McAlpin suggests that while undercover work can be addictive and dangerous, it is manageable if the operative remains attentive, reads body language well, and avoids unnecessary risks.

“If you're paying attention, it compounds and it builds your intelligence and it builds your ability to read more and more and more and if you're paying attention it makes you better.”

Undercover work is akin to sales because it requires an agent to successfully sell a fabricated identity to criminal organizations.

“Undercover is like sales. At the end of the day, you're a salesman. So, I go in, I meet a guy. Sometimes it's a cold call sales like, "Hey, how you doing? I think you need windows." All right. Let me I'm going to sell you some windows.”