"Go be an autodidact iconoclast, and hang out with everyone else does that, too." is a great recipe for being an interesting person. But changing the world requires not just being interesting, but understanding the status quo, and finding ways to bridge them. This advice won't give you both sides.

Also, there is nothing wrong with living a pedestrian life. Millions (billions?) of people do so, happily. And there are many small changes you can make in the world even while walking a typical path. The world changes over time, as many people make those small changes. Feel free to pursue large changes, but don't reject the power of incremental improvements.