Creativity vs. Hard Work: Which Matters More for Startup Success? Should entrepreneurs focus on hard work or creative ideas? Here's how founders can find a balance between hard work and creativity.

Since its 1986 launch, Pixar Animation Studios has become synonymous with creative storytelling, thanks to films like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and Up. We also know the Pixar team spends years of focused effort to perfect every frame.

As my kids watched Incredibles 2 for the third time this week, I started questioning whether founders should prioritize hard work or creativity. What's the right balance? Which matters most for startups, both new and established?

These questions led me down a rabbit hole of conversations and research. I also thought about what I've learned from my own 15-year-old company, JotForm. Not only do most people have strong opinions on the topic, the answers aren't as straightforward as they might seem.