Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - 11 weeks in

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. It has been a long 11 weeks. I worry about bothering people. Did any turn into leads?

I asked what they wish they had known at my stage. People enjoy answering that.

Follow up with a thank-you and a short update. One of my chats led to a referral a month later.