I almost always begin with a character in mind. Usually starting with a race/class combo that appeals to me. Then I flesh out who they are a bit, and then I start looking at their build to see how I can best accommodate this character in gameplay terms. Once I am working on the build I will min-max it to the best of my ability within the scope of that initial character concept so it is as mechanically powerful as I can make it.
The second part is just as important as the first in my mind because I tend to make heroes and villains. Larger than life characters about to go on a grand adventure. If they aren't good at surviving that adventure then they aren't really living up to the role I had planned for them.
For example if I want to make a crossbow ranger dwarf I will do my best to make the most mechanically potent crossbow wielding dwarf ranger I can, even if I know he'll not be as good as a wood elf ranger with a longbow.
5e helps in that there aren't too many options that are truly terrible. The difference between an extra +1 to attack roles isn't that enormous, and a dwarf ranger does have some small advantages over a wood elf ranger to compensate. Chiefly being better at concentration and having more HP and therefore being a tankier ranger option at the cost of damage output.
Is it top tier min-maxed? No, but that is fine with me. As long as he can fight and do well enough to justify his place in the party I am fine with it.
