things to keep in mind

i talked to my friends about things to keep in mind when blocking or animating. There are so many things to remember or keep in mind. You have to know who a character is, where he comes from, where he's going to. and then acting like what he's thinking, what motivates him to act and then physicality.....when I work on one of these things I forget others and someone points them out...I think "damn! I knew that!". stupid me... I gotta apply what I know to my animation, otherwise i would be really stupid...