Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - any advice?

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. It has been weighing on me all week. I want advice, not a job directly. What did you ask?

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.