Unsure if you're being deliberately obtuse, but a consultant working for a sole proprietorship is technically making money off a thing they own but they're also still clocking in every day and doing actual work, typically for a third party.

It's a pretty clear separation between those who spend 30+ hrs per week working and those that spend the majority of their waking time "networking" (attending conferences, playing golf, traveling, whatever) with the occasional board meeting or office hours type meeting as the only part of that which looks like a regular job.