Goals. I take a lot into consideration when building a cycle but the goal of it is number one. What do I want to accomplish with this cycle and what compounds are going to fit best for the goal at hand.
Health. Where am I health wise and what may be the best options to run or perhaps not run a cycle at all. If i just came off a harsh oral perhaps its not time to run a cycle thats goal requires another oral component.
Commitment. Am i ready to give this cycle 100% mentally, physically and diet wise? Or are there things in my life that may take priority and its not the right time to invest my time in this right now.
Current shape. Am i where I need to be physically to accomplish my goal and run the cycle I am proposing. Maybe I need to cut a bit more weight before i bulk on 20 more pounds. Or maybe i can cut 10 more pounds with a simple test cycle before I embark on a tren, mast, prop, winny cycle. Am I going to get the most from the current condition I am at.
Personal experience. What do I know about the compounds I select and how have they worked or not worked in the past. If I have not used a particular compound that I think about using, I do a lot of research.
What the compound has to offer the goal... You can pound a nail in with a screw driver but that does not make it the best tool for the job. Now some of this goes back to personal experience using a certain compound and you can make the argument diet trumps all but some compound DEFINITELY work better than others for certain goal.
Time limit. If i have a certain time frame i may choose short over long esters or if I really want to knock something out of the park perhaps I will pick one compound over another.
Mental health. I put this one lower on the list just because its not as big a factor as it used to be. However for some stress, anger and other sides that can come into play need to be considered. Perhaps you have a big work or school project coming up. Maybe a tren cycle may not be a good idea.
Financial. Do i have the finances I need to meet the goal i want. Half assing a cycle or using cheap compounds in place of others that may work better is no way to run a cycle
Can i afford the propper foods I need to fuel this cycle either bulk or cut?
These are some things I consider that have been working for me as of late
