title: rspec test passes in isolation, but fails when run with other tests
body: <p>I have some specs, written in RSpec, that test various models. I use Factory Girl to generate object for testing.</p>
  
  <p>Now the most peculiar thing happens:<br>
  When i run <code>rspec spec/models/specific_model_spec.rb</code> --- this passes all the tests in that spec</p>
  
  <p>However, when I run <code>rspec spec/models</code> --- every test in this spec fails referring to an invalid association being created (via a factory)</p>
  
  <p>The association created by the factory is obviously valid as running the test in isolation also shows.</p>
  
  <p>What could be causing this behavior?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Update:</strong><br>
  The error i get when running the spec together with other specs (the error is the same for each failure):</p>
  
  <pre><code>6) StreamItem adds a stream_item to a project and consultant when an engagement is added 
   Failure/Error: @project = Factory.create(:project, :name =&gt; 'bar' )
   Validation failed: Customer is invalid
   # ./spec/models/stream_item_spec.rb:44:in `block (2 levels) in &lt;top (required)&gt;'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The <code>project factory</code> is tested in another spec and passes fine...</p>
  
  <p><strong>Update 2:</strong>
  The relevant factory code used is a follows:    </p>
  
  <pre><code>Factory.define :manager, :class =&gt; User do |f|
    f.sequence(:email) { |n| "bar#{n}@example.com" }
    f.password "pass12"
    f.sequence(:name) { |n| "Erwin#{n}" }
    f.roles_mask 4
  end
  
  Factory.define :customer do |f|
    f.sequence(:name) { |n| "foo customer#{n}" }
    f.association :last_actor, :factory =&gt; :manager
    f.account_id 1
  end
  
  Factory.define :project do |f|
    f.sequence(:name) { |n| "foo project#{n}" }
    f.association :manager, :factory =&gt; :manager
    f.association :customer, :factory =&gt; :customer
    f.start_date Date.today &lt;&lt; 1
    f.finish_date Date.today &gt;&gt; 2
    f.status 1
    f.association :last_actor, :factory =&gt; :manager
    f.account_id 1
  end
  </code></pre>