In your op what makes someone stand out from the crowd vs a normie. To me its the group think run of the mill people who have no hobbies, talents or critical thinking
For me, they have to be willing to question their own crowd, even if their crowd is small and not part of the mainstream.
I like your point about hobbies, because I'd say more individualistic people tend to care about things rather than just being against things. I mean passions, values, and goals, not "I like this TV show" or whatever.
I think the best way to develop individuality is to not follow the NPC's current of thought. I think it is a situation that is not chosen, but rather forced because many people with their own individuality were so because they were outcasts.