How do I ask for an informational chat?, payroll clerk here

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. Any experience at all would help. I want advice, not a job directly. Did any turn into leads?

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

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.