Their mission is simple: to create a better world.
Create a better world that, in the eyes of Mike, is
currently divided into two categories: those who
have resources and those who don’t. “How can
people improve their lives when they lack basic
resources?” he asks. “How can they expect to give
back when they’re worried about whether they’ll
have food and water tomorrow?” For Mike and
Jenny, it’s about bridging the gap between the two
and providing these resources to those in need.
Hero’s Journey
Having served in the United States Marine Corps,
Mike Sherbakov had established several qualities
for success early in his adult life, among them hard-
work, honor, and integrity. “Just when you’re ready
to quit, you’re only get started,” he recalls, one of
the many lesson he learned during his time in the
service. It was where he had developed two of his
three pillars for greatness—be more and do more.
While the Marine Corps played a major role in
developing Mike into the man he is today,
something was still missing. Interested in ways the
mind and body can work together, Mike pursued
degrees in psychology and kinesiology (the study of
human movement). By combining these two fields,
he hoped to find ways for businesses to become
more efficient in their practice. Little did he know
that he was entering a pivotal moment of his
“Hero’s Journey,” leading him to eventually discover
the third pillar, give more—completing the
inspiration for The Greatness Foundation.
Jenny found herself at a similar crossroad during
her own journey. Following a traditional path to
success that included graduating from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and
seeking a career in the business world, Jenny had a
head start on climbing the corporate ladder; a path
that led her to play an intricate role in the
development and eventual acquisition of a StartUp.
Yet, all the corporate success couldn’t bring her
complete fulfillment. She too was missing that
third pillar.
Risking everything she had ever worked for and
going against the advice society had drilled into her,
she decided to give it all up to travel the world. As
chance would have it, her path crossed with Mike’s
during a backpacking trip, where he encouraged
her to join him on one of his service projects. She
accepted the offer, and hasn’t looked back since.
Today, their team is 12 board members strong, with
30 full-time workers at any given time, not to
mention the countless number of volunteers that
have been involved throughout the years. Those
numbers are only expected to increase as the
foundation continues its rapid growth.
Be More
Take some time to explore their website, and you’ll
find a plethora of content. Concise and spoken and
with clarity, Mike shares several educational videos,
guiding those watching to find their strengths, shift
their perspectives on negative emotions into tools
to better themselves, and overall tips on how to
reach your potential. In one of his most notable
videos, “The Hero’s Journey,” Mike reminds us that
we are all living out versions of our own Hero’s
Journey, and encourages us to take that step to
fulfill our calling in life—to be more in our journey
towards greatness.
Do More
Coupled with their educational content are the
programs the foundation has been involved with
over the last several years. Their humanitarian
efforts span the globe, focused on many countries
in Central America and reaching as far as Europe
and Southeast Asia. Jenny often reflects on the
impact she, along with their team of volunteers have
made during these adventures and is constantly
looking forward to the next opportunity to do more.
Last August, they had the pleasure of witnessing
one of their ongoing projects come to completion
by opening a vocational school in Jiquilillo,
Nicaragua. Built entirely with eco-friendly, recycled
materials, watching a school go from an empty …