Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - 7 weeks in

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. It has been a long 7 weeks. I want advice, not a job directly. What did you ask?

Keep everything in writing and save the confirmation numbers. It made the follow-up calls so much easier.

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