Politics has always been unforgiving, but never more so than now.
So, speaking to the man who is on the brink of power in Wales, raises the question of whether he is really ready for what’s he’s taking on.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is a former journalist so he knows how to present himself, but much bigger challenges are coming, and fast.
At next May’s Senedd elections, he is narrowly on course to become first minister, according to current polls.
Mr ap Iorwerth visits local businesses on Ystrad Mynach high street. Pic: PA
But before that he faces the same battle as leaders across the UK – how to beat Reform, who are running his party very close.
It’s not clear he has a different strategy to any other politician, as he condemns their politics as divisive and tries instead to present a positive vision of unity and more public spending.
Maybe he has a better chance than most though as he can at least point the finger of blame firmly elsewhere – Westminster.
That leads to his second big problem of how to get anything from a Labour prime minister when you lead an opposition party.
In his conference speech he criticised Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan for being unable to influence Sir Keir Starmer.
But Mr ap Iorwerth later revealed to Sky News that he’s never even spoken to the prime minister, and when a meeting was requested he was offered the Secretary of State for Wales instead.
If he does become first minister he will have to walk the difficult line of fostering a privately productive relationship while still criticising in public.
Looming over all of this is the question of Welsh independence.
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It has been the party’s driving force for a century but it’s now been shelved for at least one term in office.
Mr ap Iorwerth says it’s because they need to lay the groundwork, have a consultation on the process and bring the public with them.
The truth is that the Welsh economy is so reliant on the rest of the UK that separation would be difficult, to say the least.
Figuring out how to keep pursuing their core purpose while acknowledging that reality could become corrosive.
Having said all that, he has a sense of momentum and purpose that many other politicians are lacking, driven by a strong sense of Welsh identity.
If he does get over the line in May, it will be this feeling that propels him, and he will need to draw on it again and again as he faces the tough times ahead.
