5 minute read
Meet the Chopras: A Life Centered Around Positivity
www.BlackhawkLivingCA.com @BlackhawkLivingCA #BlackhawkLivingCA
By Megan Scott, Resident since 2010
There are two questions people usually ask Vinod (Vinney) Chopra when they meet him. First: How did you get to where you are now? Second: How are you always smiling and so positive?
Vinney first came to the United States from India to attend college. He had a total of seven dollars to his name. He came with a dream and seven dollars to help him achieve that dream.
by Kim Lind Photography
Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Vinney received a Mechanical Engineering degree in India and first came to the U.S. to work towards an MBA at George Washington University. His wife of 39 years, Kanchan, is from Punjab, India. Kanchan moved to Canada when she was 19 years old. She has an accounting background.
Residents of Shadow Creek, just outside Blackhawk, for 28 years, the Chopras always had a desire to live in Blackhawk when they retired, and that goal became a reality when they found their dream house five months ago on Pheasant Run Estates. The empty nesters are parents to Neil, who lives in Oakland and works in electrical engineering and computer sciences, and a daughter, Monica, who lives in San Francisco and holds an MBA from UCLA.
Vinney started his career when he first came to the United States by selling Bibles and Educational Books door-to-door. Since then he has become a motivational speaker, fundraiser and best-selling author. “In the early 1980’s, my wife and I started to invest in single family rentals. The investments excited me so much, I decided to create a business around it. I became a Real Estate Broker in 2004, specializing in apartments and multifamily investing, syndications and management. That took off quite well. We have done 27 syndications to date. I wrote a book called Apartment Syndication made Easy and was pleasantly surprised to see 93 five-star reviews in two months,” says Vinney.
Filled with an entrepreneurial spirit, Vinney has been able to be his own boss for over 35 years and plan his schedule. Kanchan has owned two businesses: Silks Unlimited and Laser Impact. Now they have two Commercial Acquisition companies and two Commercial Management companies and an Education Company. “The hardest part of owning a business is hiring the right employees, training them constantly and building the culture and to keep the morale up through daily ups and downs,” says Kanchan.
Known for his constant positivity, even in the toughest of circumstances, Vinney says he credits his enthusiastic outlook on life for all his success. “Sometimes people tell me I’m too positive, and that I should not be smiling all the time. I have always believed in an individual’s ability to shape the world around them through positive thoughts, enthusiasm and selfless actions. Looking back, I remember the good things. I have to really dig and think through situations to remember anything negative. I’ve had hardships like anybody else, and there were times I was depressed, but I kept a positive attitude and that helped me overcome any negative situations.”
Vinney’s been making the best out of every situation his entire life. When he first came to the U.S. he says what could have been a flight disaster ended up being one of his most treasured memories. “I finally received my Visa, and at age 23, I traveled to the United States to pursue my MBA at George Washington University. I thought my Mechanical Engineering degree would be stronger with an MBA. When I got to New York, the airline that was going to bring me from New York to Washington, D.C. was on strike. I kept telling the airline employees at the counter that my uncle and family were waiting for me, and I needed to get on the next plane to D.C. They finally said there was a flight leaving in about half an hour from Newark, New Jersey airport. What they didn’t tell me was what kind of flight. Next thing I knew, they put me in their helicopter, just me, and flew me to Newark from LaGuardia Airport in New York. It was about 6:30 in the evening, and as we flew over the bridges, I could see all the lights and the buildings. It was a spectacular sight and made an indelible impression in my memory. I’ll never forget how beautiful the New York City skyline was in this ‘great land seven seas away from India’. I still have that vivid and amazing video of that flight in my mind. The scenery was spectacular and beautiful. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. Am I in heaven?’”
From that first day in the United States, Vinney has been determined to create a rewarding life. “I can definitely say that my success is a direct result of having a positive outlook since I arrived in this great land of opportunity with only $7 in my pocket. We are responsible for the way we use our minds. You’re born with a blank slate. Things in life are thrown at you, which will cause either a negative or a positive reaction. You have to make a decision to say, ‘No, this is not the mindset that I want. This is not the outcome I want,’” says Vinney.
The Chopras work to teach young people in the community the values of investing. “We are involved in Geeta Society, Livermore Hindu Temple and Lydia Project along with various other projects in India, Africa and Cambodia. We also have a Youth Academy to teach entrepreneurship and real estate to the youth so that they can learn how to get involved in real estate at a young age,” says Kanchan.
Living in Blackhawk has been a dream come true. You can find Vinney and Kanchan taking evening walks around their neighborhood. They love all their neighbors and taking in the view from their home. When they are not in Blackhawk, you can find them traveling the world. Traveling is a huge passion for the couple and they take multiple trips through-out the year.
You’ll know the Chopras when you see them. Just look for the big smiles. “I like to make everyone feel very special and believe that we are entrusted to do good in life for the people we come in contact with each and every day,” says Vinney.
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at mscott@bestversionmedia.com.
