Beau Billington’s Playbook: Best Practices for Thriving in Fractional Roles

Beau Billington, founder of The Free Agent, discusses the concept of fractional and interim roles in the corporate world. He explains that fractional roles offer extreme flexibility and are a fraction of a work week, allowing professionals to work with multiple clients at the same time. He also highlights the importance of finding the right fit between the free agent and the company. Beau shares that companies are starting to understand the value of fractional executives and are embracing this model. He mentions that the billing model for fractional roles can vary, but having a set number of hours per month with the flexibility to roll them over is becoming more popular. Beau also discusses the distinction between strategic and tactical fractional roles and how companies are looking for professionals who can do both. He shares his own journey of becoming an entrepreneur and starting The Free Agent. Beau Billington shares his journey of starting a fractional executive agency and provides insights on best practices for those considering a career in the fractional space. He emphasizes the importance of being entrepreneurial and transparent with family members about the risks involved. Beau also highlights the need to validate your value proposition and ideal client profile before launching your venture. He believes that the fractional space is just getting started and sees a growing demand for fractional executives as more companies prioritize work-life balance and seek expertise on a project basis. Beau envisions a future where a significant percentage of companies operate with a fractional workforce.

Beau's Contact Information
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beaubillington/
Website: https://thefreeagent.com/

Key Takeaways

• Fractional roles offer extreme flexibility and allow professionals to work with multiple clients at the same time.
• Finding the right fit between the free agent and the company is crucial for a successful fractional engagement.
• Companies are starting to understand the value of fractional executives and are embracing this model.
• The billing model for fractional roles can vary, but having a set number of hours per month with the flexibility to roll them over is becoming more popular.
• There is a distinction between strategic and tactical fractional roles, and companies often look for professionals who can do both.
• Beau Billington shares his own journey of becoming an entrepreneur and starting The Free Agent. Being entrepreneurial and transparent with family members is crucial when starting a fractional executive agency.
• Validating your value proposition and ideal client profile before launching your venture is essential.
• The fractional space is just getting started, and there is a growing demand for fractional executives.
• Small businesses and mid-size companies can leverage fractional expertise to gain efficiencies and access talent they couldn't afford full-time.
• The future of work will see a shift towards a more fractional workforce, with companies prioritizing work-life balance and project-based expertise.

Sound Bites

• "To me, the very essence of fractional is no wrapper, right? Like it's extreme flexibility."
• "Fractional is a fraction of a work week. It could be, you know, five hours a week, 10, 20, 35, etc."
• "The billing model we use is a hybrid of retainer and hourly."
• "I like solving problems and making introductions and connections."
• "It was about seven months before I got my first paycheck."
• "It can take a while, but it's really about having the ability to look back and take an audit of what you're doing well."

Chapters
00:00
The Journey from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

02:09
Understanding Fractional Work and its Value

06:10
The Evolving Billing Model for Fractional Work

08:12
Embracing the Value of Fractional Roles

18:13
Navigating the Transition from Consulting to Agency Work

29:00
Challenges and Insights in Starting a Business

29:36
The Future of Fractional Work

33:20
Best Practices for Fractional Work and Career Transition