Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? (update)

A friend suggested informational chats and I do not know how to ask. This is my first time dealing with any of this. I want advice, not a job directly.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 2 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

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