12%. That's how many companies worldwide managed to grow profits and revenues more than 5.5% over the 10 years ending in 2008 and earn back their cost of capital, according to Bain's updated global database of Sustained Value Creators. The moral of the story: Achieving sustained, profitable growth is very challenging, and the odds of success are low.

Source: Profit from the Core: A Return to Growth in Turbulent Times, by Chris Zook and James G. Allen