Let's get this out of the way right away. Yes that is me on the motorcycle with my lovely pillion partner. When people find out that I'm a Taoist by philosophy and ride a motorcycle they invariably ask if I've read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Most of the time they haven't read it themselves, but that's OK. It's a fine book, and the author (Robert Pirsig) helpfully points out that it doesn't have much to do with Zen Buddhism and even less to do with motorcycle maintenance.
The real inspiration of the book is the deep dive into both Eastern and Western philosophy, and Pirsig's ability to stitch them together by means of an allegorical/autobiographical cross country trip by motorcycle. He concludes the book by presenting a concept he calls the Metaphysics of Quality, which is difficult to define, much at the Tao is difficult to define. Essentially, his thesis tries to bind together our rational self with our romantic self. In his example, riding a motorcycle means being in the moment--on the road--surrounded by it all, not separated by the steel frame of a car. At the same time, there is the practical task of maintaining your motorcycle, sometimes by the side of the road. It is the combination of the two--the rational and the romantic-- that is the unified whole of our reality.
The Hobnail Causerie is a reflection of my thoughts on the business of the performing arts and how we all fit in as working professionals. The wonderful thing about the arts is that creativity, expression, emotion, and passion--these values make up the romantic side of the profession. At the same time, if we're going to commit to the work as something more than a weekend hobby, we have to bring forth the rational need to make a buck at it. The Causerie is sprinkled with liberal doses of both Eastern and Western philosophy, but also (hopefully) practical advice. This thinking represents the Tao of Performing Arts Administration and is the central driver behind my approach as a career consultant and coach.