Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - 6 months and counting

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. I am in Honolulu, in case local advice matters. I want advice, not a job directly. Did any turn into leads?

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

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