I explain it by way of a job. For example, you have a job. You are employed under a company but with no employee-employer relationship. The company will give you tasks to advertise their product/s, and you get paid with your job on a weekly basis. However, you only get your payment by the end of the advertising period. The only difference is, you don't get paid with fiat, but with shares - small shares in the company. As the company grows, so will your assets.