I’ve read about… then every breakdown, every disappointment, every late-night doubt will have been worth it.

Because my story isn’t over. Not even close.

This time, I’m not getting swept up in the hype. I’m not rushing. I’m not making loud announcements or trying to prove anything.

I’m building Routz methodically. Silently. Relentlessly. With a chip on my shoulder and a mission in my heart.

Because right now? Nobody’s watching. Nobody cares.

But one day…

They’ll say: “Wait… what the hell? How did he do that?”

#FounderJourney #PurposeDriven #RoutzApp #FaithInTheFire #BuildingInSilence #AIStartup #StartupLife