Update
Factotum (n.)
Definition:
- A business generalist responsible for ensuring the continuity of business functions across departments.
- Excels at cross-functional strategy, systemic patchwork, and heroic last-minute recoveries after management's latest bright idea detonates.
Example:
“When the marketing department and IT team both collapsed, we handed it to Claire, our factotum, and somehow we shipped the product on time.”
America Doesn’t Have This Idea
This isn’t a recognized profession in America. Yet… But it is around the world.
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Close-ish English Equivalents
While English doesn’t have a direct word for this role in business management, a few phrases come close:
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Key Idea: A Factotum is like a white collar Handyman.
Not a Consultant, Agency, or Topic Expert
Key Values Differences:
Independence: Consultants build dependence. A Factotum builds systems so you can fire them.
Holistic: Factotums work across departments. Agencies stay in their silo.
Scrappy: A Factotum keeps duct tape in the drawer. A Topic Expert keeps cigars and cognac.
Attribute | Factotum | Consultancy | Agency | Topic Expert |
Core Role | Fractional Staff generalist; wears every hat | External advisor; solves broad problems | Team of specialists; outsourced services | Deep specialist in one domain |
Scope | Breadth > depth | Breadth with variable depth (depending on firm) | Breadth via packaged offerings | Depth >> breadth |
Engagement | Full-time (or long-term contract) | Project-based; fixed scope & timeline | Retainer or project; modular services | Hourly or short-term for niche issues |
Flexibility | 🚀 Ultra-flexible—jumps between tasks | 🏃 Agile when contracted—but bound by proposal | 🛠️ Flexible within service catalog | 🔍 Rigid to specialty |
Accountability | Owns end-to-end delivery | Owns recommendations; limited follow-through | Owns narrow deliverables from their team | Owns insight accuracy; implementation by others |
Cost Model | Salary + benefits | Day-rates or milestone fees | Retainer + per-project fees | Hourly or per-deliverable consulting fee |
Ideal When… | You need a “Swiss Army knife” on payroll | You need outside audit, strategy, or transformation | You need a turnkey team for marketing, design, dev, etc. | You need a deep-dive on one technical topic |
Pitfalls | Can burn out; hard to scale | Can over-engineer; expensive | Risk of “jack of none” if mis-matched | Too narrow; blind to adjacent impacts |
Hire Spencer as a Business Factotum
Ask questions and feel out the vibe on a Brainstorm call
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