I also made the usual mistakes but the most significant change I made was the way I lathered.
My original set-up was a 34C, Proraso Red cream, the Proraso Omega brush and the Proraso shaving bowl:
View attachment 53768
In hindsight, it was an ineffective shaving bowl and the brush was way too big for it. No wonder I struggled to build a decent lather. A month in and I bought an EJ Best Badger brush and some TOBS Eton College and tried my first face lather. What a revelation! I've been a face latherer since - including the original boar brush.
I still can't bowl lather to save my life. I should take the time learn at some point.
On a side note, I remember thinking I was a big spender when I got that EJ brush (£30). How the perception of value can change in a hobby eh?