Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? after 11 years as a production planner

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. Some people reply with short answers.

I wrote three short lines: who I am, why them and a small ask for fifteen minutes. About one in four said yes.

Do not apologise for asking. Most people remember someone who helped them.