I'm thinking of trying lifting for the first time. Is there anything I should know before I start?

I am looking into trying leafing for the first time, but I am asking this question because it seems there are more things to consider than I initially thought. After reading various posts online, it appears that the look of the finished product varies quite a bit depending on the working method and materials used. Since I have almost no experience with this type of work, I am a bit worried about whether it is okay to push myself too hard right from the start.

In particular, I am curious about how to prepare the surface before starting the work and what materials are best to use. I would also like to know if separate pretreatment is necessary if the surface condition is poor. I would appreciate it if you could also let me know about common mistakes or precautions that a beginner should take when doing this themselves. If you have tried leafing for the first time, please share any difficulties you encountered or helpful tips you found.