It’s something we’ve all fantasized about, come on, admit it! The fact is that we all feel like we want to unleash our inner James Bond at some point because it is just plain cool. But whether you have wanted to be Bond or Bourne, or feel like you’ve got what it takes to thrive in those hair-raising situations, it’s about those real skills. What are those skills secret agents have needed to thrive? Let’s show you some that you can definitely learn and apply to real life.

Weapons

Of course, this is the best place to begin. You’ve got to be a sharpshooter, but where can you do this in real life? There are plenty of resources available for you. From the shooting range to paintballing and, of course, Airsoft. With something like Airsoft, it can seem up close and personal, and if you have ever wondered, how much can Airsoft hurt? The fact is that it can hurt pretty badly, but make no mistake, James Bond has been shot a few times. While we’re not saying you should go out and get shot to go all “method,” with Airsoft, the blow is going to be far less painful!

Evading Capture

If you want to be a super spy, or in fact, you are going traveling, it’s critical to understand if somebody is on your tail. You need to learn how to blend into your surroundings, which can be very difficult if you are in the middle of China and you are a 6-foot-tall white guy! Evading capture is about having an inherent understanding of your surroundings but also learning how to defend yourself if push comes to shove. Martial arts are synonymous with spies, but people like James Bond were not necessarily skilled in every discipline. Martial arts like Krav Maga can certainly help you in real life, but rather than being a hero, you’ve got to hit and run!

Confidentiality

We all fantasize about playing spy from time to time, and if this is something that has become a lifelong passion of yours, you may have just focused on the more action-oriented aspects of the role. But the fact is that to be a secret agent, you’ve got to be secretive. You might be someone who posts updates on Twitter constantly, but if you want to get by in life, it’s important to learn the art of confidentiality, especially when it comes to maintaining friendships. There is something about the spy profession that demands someone to be mentally strong. This is the very first test that you could give yourself. Because if you like nothing more than to gossip about others, how would you fare as a spy? You need to blend into the background, which means you need to maintain confidentiality, but also not try to take over the floor during a party!

In addition to being secretive, you must also be a keen observer. If you really want to become an undercover agent, while there’s a lot you need to practice, the fact is that there are a lot of skills that we can learn that would benefit us in real life.