John Carver is convinced he will be a stronger man for the trials and tribulations he has experienced as Newcastle's coach.
The 50-year-old was thrown in at the deep end in January following Alan Pardew's surprise departure for Crystal Palace, with the Magpies' main targets unavailable.
It has proved a baptism of fire as an understrength squad further depleted by injuries and suspensions has slid alarmingly down the Premier League table.
They have now reached the point where anything less than victory over West Ham on Sunday could see them suffer the unthinkable, relegation to the Championship for the second time in six years.
However, while Carver, as Pardew before him, has borne the brunt of fans' frustrations as the club's public face, he is adamant the lessons he has learned will serve him well in the future.
He said: "Listen, this job... It's about five months, isn't it? In five months, I don't think any other manager would have had to deal with everything that I've had to deal with in their whole career, never mind in five months.
"But in a really strange way, I have thoroughly enjoyed it, I really have. No, I have, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I got softened up a little bit when Alan was here and Alan was taking a bit of abuse, and I think I got used to it, if you know what I mean.
"It's not a nice thing to accept, but I'm definitely a stronger person and better for it, without a shadow of a doubt, and whatever happens after Sunday, I'll be better for it one way or the other.
"If I had the chance again starting again, I would do exactly the same. I'd say, 'Yes, I want this job. I'll do it my way.'
"I would just like to think that I would just have a little bit more rub of the green and a little bit more luck.
"The one thing I have done, I have thrown every single minute of the day into this job. I have sacrificed so many different things. I have sacrificed my family life, my social life -- but I don't mind that because I understood how big this job was.
"But it's very, very difficult when you are making all those sacrifices and taking the abuse you are taking. But I'd do it again."
Whatever happens on Sunday, there is little doubt that radical change will be required at a club which has lost the connection with large swathes of its support with critics denouncing a perceived lack of ambition.
Newcastle recorded a profit of £18.7 million and banked £34m during the last financial year while opting not to further strengthen the squad, and that has sparked a furious reaction.
But for 90 minutes this weekend, all that will matter is edging over the finishing line, something a first win since Feb. 28 -- or at worst, matching the result achieved by 18th-placed Hull at home to Manchester United -- will secure.
Asked what his reaction would be if he kept the club in the top flight, Carver, who this week found himself at the centre of a fresh storm after being pictured smiling at a charity golf day, said: "It will be the second time I have smiled in a week -- and obviously I got stick for smiling the first time."
The job has undoubtedly taken its toll on Pardew's former No. 2, who freely admits his private and social lives have been affected with his wife noticing the change in him.
He said: "She thinks I'm mad. But I think most managers' wives think they are mad."
Nevertheless, asked if he would have any regrets on Sunday evening regardless of the outcome, he replied: "None whatsoever, none whatsoever."