Rachel Oliver, Australian entrepreneur, receiving the award for Polaris Media Group Top Producer from CEO, Shane Krider, at the 2010 Kick Off Event.

The 2009 Telstra Business Women’s awards commissioned a study of women in business and the findings are more than reassuring, they are downright inspiring, and quite radically different than some people may have been expecting. While many people has been living through times of quiet desperation, Australian female self-confidence seems to be running high.

The research shows that although 90% of women who are the sole proprietors of their venture are significantly worried about the economy, 88% believe they will be able to navigate their way out of the recession. That is an incredibly high statistic. If that many women believe they can make it and their self confidence remains unshaken, then it stands to reason that many, if not all will make it.

The power of thought aligned in a specific direction toward a goal, however unlikely, will most times through human effort and determination result in success and the achieving of the goal. That has been proven time and again.

So, when survey results show that women in Australia are determined to succeed and that their self-confidence is running high it makes me smile. I love that women who own and operate their own business are taking positive action instead of being downtrodden by the status quo and capitulating to the panic and desperation of the mass media. Instead of panic, the most common actions women are taking in their business are cutting costs and improving efficiency (23 per cent) and working harder (18 per cent).

I saw evidence of the spirit of Australian women entrepreneurs at the 2010 Kick Off and Foundation Live Events held in the Gold Coast just last weekend. I wish each and every one of you the best of success in 2010!