Many people, after working for a long time, gradually become limited to only the tasks at hand.

You think that if you do a good job on your tasks, your boss should reward you—give you stock, especially when the company is about to go public. But in his view, he’s already rewarded you. The salary he pays you is the fair exchange for the work you’re doing.

When does he give you stock? When he sees you as a partner.

This means you need to act like a partner before you actually are one. You have to already be doing the work of a partner, already delivering results as a partner, already proving yourself competent—and only then will he formally recognize you with equity.

To become a partner, you must start thinking and acting like an owner. Partnership is something that’s confirmed after the fact, not a prize handed out in advance.