I also find prepping the beard to be key.

1) shower, wash face with Noxema.
2) hot wet towel pressed over beard and neck, one minute (fold a washcloth nearly in half, run folded edge from sideburn to sideburn with fingertips, and hold cloth against face and neck with palms and heels of hands).
3) lather up with brush, then rub lather into beard gently with fingers.
4) strop razor while lather sits on face.
5) hot wet towel over lather, one minute.
6) wipe off lather, and again, hot towel, one minute.
7) lather up second time, and shave the first pass.
8) rinse, lather up third time, and shave second pass.

By working with a sharp razor and with good prep, I can focus on shaving technique knowing that any troubles I'm having arise from simply having to learn to shave all over again.