Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesFor the past 10 years, Justin Timberlake has dominated the industry, and tonight, the talented star was recognized for all of his work in entertainment by being honored with the Decade Award at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards.
Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant took the stage to present the celeb with the award, which also included a video montage showing some of J.T.'s famous work from the last 10 years, from his hilarious Saturday Night Live skits to his mega hits to his movie roles.
And once Timberlake got on stage to accept the award, he used that time to share some major life keys with the young audience, in hopes of inspiring the next generation.
"Wow. Thank you. You guys, it's Kobe Bryant. This is the only time I'm taller than you. Thank you Teen Choice. As a former teen, a while ago, who's made a few choices along the way I'm here to tell you that you and your choices matter," he said, adding that he was blessed to grow up in Tennessee with a family who raised him to "respect all people on the basis of their character...not where they live, what they did for a living, or the color of their skin."
He continued to tell the crowd that they shouldn't learn from him, but from the greats before him. One specific example he gave was the late and great Muhammad Ali, and Timberlake gave three specific quotes to support his advice.
"Don't count the days, make the days count," Justin said before adding, "Don't think for a moment that what you do doesn't count." The second quote was, "Service for others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth," which he continued with, "Be generous, be kind. It's not just the right thing to do, it's the good thing to do."
And the last quote he offered was this one: "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."
J.T. explains, "You will make mistakes along the way, I have many times, but what we do after that fall is how we make history because impossible is nothing...Be nice to your parents—I hope my son watches this someday. They aren't perfect either, but they've been through this movie before, and they love you more than you can imagine."
He concludes, "Be the greatest generation yet."