Organic growth is the lifeblood of every company. While acquisitions are a path to growth, Booz & Company research shows that few acquisitions can be justified on cost synergies alone; buyers must be able to grow organically what they acquire. Yet most companies struggle with organic growth, especially when their business models and markets have matured. There are many reasons for this. For example, short-term pressures to produce profits can stunt investment, and typecasting some businesses as cash cows and others as growth engines can become self-defeating. One very common problem is chasing rainbows that will never be caught, while the best opportunities are hiding in plain sight. In an economy still facing massive headwinds, the ability to grow organically is more crucial than ever; companies can no longer see organic growth as an everyday task best left to the operating units.