The Monster at the End of the Book: What Grover Teaches Us About Taking Risks in Business

If you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s, you might remember The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone. I sure do. It was my absolute favorite book as a kid, and here’s a little secret—I still keep a copy on my desk today. Why? Well, besides the fact that it makes me smile whenever I see that cover, it also holds a lesson I think about all the time when it comes to business: how fear can stop us from moving forward.

In the story, Grover (you know, that lovable, slightly high-strung blue monster from Sesame Street) is in an absolute panic because he’s convinced that there’s a monster waiting at the end of the book. He’ll do anything to stop you from turning the pages—tie them down, build brick walls—whatever it takes to avoid what he’s sure is going to be a terrifying end.

I remember as a kid trying not to turn the page because I felt bad for Grover and didn’t want him to be more upset. I would also peek between the pages to see if I could do it carefully enough for Grover and me to see if there was a monster without destroying the brick wall or to see the moment that Grover saw what I did. I’ve always had a big imagination, and this book really was a playground for me.

But of course, the joke’s on him. When we get to the end, Grover discovers that the monster he was so afraid of… was him all along.

I mean, how often does that happen in business? We get freaked out by some big, scary unknown—whether it’s launching a new service, expanding into a new vertical, or trying a completely different approach—and we let our imagination run wild. What if it all goes wrong? What if this is a disaster? We do everything we can to stop ourselves from turning the page. But just like in the book, the pages keep turning. And when we finally get to the end, we often find out that the thing we were so scared of wasn’t all that scary after all.

Let’s look into it more.

The Fear of the Unknown

So here’s the deal: Grover spends the entire book trying to stop you from turning the pages because he’s convinced that something terrible is waiting for him at the end. But no matter what he does, those pages keep turning.

Sound familiar? In business, we often face the same struggle. Fear of the unknown makes us freeze. We build our own version of brick walls to stop us from taking risks. We stick with what feels safe, even if it means staying stuck. But the reality is, time marches on. Markets evolve, industries change, and competitors innovate. If we’re not moving forward, we’re falling behind.

Like Grover, we focus on what might go wrong instead of thinking about what could go right. The “monster” becomes this looming worst-case scenario we’ve created in our heads.

The Real Monster is Ourselves

And here’s where the real magic of the story comes in: When Grover finally reaches the end of the book, he realizes that the monster he was so afraid of… was just him! All that worrying and brick-building was for nothing.

In business, this happens all the time. We’re often our own worst enemies, letting fear, self-doubt, and overthinking stop us from taking necessary steps. We create these imaginary “monsters” in the form of worst-case scenarios—failure, rejection, loss. But if we face those fears head-on, more often than not, we find out that the “monster” isn’t real. Or, at the very least, it’s not as terrifying as we made it out to be.

The lesson? Sometimes the biggest barrier to taking risks is just us. Our own hesitation, our fear of failure, our comfort in the status quo.

Turn the Page: How to Embrace Risk

Now, I’m not saying you should throw caution to the wind and take on risks blindly (even Grover did some solid wall-building, after all). But the key to moving forward in business is learning how to embrace risk rather than fear it. Here’s how:

1. Do Your Research

Grover built a solid wall in his efforts to protect himself—while we know walls won’t help, preparation does. Gather the data, do your homework, and understand the potential risks. The more prepared you are, the less scary the risk seems.

2. Take Small Steps

Just like turning one page at a time, you don’t have to make giant leaps. Take small, calculated risks and build up your confidence. Every time you push past fear, you get stronger.

3. Learn from Failure

Even if you do run into a “monster,” it’s not the end of the world. Failure is part of growth. In fact, it’s where most innovation happens. Grover may have been embarrassed at the end, but he lived to see another day. So will you.

4. Face the Monster

The scariest risks are often the most rewarding. Grover discovered that the monster was just him all along, and maybe the same is true for you. Don’t let fear stop you from turning the page on your next big idea.

The Surprise Ending

The beauty of The Monster at the End of This Book is that the big scary thing Grover was so afraid of never materialized. And in business, that’s often the case too. The fears we build up in our minds are usually much scarier than reality. By embracing the unknown and taking calculated risks, we often find that success, innovation, and growth are on the other side.

So, what’s your monster? What’s the risk you’ve been avoiding because of fear? Maybe it’s time to turn the page and see what’s waiting for you at the end of the book. Who knows—you might find it’s not a monster at all.

Turn the Page with The Growth Program

Is fear holding your business back? At Gozynta, we believe that growth starts when you stop building brick walls and start turning the page. Our Growth Program helps IT business owners like you embrace risk, face fears, and uncover the opportunities waiting on the other side. With tailored strategies for marketing, sales, culture, and more, we’re here to guide you through every step of the journey—one page at a time. Ready to discover that the “monster” wasn’t so scary after all? Book a discovery call today or learn more about the program and let’s grow, together.