Trying... Failing... Trying again... Failing again... Failing better...

As far as gear: its importance is totally overrated! What counts in the first place: Your subject, light, perspective, framing. Gear is of subordinate importance. Yes, some cameras may have a larger scope of functions, and some lenses may be faster or optically more accurate than the ones you own. And you do have to learn what apertures and focal lengths are suitable for the images you want to create. But no matter what the manufacturers, YouTube, or the camera stores will tell you - YOU CAN'T BUY IMAGE QUALITY!

First things to buy if you seriously want to develop your skills: an entry ticket to a photo exhibition and some good photobooks, e. g. by Bruce Davidson, Mary Ellen Mark, Elliott Erwitt, Marc Riboud, Diane Arbus, Antanas Sutkus and all the other giants of photography, whose cameras and lenses were pathetic compared to the ones we own today...