Obsessive optimism is the key to being a great entrepreneur, according to a poll by O2.

The survey of 500 business leaders found that the most important traits that successful entrepreneurs have are obsessive optimism, enjoyment of responsibility, a desire to achieve and the urge to be self-employed from childhood.

Education had little impact on the road to success for the business leaders surveyed. Only 14% of those surveyed believed their formal education had a significant impact on their business achievements and less than a third (31%) studied business or a specific business qualification.