require 'active_record' class Transactor < ActiveRecord::Base belongs_to :worker include AASM aasm :column => :status do state :sleeping, :initial => true state :running, :before_enter => :start_worker, :after_enter => :fail event :run do transitions :to => :running, :from => :sleeping end end private def start_worker worker.update_attribute(:status, 'running') end def fail raise StandardError.new('failed on purpose') end end