Networking without feeling pushy - 5 months and counting

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. It has been a long 4 weeks. Some people reply with short answers. Did any turn into leads?

Follow up with a thank-you and a short update. One of my chats led to a referral a month later.

I asked what they wish they had known at my stage. People enjoy answering that.