 A further integral part of fostering a sense of " unity between the individual and the mass " , Guevara believed , was volunteer work and will . To display this , Guevara " led by example " , working " endlessly at his ministry job , in construction , and even cutting sugar cane " on his day off . He was known for working 36 hours at a stretch , calling meetings after midnight , and eating on the run . Such behavior was emblematic of Guevara 's new program of moral incentives , where each worker was now required to meet a quota and produce a certain quantity of goods . As a replacement for the pay increases abolished by Guevara , workers who exceeded their quota now only received a certificate of commendation , while workers who failed to meet their quotas were given a pay cut . Guevara unapologetically defended his personal philosophy towards motivation and work , stating : 
