The Power of Noble Information

Yesterday, I grabbed coffee with Saadiq, a fellow technologist who, like me, has recently taken his blogging to the next level, thanks to AI's deeper integration into his daily workflow. (you can read more about that here).

We reconnected after I came across one of his posts on Farcaster, the on-chain social media platform, where he shared three AI-powered 'back-to-school' hacks. The second idea in particular, stood out to me—especially since I often find myself compiling contact lists and then spending way too much time manually entering them into my phone. Saadiq’s suggestion was to use the AI tool Claude to instantly convert any contact list into a format that can be directly imported into your phone.

When we talked about these quick “parent hacks” over coffee, he acknowledged something I've felt for a while about using AI: None of the ideas are groundbreaking on their own. It’s how creatively we apply them in small ways that makes them powerful.

The missing piece of the puzzle—the thing likely stopping other parents with a long list of school contacts from easily adding them to their phones—was knowing a key bit of “noble information.” In this case, it was simply understanding that you needed to prompt the AI to generate a vCard file, a file format compatible with a cell phone’s address book. Without the specificity of that knowledge, you would never receive the output that would work.

There’s “noble information” in every field—things that are widely known, but only among those deeply immersed in that domain.

In gardening, a piece of noble information might be knowing the right time of year to sow seeds and when to wait after the final frost before transplanting the seedlings outside.

Sometimes you might think you have the right bits of information, but you’re still missing a piece that’s truly noble. This could be something you might only learn from deep research, asking a friend, or messing up yourself the first time. For instance, it’s not good enough to know when to sow your seeds outside, you must first go through a process of “hardening off” the seedlings by gradually increasing their exposure to the sunlight one day at a time. Without this step, your seedlings likely won’t survive the shock of being in the direct sunlight and wind. 

The tricky thing about noble information is that it’s not hard to get the answer you’re looking for. You just need to know to ask. And what to ask.

But the problem with noble information is that it often lives in silos. Those of us “in the know” assume it's obvious when, in reality, it isn’t. I’ve noticed this gap becomes particularly problematic when it prevents people from seizing opportunities.

About eight years ago, I organized a panel of tech industry experts to speak with a room of 100 community college students in New York City about careers in tech. We covered everything: how to build a resume, how to stand out to recruiters, what technical interviews are like, and what it's like to work at a startup.

During the Q&A part of the conversation, one student raised his hand and said:

“When I look at job descriptions, they have long lists of requirements. But I never have all of those things. Can I still apply?”

The panel laughed. “Of course you can apply!” they insisted. “Those job descriptions are more like wish lists, not strict checklists.”

It was the best piece of advice shared during that entire panel. 

The students looked genuinely shocked by this piece of noble information. They had been conditioned to believe they must meet 100% of the criteria applying. But those of us with industry experience knew that was rarely the case—even a laughable concept. 

Even if you don’t meet all of the criteria, you should still apply.

The opportunity cost of not knowing this simple, but powerful fact is huge.

Unfortunately, noble information like this is often siloed along racial, ethnic, and socio-economic lines. Lacking access to this knowledge can mean the difference between a student who might not typically apply for a tech job deciding to take the leap. When students don’t apply, tech companies miss out on diverse voices and perspectives, while those students miss out on transformative career opportunities. It’s a cycle that perpetuates itself.

So how do you build bridges to share noble information? How do you know where to look, or what questions to ask? 

Well, I started with ChatGPT and asked what other bits of “noble information” might be unfamiliar (yet obvious and important) to someone coming from outside of the tech industry background.

Here’s what it came up with.

1. Networking Is Key: Many tech jobs come through referrals, not applications. Leveraging LinkedIn and attending industry events can be crucial for getting noticed.

2. Portfolio > Degree: Real-world projects often matter more than degrees. Building a strong portfolio on GitHub or personal sites can open doors, even without formal education.

3. Non-Tech Roles Are Vital: You don’t have to be a coder to work in tech. Roles like product management, marketing, and operations are just as important.

4. Interview Prep Is Expected: In tech, prepping for coding challenges or problem-solving interviews is common. Companies value how you approach problems, not just right answers.

5. Imposter Syndrome Is Normal: Feeling like you don’t belong is common, even for seasoned pros. Recognizing this helps you push past self-doubt.

6. Certifications Can Be Valuable: Bootcamps and certifications like AWS can get you into tech without a degree. These are increasingly respected by employers.

7. Negotiate Your Salary: Salary negotiation is expected in tech. Knowing market rates and advocating for yourself can prevent under-compensation.

8. You Don’t Need to Be a Perfect Fit: You don’t need to meet 100% of the job description. If you hit 70%, you’re likely still a strong candidate.

Not a bad place to start.