Meet Sara Bachman | Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Bachman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

When I decided to start my own business, I was not happy where I was at professionally, and it was affecting me personally. I hated putting all of my energy forward for someone else to take, and I knew that I could only get free by removing myself from the situation I was in. My strength in moving forward was my daughter. She was only a few months old at the time and I wanted to be truly present with her and not sick with anxiety every time my phone rang, or I received an email or text after hours from my boss. I wanted my time to truly be mine.

That’s how some businesses are born right? Out of a desperation for something more?

I came to the point of realizing that I could not be much worse off starting my own practice than I felt at that point in my professional career. If I failed, I’d be on the hunt for a new job all the same as if I stayed where I was at.

Luckily, my spouse and family were (and still are) incredibly supportive and filled in all the gaps—big and small—when I made the leap.

My leap into solo practice as an attorney is unique because I opened my firm in an incredibly rural area—Naturita, CO—near where I grew up and it was a risk whether my business would be sustainable or not. After nearly 6 years of consecutive growth, I can confidently say that my business is sustainable.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I joke but it’s really the truth, what sets me apart from others in my profession is a strong hometown advantage and lots of miles! I learned early on in my legal career that the clients I enjoyed working for the most are the ones who didn’t know the brand of my suit much less cared if I wore one at all. I was able to find the type of people who I connect with most and serve them which maximizes my own sense of wellbeing.

Other than geography, I also attribute my success to the fact that I truly love my community and I want to see it shine. I spend a fair amount of time volunteering and pushing visions for the area to fruition. While this helps my community, it really helps me maintain perspective, pride, appreciation, and gratitude. I feel a strong duty to give back to the place that has given so much to me.

The hardest part of being in independent practice, is not having colleagues to serve as simultaneous teachers and mentors. To compensate, I have built a great backdrop of peers that I can look to for guidance, advice, and even camaraderie. I have also learned that it is okay to be vulnerable and ask for help when I need it.

Some days, nothing is easy about being in business for yourself; however, every day it is worth it!

I want the world to know that you don’t always get the best service from the biggest or the most expensive brands.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

First, I would tell my friend that they better be prepared to have little to no cell phone service and be ready to unplug and unwind. I would have them book a room for a few nights at CampV in Naturita and a few nights at the Vestal House in Nucla. For the week, we would rent UTVs from Rimrock Adventures or 3 Peaks ATV Rentals.

On day one, we would get acquainted with Jane Thompson and Sharon Johannsen from the Rimrocker Historical Society and follow them to where the town of Uravan, Colorado was once booming and they would show us where they grew up, uranium mines, and where the town is buried. We would eat lunch at the Uravan Ball Park which is now a beautiful campground on the San Miguel River.

For the next day or two, we would jump back in our UTVs and explore the river road and old mining roads west of Naturita. We may even drive the Rimrock Trail into Moab. If we are lucky, the Dolores River is flowing and we can marshal some paddle boards or a raft and float under the infamous Hanging Flume. In the evenings, we would enjoy a night cap with the sunset or the light show at CampV.

On day four, we would cool off with a ride to the Uncompahgre Plateau with frequent stops to photograph the wildflowers and pick columbines for water bottle bouquets and enjoy the vast views from the plateau looking south. On our way back to town, we would stop at Columbine Campground and catch and release some of the fish stocked in the ponds. For the evening, we would enjoy some decadent Saucy Mama’s pizza and choose to pair it with a brew from Ouray, Telluride, or Durango.

On day five, we would take our UTV adventure to the Lone Cone, enjoy the high-altitude trails, and sit on the banks of the Miramonte Reservoir reflecting on the calmness of the area. We would top off the day with a BBQ and campfire. Once night settled in, we would listen to Fishin’ in the Dark by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and look at the stars.

On day six and seven, we would contemplate whether we should branch out since we are so close to other great attractions. We may go to Moab, Ouray, or Mesa Verde. Or, in the alternative, we would sun along the banks of the San Miguel River and contemplate my friend’s move to the West End.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

There are so many people to thank that I almost feel like I shouldn’t even attempt a list because I’ll miss naming someone!

First, my mom, Doylene Garvey, husband, Mitch Bachman, and my family deserve a huge shout out. My mom does so much for me—watches my girls, surprises me with dinner after busy days, and gives me the best pep talks when I need it. My husband let me drag him to the middle of nowhere so that I could find my work/life balance and is always inspiring me to take on challenges outside of my comfort zone. My dad, brother, sister, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncle, and cousins are all ready at a moment’s notice to help me juggle various commitments which I certainly take for granted.

Second, I’d be nowhere without my amazing office support staff, Cimmy and Maria. I joke that these ladies are my bull dogs, but they truly keep the lights on, clients happy, me fed and sane. It’s cliché, but I know it’s true because they take days off work, I’d be lost without them.

Third, a huge thanks to my former and current clients who have not only trusted me with their legal needs, but were vulnerable with me in their worst of situations, shared their big plans in confidence, had grace with me if I made mistakes, and allowed me to learn and grow alongside them.

Fourth, a mega shout out the West End Entrepreneurs new and old for putting their hearts, souls, and retirement accounts into their business and real estate endeavors in the West End of Colorado. And a special thanks to my fellow boomerangs who returned home with their families in tow to “put it all on the line” for a different way of life.

Lastly, an enormous shout out to all the folks who take turns in the trenches with me fighting for the West End’s resiliency and making the West End the Best End. To name a few: the talented women at West End Economic Development Corporation, the Telluride Foundation and former CEO Paul Major, the public servants, and employees of the Towns of Nucla and Naturita and the special districts serving the area, and the nonprofit organizations filling critical gaps in the area.

Website: https://www.bachmanlawcolorado.com/