what is the best ways to find business mentors? esp those who are in a financial position that I aspire to be at

I am an absolute wreck when it comes to showing up in networking events. I often times do not know enough to be curious about the other person and how he/she is doing, and ask questions that will lead the attention back to my agenda of seeking someone established as a mentor.

How should I best cold approach someone in networking events that I meet at the first time? How can i be strategic about it F2F, or online when I'm going about LinkedIn? I feel that I am very blinded and without a plan, yet I know that stupid action beats perfect inaction.