Working closely with a powerful leader, be it Saddam Hussein, Muammar Gaddafi, or Ali Abdullah Saleh, is no walk in the roses. But the rewards are undeniable. It provides you with protection that even constitutions, which often serve the leader's interests, cannot offer. It grants you influence amid ministers and military personnel, making them feel that you're close to the president's ear and a trusted confidant. You become part of the decision-making circle, helping you uncover the ins and outs, as well as the conspiracies.