I remember a thing on Frontline about the banking crisis where they described a meeting with Obama and the bankers where the bankers were pretty much ready for big concessions. Obama instead didn't do anything and let that opportunity go. He did the same when the Obamacare negotiations were going on. Instead of kicking some of his colleagues in the rear he was pretty weak and got weak results. I think he learned from these lessons and became much more assertive over time. It seems most presidents do better in their second term once they have learned the job.