Prep is a big deal. If you have time, shower and get your beard real wet and clean. It will soften. Shave soon out of shower. Lather your face, then strop so as to give the lather time to work. Lather again and shave.
Yes, a brand new razor is not shave ready by any means. Have one of the experienced people on the forum bring it up to shave ready for you. You will then know what a sharp razor is about.