Four Careers, Seven Industries, and One Framework: My Journey to Understanding My G.E.M.S.

My first official year of reportable taxable earnings was 1966 for $117—I was 12 years old. That year, I worked in a laundry doing odd jobs. Before that, I sold newspapers at a corner and on a neighborhood delivery route. I also worked as a "soda jerk" serving up ice cream treats to customers at a neighborhood pharmacy. Those early jobs seemed to come easily, and I didn't understand why until much later. They were tapping into innate abilities I didn't yet have words for: my extroversion (constant interactions with people), my number memory (counting money), and my knack for concept organization (creating and following procedures). These weren't learned skills. They were my Genius—my natural abilities showing up before I ever needed them.

In my teen years, I worked for a transportation company that provided rides from Chicago airports to downtown hotels—something I did throughout high school and college, and it paid for my education. Again, the work felt natural. I was building relationships, solving logistical problems, and thriving on human interaction.

I attended college and graduated with a degree in science, planning to become a science teacher. But life had other ideas. Being a "Baby Boomer" in the middle of the boom, I found that many of my predecessors had the same plans, blocking my entry into the profession. It was time for my first official career pivot.

The opportunity I exploited was the environmental movement—the passage of many laws protecting water, air, and land. A science degree was my ticket into environmental consulting, where I conducted assessments of new developments and their environmental impact. This work aligned with my Motives—my values around environmental stewardship—but it didn't fully satisfy my Energy. I craved more interaction, more relationship-building, less isolation in technical analysis.

Then came the years of great inflation and recession. Another pivot: the Environmental Protection Agency. My father, a police officer and fellow public servant, was pleased. Me? I quickly learned that the Agency wasn't interested in what I had to offer—my ideas, my knack for developing new processes. They were all about policy, procedures, and doing things the same way, all the time, with most of the staff working alone in cubicles - not as collaborative teams. My Energy (extroversion and idea-generation) and my Motives (wanting to make a difference) were working against me in an environment that valued neither. I became anxious, realizing that the "fit" would not last.

The recession ended. The economy improved. The stock market boomed. I saw an ad for stockbrokers (financial consultants) and was intrigued by the idea of being paid for actual performance rather than a predefined salary. I applied along with 1,500 others. Despite my limited business and investment experience, I was hired into a training class of 50. What they saw in me—what I had yet to realize—was a committed, enthusiastic idea generator who could gain the confidence and trust of others. I would build expertise in investing as I progressed through the sales process and acquired new clients.

Months later, I passed my licensing exam and began soliciting clients. I leaned into my Energy and my Sparks (my natural interest in relationship-building), capturing new clients at a rapid pace. I won several office competitions that included trips to France and Italy. Of my class of 50 trainees, I was the first to graduate to a regular office and assume full broker duties. The kid with no business background had made his way into business—not on knowledge, but on his natural traits.

But something was wrong. While I was excited to advance and the money was good, my Motives—my values—began to awaken. What was I doing? Were the transactions I was recommending good for my clients, or was I just generating commissions? The question weighed heavily on me and, in short order, impacted my production. I learned a hard lesson: regardless of the good fortune and payout, my values were worth so much more. I had to walk away.

About this time, I sought the help of a career consultant and took a critical assessment: the Highlands Ability Battery. This moment changed everything.

Until then, I had intuition but no language. I knew something wasn't working, but I couldn't articulate why or what to do about it. The Highlands results confirmed my instincts and gave my feelings a voice—new words and phrases I could use to understand better what I do well, what I enjoy doing, and how I can apply them to help employers (and myself).

For the first time, I had a framework. I had labels for the things that came naturally to me. I could see why certain environments energized me, and others drained me. I could see why some careers fit and others didn't. The assessment didn't tell me who to be—it revealed who I already was. And that changed everything.

One thing the financial industry taught me was how to sell—specifically, how to probe for needs and identify opportunities. I combined that skill with my knowledge and experience in the environmental industry and landed a role as Marketing & Sales Director at an environmental services company.

Now I was working intentionally. My Genius (analytical ability, number aptitude), my Energy (extroversion, relationship-building), my Sparks (interest in environmental impact and large-scale problem solving), and my Motives (values around environmental stewardship) were all aligned. The longer sales cycle of environmental contracts matched my natural pace. I helped the company secure some of its largest contracts, working with major industrial companies across the country. I had found what felt like a long-term home.

A few mergers and acquisitions later, I was ready to move again—this time into large account management. By then, I was an adept networker, linking up with people across industries. With a solid understanding of my G.E.M.S., I could easily articulate my unique traits and how I could apply them to help companies address their problems and approach opportunities.

I secured a role as VP, Strategic Accounts, at a national pharmaceutical distribution firm, where I was responsible for one of its largest client relationships. The ensuing 16 years were the most rewarding of my career. Everything I had learned about myself and the value I brought was on full display. In a true team environment, I was challenged to take on many roles and responsibilities. My ideas were valued. My process development mattered. My team leadership made a difference. I was "hitting on all cylinders"—my compensation reflected it—and I was able to retire at age 62. Fifty years of work by that point, forty of it in a professional capacity.

What did I learn through all of this? That you never stop learning about yourself. There is always more to learn and accomplish. There are more ways to apply what you do well and enjoy, and to make a difference in the world—within a company, an organization, or with others.

I also learned that we are better when we work together, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses, pressure-testing ideas, and keeping each other accountable. I learned to be true to my ideals and values—to use them as my North Star during times of difficult decisions. In the end, people remember you for who you are, how you treated them, and the impact you made, not your status or how much money you earned.

Four careers. Seven industries. Eleven employers. More than fifteen job titles. What is common across that spectrum? My unique traits—my G.E.M.S.: Genius (Abilities), Energy (Personality), Motives (Values), and Sparks (Interests).

The deep knowledge and understanding of my G.E.M.S. and how I successfully reconfigured them to pivot toward more promising career opportunities are my "secret sauce." My success with this process is the reason I do what I do today.

Can you imagine if every student and young adult had a firm understanding of their G.E.M.S. before they began their career journey? What an impact that would make.

This is exactly why I founded Career Prism Network℠. The difference between drifting through career choices and designing them intentionally starts with understanding your G.E.M.S. The earlier you gain that clarity, the fewer unplanned pivots you'll need—and the more purposeful and prosperous your path will be.

About Ray Giese, CCSP, MS & Founder, Career Prism Network℠:

After a 40-year career spanning four distinct careers, seven industries, and more than fifteen job titles, Ray Giese knows firsthand that career change doesn't have to mean starting from scratch. That experience became the foundation for the Career Prism Method℠ and the reason he founded the Career Prism Network℠.

A Career Strategist and Certified Highlands Consultant, Ray treats career planning as a repeatable design process rather than a leap of faith — one that trades anxiety and confusion for a clear, purposeful path forward. He's also his own best case study: he used this exact approach to navigate his own pivots without losing the professional equity he'd spent decades building. The result is a career plan that doesn't just sound good on paper — it pays the bills and becomes a reliable economic engine.

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