Hello Mark,
A few things.
1) Don't panic. Easier said than done, but I've been in a comparable situation before. It's important to keep a clear mind. Hurting feelings, doubts and all this is normal. It has it's time. Than, next step, use your clear mind again.
Remember how you felt when you felt strong and invincible. Build on this self-esteem.
2) I assume you did investigate the chances to move to Colorada together with your employer, did you? I know from mergers and acquisition that roughly 20 % - 30 % synergy (lay-offs) are normal. Which means in return: 80 % - 70 % will stay where they are, more or less.
Which side are you on from this perspective?
3) Build on your strength, not on your weakness.
How good can you become as a programmer? In the best calling you can chose? I can't tell you, but you yourself can, your friends or other people can do (unfortunately family members and relatives tend to discourage in general "you want to be what? are you kidding?" that's not what you need now.)
Try finding out about all of your strenghts instead. Technically. Personally. Talents you know about. Talents other people recognized and told you in your past walk of life. Things you know are absolutely easy for you to do - while others will just say: "wow, how did you do that?" (Somebody said, remember?)
Look for company of positive, inspiring people.
4) Separate.
Separate two important tasks: a) special subject matter tasks and b) management tasks.
Right. You are a supervisor now, so part of your job is technically, part of it is managerially. Technical is everything which is specific to your current position and which will change from job to job. Management is everything which will not change from job to job, if this management task is performed correctly (and good).
For the time being the most important management task for you is, as you say yourself: management of "self".
5) Managing yourself good.
5a) Focus on results (ideally for your employer)
Review your CV (I mean your past walk of life). What has been the benefit, your special plus to your current and to your past employers or authorities? Can you find a pattern in your behaviour?
Try to imagine what result you can obtain for your next employer. What makes you special? What can only you (or just a few people on this globe) do best? And who will value your contribution most?
5b) Focus on contribution to the business purpose.
Each business has a purpose. If it's purpose is to "increase shareholders value", you know that business is on it's route to termination. If it's purpose is to anticipate what customer want, and to manage early to deliver it, you'll know, that business will stay for quite some time.
What business purpose do you want to serve? Where do you set your limits?
5c) Focus on your strength. Use strength of other people.
What questions do you have to answer? Which questions do you have to reveal beforehand? What has to be organized? Technically, personally, financially, managerially, ... ?
Who can help you most in each one of it? Who can help you to turn dreams and requirements into reality? Who can be your secret alliance, your secret Master Mind?
5d) Trust and confidence.
Trust in yourself. Build trust into others. Whatever business you'll be in, it will rise and fall with trust and confidence.
5e) Focus on the vital few
To make things work out for you ($80.000+) you have to focus on the vital few activities which will bring you closest to your goal. Decide. Talk to procrastination, as it has to leave you now forever. Be persistent. Set a goal for yourself. Make a route towards it. Go. Be persistent. Don't stop before you're there. Win the fight against the ghosts of fear. You're the winner. You're the survivor.
Winston Churchill once was invited to give a speech on his successes during WWII. Here it is, in original length.
"Never give up!" - "NEVER give up!" -- "Never give up! Thank you."
And he left the podium.
5f) Think positive.
Your biggest pain, your steepest hurdle, your darkest hour can be the source of abundant wealth.
Once you recognize it. Once you perceive it that way. Once you welcome the lesson life holds for you through this event.
Thinking positive is no self-illusion. When you think about it, it's a necessary prerequirement. Without positive thinking you just live in hell-on-earth.
Welcome to heaven ;-)
5g) Take responsibility.
Take responsibility for your self. For your destiny. For your route. For the kind of results you deliver through your work.
Management, after all, is "transformation of knowledge and ressources into results and benefits".
Hope this helps. I'm sure your technical questions regarding Java, programming, html, SQL and so on will find different answers.
As I see it there is no need for you to sell your self below your current value. That will make nobody happy. Especially you won't be happy in 5 years from now.
Who said, you can't?
You are the only one who sets the limits.
Remember:
When everybody is just doing the fun-job, society will come to a hold within 24 hours. So there is such a thing as duty - and it's valued.
Think of people who found out to be able to do extraordinary things, against all expectations, just because they were in trouble. Limits are out there, and they are usually much further away than we think they are.
Would be inerested to know how things evolve for you.
Kind regards,
Michael
(From: Michaels Perl-services,
or
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