One of the biggest lessons I've learned from "The Laws of Human Nature" is how profoundly important it is to not simply empathize and understand people on a intellectual or material level, but to be (more) willing to engage people emotionally.
Most achievers (in my experience) tend to have things figured out emotionally, or understand how to serve the imperatives of their goals or business interests without allowing their emotional selves to sabotage their efforts. We assume other people have as well.
They haven't.