Networking without feeling pushy - 6 months and counting

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. I do not usually post, so bear with me. I want advice, not a job directly.

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

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 6 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.