Cold messages to people in my field, do they work?, mechanic here

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. I have been trying to stay organised about it. I worry about bothering people. How do you phrase the request?

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

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