To not see the forest for the trees

To not see the forest for the trees means that you don't see the big picture because you're too focused on the details. So this expression means to lose perspective.
Does this ever happen to you? I suppose that many of us have jobs or other responsibilities that demand some attention to detail, which can result in not seeing the forest for the trees. Certainly we can see other people losing perspective, in sports, politics, etc., and making mistakes they might have avoided. What's the risk of not seeing the forest for the trees? I guess the most serious risk is forgetting what's really important. Getting caught up in the details can make it more difficult to remember the real reason that we're doing something.
What do you think?