Justin Timberlake's parents encouraged him to put in "115 percent" when working.
The 33-year-old star began his career as part of boy band 'N Sync, before going solo. He has also dipped his toe into the acting world, starring in movies such as The Social Network and Friends with Benefits.
The star credits his mother and father with teaching him the value of hard work.
"That was something I remember my parents telling me. The idea that if you put in more than 100 percent, if you put in 115 percent, then there’s a good chance that you’re going to end up getting back somewhere in the 90's," he told Oprah Winfrey for her Oprah's Master Class series. "That made sense to me."
Practice was one of the most important things to Justin when he was growing up. Any time he stepped out in front of a crowd he wanted to know he was totally ready.
The star also has no interest in rehashing things which have gone before and makes it his business to keep pushing the boundaries.
"And the idea that something worth having was worth putting all of yourself into it. Practice, rehearsal, working on it when no one’s looking," he explained. "Getting comfortable in it. So that when you step on that stage, you’re ready. And then you can literally forget all of that and just be in the moment. And do something different. Do something original, do something different every time."
Justin appears on Michael Jackson's posthumous album Xscape, which was released last week. Also during the show he discussed the impact the King of Pop had on him, revealing it was Michael who made him believe he could go solo. Justin had penned him a track but 'N Sync ended up recording it, prompting the late star to discuss things with Justin.
"I guess Michael did hear it, and called me on the phone and said that he wanted to cut the record, but he wanted it to be a duet between himself and I. And I said, 'Well, it's already out, we've already cut the song as an 'N Sync record ... could we do, like, an 'N Sync featuring Michael Jackson, or Michael Jackson featuring 'N Sync?' And he was very absolute about the fact that he wanted it to be a duet between himself and I," he explained.
